# Guitar/Alternate Tunings

!In standard tuning, the C-major chord has three shapes because of the
irregular major-third between the G- and B-strings. Among alternative
tunings, regular tunings have the same shape for chords everywhere on
the
fretboard.

Many guitar players use alternate tunings, which differ from standard
tuning. The use of alternate tunings (non-standard tunings) are found
throughout the history of the classical guitar and are a major factor in
the playing of blues slide guitar. Many alternate tunings involve
downtuning (\"dropping\") strings.

## Dropped tunings

### Dropped D (DADGBE)

The most common alternate tuning is the dropped D (or \"drop D\")
tuning. The lower E string is tuned down to a D. This tuning allows one
to play power chords
on the fourth, fifth and sixth strings with only one finger, and of
course allows for lower bass notes. Used commonly in heavy metal, but
also in nearly every other form of guitar music.

Waylon Jennings used this frequently, even dropping to D with the use of
a scruggs banjo tuner on his famous telecaster in the middle of a song.

### Drop C tuning CGCFAD

This progressive tuning is used in metal but often used by bands who
stick with 6 string guitars to achieve an extra deep tone. Bands such as
CydeDish, Deftones, System of a Down, KSE, August Burns Red and As I Lay
Dying.

### Drop B (BF#BEG#C#)

Alternatively, you can tune to BF#BEG#C#, if you are looking for a deep
heavy hitting sound. This tuning is mostly used by nu-metal bands like
Slipknot, August Burns Red, many deathcore bands, and some death metal
bands.

### Drop A (AEADF#B)

Alternatively, you can tune to AEADF#B, if you are looking for a deep
heavy hitting sound. This tuning is mostly used by nu-metal bands like
Slipknot, August Burns Red, many deathcore bands, and some death metal
bands.

### Double dropped D (DADGBD)

Similar to Dropped D above, for this tuning just drop both \'E\' strings
a full tone. Neil Young often tunes his guitars this way.

## Regular tunings

!The major-thirds tuning G#-C-E-G#-C-E repeats its three open-notes in
the higher octave after three
strings.
!Chords can be shifted diagonally in major-thirds tuning and other
regular
tunings.
!Minor, major, and seventh chords (*C, D, G*): In major-thirds tuning,
major and minor chords can be played with two fingers on two consecutive
frets. The chords have the same shape, unlike the chords of standard
tuning.: In major-thirds tuning, major and minor chords can be played with two fingers on two consecutive frets. The chords have the same shape, unlike the chords of standard tuning.")


Among alternative guitar-tunings, regular tunings have equal
musical-intervals between the paired notes of their successive
open-strings. Regular tunings simplify the learning of the fretboard of
the guitar and of chords by beginning students. Regular tunings also
facilitate improvisation by advanced guitarists.

Guitar tunings assign pitches to the open strings of guitars. Tunings
can be described by the particular pitches that are denoted by notes in
Western music. By convention, the notes are ordered from lowest to
highest. The *standard tuning* defines the string pitches as E, A, D, G,
B, and E. Between the open-strings of the standard tuning are three
perfect-fourths (E-A, A-D, D-G), then the major third G-B, and the
fourth perfect-fourth B-E.

In contrast, regular tunings have constant intervals between their
successive open-strings:

-   4 semitones (major third): Major-thirds tuning,
-   5 semitones (perfect fourth): All-fourths tuning,
-   6 semitones (augmented fourth, tritone, or diminished fifth):
    Augmented-fourths tuning,
-   7 semitones (perfect fifth): All-fifths tuning

For the regular tunings, chords may be moved *diagonally* around the
fretboard, indeed *vertically* for the repetitive regular tunings (minor
thirds, major thirds, and augmented fourths). Regular tunings thus
appeal to new guitarists and also to jazz-guitarists, whose
improvisation is simplified. On the other hand, some conventional chords
are easier to play in standard tuning than in regular tuning.

