Stringed instrument tunings
Instruments are listed alphabetically by their most commonly known name.
[2] Courses are listed reading from left to right facing the front of the instrument, with the instrument standing vertically.
On a majority of instruments, this places the notes from low to high pitch.
Exceptions exist: Strings within a course are also given from left to right, facing the front of the instrument, with it standing vertically.
Pitch: Unless otherwise noted, contemporary western standard pitch (A4 = 440 Hz) and 12-tone equal temperament are assumed.
[3] Octaves are given in scientific pitch notation, with Middle C written as "C4".
)[4] Because stringed instruments are easily re-tuned, the concept of a "standard tuning" is somewhat flexible.
3 strings Casamance: D3 G3 F4 Gambian: C3 F3 E4 A rare 4-string version also exists.
Alternates: There are dozens of other, less common tunings.
Common Alternates: Classical guitar, 6-string guitar, Spanish guitar, Steel-string guitar USA (electric) "classical" = guitar with gut, nylon, or other synthetic strings; "acoustic"/"steel-string" = guitar with metal strings; Open G aka "bottleneck," "taro patch"; Open A aka "Spanish"; "Lute tuning" is usually capoed on 3rd fret to give G2 C3 F3 A3 D4 G4, and E2 is often dropped to D2 (F2 with capo).
There are hundreds of alternate guitar tunings; whole books have been written on the subject.
diablitos, bottom: G4 B4 Number of strings in 3rd, 4th, & 5th courses may vary.
Common Alternates 6 courses 7 courses The common Zheng Diao tuning sets "do" to approx.
"F3" and tunes other strings relative to that to give C3 D3 F3 G3 A3 C4 D4 9 courses
strings: (B3) D4 E4 F♯4 A4 Common alternates: res.
The larger instruments commonly double the middle courses at the octave.
The alternate tuning (2 octaves below the mandola) is usually applied to a smaller-scale instrument (see Mandobass).
Alternate: Standard tuning is 2 octaves below the mandolin.
Alternate tuning is 2 octaves below the mandola.
Chromatic Nyckelharpa 4 courses + 12 resonating strings res.strings:
A rare 6-string version adds a G3 below the low C string.
Common Variants: [*] Ronrroco 7 courses
Alternates: 18 courses Golden strings (right)
Open A / Sittra (15 strings / 15 courses): A1, B1, C#2, D2, E2, F#2, G#2 openA2, B2, C#3, D3, E3, A3, C#4, E4 over fretboard Open A was developed in 1793-1794 for the original, most developed form (taken from a cittern).
Alternate: Alto Ukulele 4 courses
Yueh chin, Moon guitar Taiwanese 2 courses
Zhengs also come with varying numbers of strings, typically from 16–26; the pentatonic tuning is extended to accommodate these extra (high and low) strings.
Alternates: This is the standard/most common instrument of the five-member ruan family.
5 courses plus 37 open accompaniment & bass strings
Alternate: [See ZITHER TUNING CHART, below, for unfretted string tunings] [*] 5 courses plus 29 – 30 open accompaniment & bass strings
