What is Standard Tuning?

Standard Tuning refers to a specific way of tuning the strings on a guitar. On a guitar with six strings, the tuning goes like this, from the lowest string to the highest string:

E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4

E2 is the thickest string with the lowest pitch. E4 is the thinnest string with the highest pitch. The numbers refer to the octave of the note.

The History of Standard Tuning

Guitars have been around for hundreds of years. But they were not always tuned the way they are today. In the early days, there were many different tuning systems. Guitarists experimented to find tunings that sounded good and were easy to play.

Over time, the tuning system we now call Standard Tuning became the most popular. It was a good balance between having a wide range of notes and being practical to play. By the early 1900s, most guitarists were using Standard Tuning.

How Standard Tuning Works

In Standard Tuning, the strings are tuned to specific notes. These notes are chosen to give the guitar a wide range of musical possibilities. The notes are spaced out so that they sound good together. They also make it easy to play chords and scales all over the fretboard.

The lowest string, E2, is tuned to the note E in the second octave below middle C. The next string, A2, is tuned to the note A in the second octave below middle C. And so on, up to the highest string, E4, which is tuned to the note E in the fourth octave above middle C.

Why is Standard Tuning So Popular?

Standard Tuning is popular for a few main reasons:

1. It gives the guitar a wide range of notes to work with, from low to high.
2. The notes are spaced out in a way that makes it easy to play many different chords and scales.
3. Most guitarists use it, so it is easy to play along with other musicians.
4. It has been used for a long time, so there is a huge amount of music written for guitars in Standard Tuning.

Standard Tuning vs. Other Tuning Systems

Although Standard Tuning is the most common, there are other ways to tune a guitar. Some guitarists experiment with alternate tunings to get different sounds. Examples include Drop D, Open G, and DADGAD.

These alternate tunings can make certain chords or scales easier to play. They can also give the guitar a unique sound. But most guitarists still use Standard Tuning most of the time. It is the foundation that everything else is built on.

Standard Tuning on Other Instruments

Standard Tuning is not just for guitars. Many other string instruments use a similar system. This includes basses, mandolins, and ukuleles.

On a bass guitar, the strings are tuned to the same notes as the lowest four strings on a guitar in Standard Tuning (E, A, D, G). A mandolin’s strings are tuned in pairs, with each pair tuned to one of the notes from Standard Tuning (E, A, D, G). Ukuleles are usually tuned G, C, E, A – like the top four strings of a guitar in Standard Tuning, but shifted up a 4th.

How to Tune a Guitar to Standard Tuning

Tuning a guitar to Standard Tuning is a skill every guitarist needs to learn. There are a few different ways to do it:

1. By Ear: This is the traditional method. You tune the lowest string to a reference pitch (like a tuning fork). Then you tune the other strings relative to each other.
2. With a Tuner: Electronic tuners make it easy to tune each string to the correct pitch. You can get tuners that plug into your guitar, clip onto the headstock, or even use a smartphone app.
3. Harmonics: You can tune using harmonics – the bell-like tones you get when you lightly touch a string at certain points. This is a more advanced technique.

Regardless of the method, the goal is to get each string tuned to its correct pitch in Standard Tuning.

Keeping Your Guitar in Tune

Guitars don’t stay in tune forever. The strings stretch over time, and factors like humidity and temperature can affect the tuning. That’s why it’s important to check your tuning regularly.

Most guitarists tune their guitar every time they play. They also use tricks to keep their guitar in tune longer, like stretching the strings when they put on a new set, and using a guitar case to protect the instrument from humidity changes.

Standard Tuning in Music

Standard Tuning is at the heart of most guitar music. When a guitarist writes a song or learns to play a cover, they usually do it in Standard Tuning. This is true across many genres, from rock and pop to country and classical.

Because Standard Tuning is so universal, it allows guitarists to easily share ideas and techniques. A chord shape or scale pattern learned in Standard Tuning can be used in countless songs.