### Major thirds tuning

!Chords can be translated vertically by three strings, because
major-thirds tuning repeats itself (at a higher octave). Again, the
chords have the same shape, unlike the chords of standard
tuning.. Again, the chords have the same shape, unlike the chords of standard tuning.")
\\Image:First and second inversions of C-major chord on six-string
guitar with major-thirds tuning.png\|right\|thumb\|alt=The C major chord
and its first and second inversions. In the first inversion, the C note
has been raised 3 strings on the same fret. In the second inversion,
both the C note and the E note have been raised 3 strings on the same
fret.\|Chords are inverted by shifting notes three strings *on the same
fret*. 

Major-thirds tuning was introduced by jazz-guitarist Ralph Patt in 1964.
All of the intervals between its successive open strings are major
thirds; in contrast, the standard guitar-tuning has one major-third amid
four perfect-fourths.

Major-thirds tuning reduces the extensions of the little and index
fingers (\"hand stretching\"). Major and minor chords are played on two
successive frets, and so require only two fingers; other
chords---seconds, fourths, sevenths, and ninths---are played on three
successive frets. For each regular tuning, chord patterns may be moved
around the fretboard, a property that simplifies beginners\' learning of
chords and that simplifies advanced players\' improvisation. In
contrast, chords cannot be shifted around the fretboard in the standard
tuning E-A-D-G-B-E, which requires four chord-shapes for the major
chords. There are separate chord-forms for chords having their root note
on the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth strings. Major-thirds tuning
repeats its octave after every two strings, which again simplifies the
learning of chords and improvisation; Chord inversion is especially
simple in major-thirds tuning. Chords are inverted simply by raising one
or two notes three strings. The raised notes are played with the same
finger as the original notes.

### All fourths tuning

![In *all-fourths* and standard tuning, the C7 chord has notes on frets
3-8; Covering six frets is difficult, and so C7 is rarely played but
\"alternative voicing\" are substituted instead. In *major-thirds*
tuning, all seventh-chords can be played on three consecutive
frets._tuning_for_six_string_guitar.png "In all-fourths and standard tuning, the C7 chord has notes on frets 3-8; Covering six frets is difficult, and so C7 is rarely played but "alternative voicing" are substituted instead. In major-thirds tuning, all seventh-chords can be played on three consecutive frets.")
!The consecutive notes of all-fourths tuning are spaced apart by five
semi-tones on the chromatic
circle.
!All fourths tuning.


:   E-A-d-g-c\'-f\'

This tuning is like that of the lowest four strings in standard tuning.
Consequently, of all the regular tunings, it is the closest
approximation to standard tuning, and thus it best allows the transfer
of a knowledge of chords from standard tuning to a regular tuning. Jazz
musician Stanley Jordan plays guitar in all-fourths tuning; he has
stated that all-fourths tuning \"simplifies the fingerboard, making it
logical\". Contemporary players are also moving to fourths tuning, noted
players include Alex Hutchings and Tom Quayle.

:   Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E

A less commonly used version of fourths tuning is retaining the regular
tuning on the first and second strings (E and B) and lowering the other
strings by a semitone. This version can make playing classical pieces
more accessible.

### Augmented fourths tuning

### All fifths tuning

#### New Standard Tuning (CGDAEG)

!**New standard tuning**. All perfect fifths (C-G-D-A-E) plus a minor
third
(E-G). plus a minor third (E-G).")
!C major chord in new standard tuning
.
!D major chord in new standard tuning
.
![Open fifths on D in new standard tuning
.

The tuning, invented and introduced by Robert Fripp of
King Crimson, is: C(6th) - G(5th) - D(4th) - A(3rd) - E(2nd) - G(1st).

Basically this tuning is efficient because it utilizes the tuning that
is common is a cello (CGDA) , violin, and mandolin (both GDAE), in which
it is in fifth, from a low C. The second string is a fourth up from the
B to an E, and the first string is a minor third up from the E to a G.

