Every common guitar tuning — standard, drop and alternate — with the exact note on each string, the frequency in Hz, and a reference pitch you can hear. Pick a tuning below and tap any string to play it. Then tune by ear, or use the mic tuner. Free, instant, no sign-up.
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| Tuning | Strings (low→high) | Heard on |
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Notes, step-by-step how-to and the famous songs for every tuning:
All tunings & how to tune to each → · Amp settings explained →
Standard tuning is E A D G B E, low to high. Every other tuning is a change from that.
Drop tunings lower only the 6th (lowest) string a whole step, so the bottom three strings make a power chord with one finger — that's why Drop D, Drop C and Drop B are everywhere in rock and metal. "Drop C" actually means the whole guitar is down a step and the low string is dropped, landing on C G C F A D.
Step-down tunings lower all six strings equally. Half-step down (E♭) and full-step down (D) keep standard shapes but sound heavier and are easier to sing over — tons of classic rock and blues records live here.
Open tunings make the open strings ring a full chord (Open G, Open D, Open E), which is the backbone of slide guitar and a lot of folk and blues. DADGAD is a modal favourite for Celtic and fingerstyle.
Tip: heavier/lower tunings usually want thicker strings to stay tight. If a low string feels floppy after retuning, that's the string gauge, not your technique.
What tuning is most metal? Drop D is the gateway; modern metal and metalcore lean on Drop C, Drop B and Drop A for a thicker, lower chug.
Do I need special strings to drop-tune? For one step (Drop D) standard gauges are fine. For Drop C and lower, a heavier set (e.g. 11–54 or 12–60) keeps the low string tight.
Will this hurt my guitar? No — retuning is completely safe. Big tuning changes can shift your setup slightly (action/intonation), but nothing is damaged.
How do I tune to these by ear? Tap each string here to hear the target pitch, match it on your guitar, then fine-tune with the mic tuner.
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