[1] New standard tuning (NST) was invented by Robert Fripp of the band King Crimson in September 1983.

[2][3] "I was in the Apple Health Spa on Bleecker and Thompson back in September 1983, in the sauna at half past 10 in the morning, almost asleep, and the tuning flew over my head.

I was asked to give a guitar seminar at Claymont Court in December 1984, to raise funds for the running of the estate and the children's school.

In contrast, standard tuning has an irregular major-third interjected among its perfect fourths, which complicates the learning of chords by beginners.

"New standard tuning lists four notes (C,G,E,G) from the harmonic sequence (overtones) for the note C.[15] When the low open-note C-string is struck, its harmonic sequence begins with the notes To strengthen a given chord, Vincent Persichetti's Twentieth-century harmony recommends adding perfect fifths above the initial overtones, rather than adding higher overtones, such as B♭ and the higher C.[16][17] Persichetti's book influenced Fripp.

Asked whether NST facilitates "new intervals or harmonies that aren't readily available in standard tuning", Fripp responded, "Yes, that's part of it.

To build chords, Fripp uses "perfect intervals in fourths, fifths and octaves", so avoiding minor and major thirds.

[12] "Most songs (that is music which has both words and instrumental accompaniments) written in the [NST] have a quality of walking on long stilts.

There are rarely many intervals, harmonic or melodic, in these guitar accompaniments that are closer than a major third except in the top of the voicing.

[15] Modern quartal and quintal harmony revives the polyphonic traditions of medieval Europe.

Before the common practice period, European polyphony emphasized unison intervals and octaves and also perfect fifths.

From the Renaissance to 1900, Western symphonic music was diatonic, emphasizing the tertian harmony of major and minor scales, keys, and chords.

Having to use a new tuning challenges students to approach their playing with greater mindfulness and to explore new ways of musical expression.

[30] Guitar-Craft and the League of Crafty Guitarists have trained guitarists who went on to form new bands, such as the Trey Gunn and the California Guitar Trio;[31] Gunn and the California Guitar Trio have toured with Fripp as The Robert Fripp String Quintet.

[34] The collection A Plague of Crafty Guitarists features many NST players including Nigel Gavin.