Guitar Tunings

The tuning of a guitar varies, the most common by far is "Standard Tuning" and also tuned "One half step down". Tuning down a half step is common for live performances, the half step makes a big difference to the singer. There are several alternate tunings as well, Here is a list of some tunings...

(Guitar Tuner) These are showing big string to smaller string...

These tunings use the same chord and scale shape patterns

Standard ::: E - A - D - G - B - E *
Half Step down ::: Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb
Full Step down ::: D - G - C - F - A - D
Full Step up ::: F# - B - E - A - C# - F#

Open D (major) and Open E (major) use the same chord and scale shapes...

Open D ::: D - A - D - F# - A - D *
Open E ::: E - B - E - A - B - E *

These tunings all use open chords and each have different chord and scale shapes...

Open Dsus4 ::: D - A - D - G - A - D *
Open G ::: G - B - D - G - B - D *
Open C ::: C - G - C - G - C - E

D Minor ::: D - A - D - F - A - D
E Minor ::: E - B - E - G - B - E *
G Minor ::: D - G - D - G - Bb - D

Drop D ::: D - A - D - G - B - E *
Drop D ::: D - A - D - G - B - D
Low C ::: C - G - D - G - A - D

* Worksheet available for tuning

If you use a digital tuner to tune your guitar then don't expect it to match a CD recording or a song on the radio, Sometimes a song will be tuned a itty bit higher than standard tuning but 95% of songs use the same tuning. Some tuners allow you to adjust the tuning to '440 A' (standard) down to '415 A' (half-step down), There are lots of factors that determine if your guitar will stay in tune or not:

The condition of the strings...
The way you hold the guitar...
The intonation of your guitar...
The way you string your guitar...
Wether or not you stretched your strings...
The string sizes...

All of those factors and some others will affect your tuning, If your strings are six months old and you're laying down playing then your guitar will most likely seem out of tune. Or if your guitar is not intonated and you didn't stretch your strings when you changed the strings then it will keep going out of tune, The best way to tune is by using a tuner...

...Gw I. Learn the Notes...	Welcome to Guitarweek! A flower will die if you don't water it!... ----------------
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