Since the lowest five strings are tuned in fifths, typical fingerings
for chords and scales used on the violin, cello, and mandolin are
applicable here. The minor third between the top strings allow denser
chords in the high range of the scale, and easier access to some
elementary chord tones (typically the thirteenth for chords with the
root note on the sixth string, and the ninth and flat ninth for chords
with the root note on the fifth string, see chord). NST has a greater
range than the Old Standard Tuning, approximately a perfect fifth (a
major third lower and a minor third higher).

Scales across two strings in NST also line up nicely into coherent
tetrachords or four-note patterns that have a visually rational
relationship (whole and half-tone relationships have a remarkable
symmetry that can be easier to learn than the OST whose intervals from 6
to 1 have the (inconsistent) major third thrown in the middle of the
scale.

{{-}}

## Open tunings

### Open A (EAC#EAE)

Alternatively you could tune the guitar to EAC#AC#E

### \"Slide\" Open A (EAEAC#E)

This tuning is identical to Open G tuning but with every string raised
one step, or two frets

### Open C (CGCGCE)

Used notably by Devin Townsend in his bands Strapping Young Lad and
Devin Townsend Project.

### Open D (DADF#AD)

Open D, like all open tunings, produces a major chord (in this case, D
major) when all strings are strummed. Drop the sixth, first, and second
strings down two semitones, and the third string one semitone. It is
also called \"DAD-fad\" after its notes.

Uses the same chord shapes as Open E but is easier on a guitar neck as
the strings are detuned lessening the tension.

Open D is a common tuning for folk, blues, and slide guitar. A variation
of this tuning is open d minor. Open D minor is tuned DADFAD, meaning
the only change is that the F# is tuned down to an F.

#### Chord shapes

Here are some handy chord shapes: G/D: (020120) Em7/D: (022120)

### Open E (EBEG#BE)

Used by Cat Stevens and a popular choice for slide guitarists. Strumming
in the open position yields a Emajor chord. You can easily play any
chord by barring across the neck at different fret positions. This does
however have some disadvantages; mainly that it is slightly more
difficult to play minor chords. Some artists overcome this by tuning to
EBEGBE. This allows both minor and major chords to be played easily.
Because tightening the strings more than is intended can break the
strings or put unneeded stress on the neck, many players opt to tune in
Open D and put a capo on the second fret; the result is the same.

### Open C6 (CACGCE)

This tuning is rarely used. It has been used by Jimmy Page on
\"Bron-Yr-Aur\", \"Friends\", and \"Poor Tom\". J. M. Smig uses this
tuning on \"Fingers In The Forest\".

### Open G (DGDGBD)

This is sometimes referred to as \"Spanish Tuning\", popular with slide
guitarists. Tune the 1st and 6th strings down to D, and the 5th string
to G.

Keith Richards uses this tuning extensively after 1968. (See Brown
Sugar, Honky Tonk Women, Start Me Up) He also removes the 6th string
(low E in standard tuning) because the root of the chord is on the 5th
string in Open G.

## Miscellaneous tunings

### DADGAD

DADGAD (pronounced as a word: \"DAD-gad\"), one of the most versatile
tunings, is named after the tuning of its strings. The sixth, second,
and first strings are dropped two semitones to D, A, and D. Strumming
all the strings open forms a Dsus4 chord; fretting the second fret of
the third string (or muting the third string) produces a D5 chord, or D
power chord. Most songs for DADGAD are in D major, or in G major with a
capo at the fifth fret. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin played Kashmir in
this tuning.

### DADADD

This is essentially one huge power chord. Each string neatly divides the
scale in half and it is easy to make simple patterns then repeat them
anywhere on the fretboard.

### Standard E-flat (EbAbDbGbBbeb)

In this tuning, each string is tuned down a half step, or one fret. This
is a popular tuning throughout the history of blues and rock, and many
modern bands perform with it. Stevie Ray Vaughn frequently used this
tuning with heavier strings to get a full, rich tone.

### Standard D (DGCFAD)

Made popular by death metal band Death. Commonly used in metal today.

**Standard C (CFBbEbGC)**

Used by John Petrucci on 3 songs from Dream Theater's Train Of Thought.

fr:Apprendre la
guitare/Accordage
