Guitar tuning

Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)

Standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning is the starting point for almost all guitar music. The strings are a perfect fourth apart, except between the third and second strings, where the interval is a major third; that small offset is what makes the most common chord shapes comfortable to play.

🎸 Open the tuner in this tuning

The tuner opens already preconfigured; you only need to allow microphone access.

Strings and frequencies

String Note Hz
String 1 E4 329.63 Hz
String 2 B3 246.94 Hz
String 3 G3 196.00 Hz
String 4 D3 146.83 Hz
String 5 A2 110.00 Hz
String 6 E2 82.41 Hz

How it sounds

It is the most versatile tuning and the one assumed by most method books, tabs and songs. If you are starting out, learn this one first: everything else is a variation on it.

Styles and genres

Pop Rock Folk Classical Blues Jazz

Recommended string gauges

A 0.010-0.046 set is standard for electric guitar and 0.012-0.053 for acoustic. Nothing special is required: this tuning is designed around normal gauges and balanced tension across the neck.

Tuning tip

Always tune low to high and check the sixth string last: tightening some strings slightly changes neck tension and with it the others. A quick pass from top to bottom leaves the whole set stable.

Frequently asked questions

How do you tune a guitar without a tuner?

By ear, using the fifth-fret method: fret the sixth string at the fifth fret and match it to the open fifth string, then do the same down the strings (except from the third to the second, which is done at the fourth fret). The catch is that without an external reference the guitar ends up in tune with itself but not at standard pitch. The reliable option is a tuner: this one is chromatic, works with your phone's microphone and needs nothing installed.

What are the six guitar strings tuned to?

From the sixth (lowest) to the first (highest) string they are E-A-D-G-B-E. Note that the first and sixth strings are both E, two octaves apart. In solfège naming that is Mi-La-Re-Sol-Si-Mi.

Is standard tuning 440 or 442 Hz?

The universal reference is 440 Hz (concert A). Some orchestras and players use 442 Hz for a slightly brighter, more cutting sound, but for guitar —playing along with recordings or other instruments— 440 Hz is the safe default. The difference is tiny and only matters when you play with others tuned to a different reference.

Can I tune my guitar with my phone?

Yes. Any phone with a microphone works: this tuner runs straight in the phone's browser, you only need to allow microphone access. There is no app to install.

How often should you tune a guitar?

As a rule, check it every time you sit down to play. A stable steel-string holds well from one day to the next; a nylon guitar with new strings, or any guitar after a change in temperature or humidity, drifts sooner. The newer the strings, the more often it needs a touch-up.

Do classical and electric guitars use the same tuning?

Yes, both use standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. What differs is the string and the feel, not the notes: the classical guitar has a page of its own with the tuner and the advice nylon needs.

Related tunings

Updated