6-String Acoustic Guitar
Overview
Tuning Steps
Sweetened Tunings
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6-String Acoustic Guitar
Overview
The acoustic guitar is commonly tuned to EADGBE, but there are many other tunings. Many seasoned professional guitarists “tweak” their guitar’s tuning to improve its sound, we call this “Sweetened Tuning”.
If you are not familiar with this kind of tuning jargon, relax, because there is one tuner that does it all for you. Because of Peterson tuners unique “Sweetened Tuning” feature, each tuner has a host of tempered presets which you simply choose - the tuner then guides you automatically – just like using an ordinary tuner – but sweeter. Artists such as James Taylor uses a Peterson tuner with these special tweaks, they are now preset in all current Peterson Tuner models. Its easy! Using your Peterson strobe tuner, your acoustic guitar will sound much better than when tuned using an ordinary tuner.
Begin with the first string, it’s located nearest the ground when holding the guitar in normal playing position.
How To Tune Your 6-String Acoustic Guitar
- Pluck to sound the 1st string and observe the tuner display, check that the note “E” is displayed. With your left hand, adjust the tuning peg to stop the strobe pattern image from moving contuously in any one direction, continue to adjust until the strobe pattern is motionless.
- Repeat the above for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings until all strings are tuned.
- Having tuned the strings correctly, pluck the 1st string while fretting it at the 12th fret.
- If the fretted tone shows sharp on your tuner, the saddle needs to be moved a slight distance further away from the end of the neck, if it shows flat, it needs to be moved a slight distance closer to the end of the neck.
- Repeat this procedure with the 2nd , 3rd , 4th ,5th & 6th string. Open and fretted tones need to be in tune in each case, if not, the saddle is out of adjustment.
Standard And Alternate Tunings for acoustic family instruments
6-String Acoustic Guitar
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
G2 B2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Open G
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
A2 C#3 E3 A3 C#2 E4
Open A
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Tuning
D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Open G
D2 G2 D3 F#3 B3 D4
Wahine Tuning
C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4
Open C
D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
Open D Vestapol
E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Open E
E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
Crossnote A
E2 A2 C#3 E3 A3 E4
Open A
C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4
John Fahey
E2 A2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Open E
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
DADGAD Celtic
B1 F#2 B2 F#3 B3 D#4
Open B
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Dropped D
E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
Open A Minor
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Dropped D
F2 A2 C3 F3 C4 F4
Open F
D2 A2 D3 A3 D4 D4
Additional Father
D2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4
G Modal/Sawmill
E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4
Nashville Tuning
D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4
Open D Minor Crossnote
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4
Orkney Tuning
D2 G2 D3 G3 A#3 D4
Open G Minor Crossnote
6-String Acoustic Guitar
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Tuning
D2 G2 D3 F#3 B3 D4
Wahine Tuning
D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
Open D Vestapol
E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
Crossnote A
C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4
John Fahey
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
DADGAD Celtic
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Dropped D
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Dropped D
D2 A2 D3 A3 D4 D4
Additional Father
E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4
Nashville Tuning
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4
Orkney Tuning
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Tuning
D2 G2 D3 F#3 B3 D4
Wahine Tuning
D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
Open D Vestapol
E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
Crossnote A
C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4
John Fahey
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
DADGAD Celtic
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Dropped D
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Dropped D
D2 A2 D3 A3 D4 D4
Additional Father
E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4
Nashville Tuning
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4
Orkney Tuning
Sweetened Tunings
Sweeteners For 6-String Acoustic Guitar
Products With 6-String Acoustic Guitar Sweeteners
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StroboClip HDC
$79.99

StroboStomp Mini
$119.00

StroboStomp LE
$169.00

StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99

StroboStomp HD
$149.00

StroboClip HD
$59.99

StroboPLUS HD
$149.99

iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99

StroboSoft 2.0
$49.99 - $99.99
Things to check to get the most out of your instrument’s tuning
2. Tune UP - not down – to the pitch of a note on your tuner.
3. I you use a capo and a Sweetener in combination, attach the capo, then dial in the relevant transposition number as follows: Capo on 1st fret = +1, Capo on 2nd = +2 etc.
4. Check the soundboard stability, especially when using heavier gauge strings, by looking across the top for any warping signs.
5. If you use an alternate tuning with a lot of raised pitches (e.g. Nashville Tuning), use an appropriate gauge set of strings to avoid stress on the guitar.
Famous Acoustic Guitars
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