6-String Electric Guitar
Overview
Tuning Steps
Sweetened Tunings
Products
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6-String Electric Guitar
Overview
The electric guitar is commonly tuned to EADGBE, but there are many other tunings. Some bands use very low pitched standard tunings, some use open or alternate tunings. Many seasoned professionals “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. Its easy! Using your Peterson strobe tuner, your 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 Electric 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.
- Tune a string at the 5th fret.
- Check the string at the 17th. If sharp, move the saddle back, thus lengthening the string. If flat, shorten the string by moving the saddle forward. Remember to fret the string using the pressure that you would normally apply while playing.
- Keep repeating this process until each string is in tune as much as possible at both the 5th and 17th frets.
Standard And Alternate Tunings for electric family instruments
6-String Electric Guitar
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
A2 C#3 E3 A3 C#2 E4
Open A
D2 G2 C3 G3 C4 D4
The Rain Song
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Std
B1 F#2 B2 F#3 B3 D#4
Open B
D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
She Talks To Angels
D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
D Standard
C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4
Open C
D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Start Me Up
C#2 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
D Flat Std
D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4
Open D
E2 A2 C3 F3 A3 C4
When The Levee Breaks
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Drop D Tuning
E2 A2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Open E
B1 E2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Parabola
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Drop D
F2 A2 C3 F3 C4 F4
Open F
E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Gimme Shelter
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
Drop C Tuning
D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Open G (Keith Richards)
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Kashmir
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Jimmy Page DADGAD
E2 A2 C#3 E3 A3 E4
Open A (2)
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
Ariels
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Open E (2)
C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4
Friends
D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4
D Minor Crossnote
E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4
Open A Minor
E2 B2 E3 G3 B3 E4
Just Got Paid
6-String Electric Guitar
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Std
D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
D Standard
C#2 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
D Flat Std
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Drop D Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Drop D
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
Drop C Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Jimmy Page DADGAD
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4
D Minor Crossnote
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Std
D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
D Standard
C#2 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
D Flat Std
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Drop D Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Drop D
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
Drop C Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Jimmy Page DADGAD
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4
D Minor Crossnote
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Standard
D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4
E Flat Std
D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
D Standard
C#2 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
D Flat Std
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
Drop D Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4
Double Drop D
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
Drop C Tuning
D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4
Jimmy Page DADGAD
E2 A2 B2 E3 A3 E4
A Modal
D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4
D Minor Crossnote
Sweetened Tunings
Sweeteners For 6-String Electric Guitar
Products With 6-String Electric Guitar Sweeteners
![The Peterson StroboClip HD™ (SC-HD) has the same tenth-of-a-cent accuracy as all Peterson Strobe Tuners. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/stroboClipHDC_800x800.jpg)
StroboClip HDC
$79.99
![For over 75 years, Peterson has been trusted by some of the biggest names on stage and in the studio as the standard in tuning precision. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/stompMini_Store_800x800.jpg)
StroboStomp Mini
$119.00
![Featuring the largest tuning display Peterson Tuners has ever incorporated into one of their pedal tuners, the StroboStomp HD boasts a high-definition, LCD screen that incorporates a variable color LED backlight. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/StompLE_OLS_800x800.jpg)
StroboStomp LE
$169.00
![The StroboPLUS HDC encompasses decades of tuning authority and technology to deliver the ultimate strobe tuner/metronome combo!
The StroboPLUS HDC’s 0. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/PlusHDC_Store_Imge_800x800.jpg)
StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99
![Featuring the largest tuning display Peterson Tuners has ever incorporated into one of their pedal tuners, the StroboStomp HD boasts a high-definition, LCD screen that incorporates a variable color LED backlight. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/Stomp_HD_800x800_2.jpg)
StroboStomp HD
$149.00
![The Peterson StroboClip HD™ (SC-HD) has the same tenth-of-a-cent accuracy as all Peterson Strobe Tuners. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/StroboClipHD_Hero_800x800.jpg)
StroboClip HD
$59.99
![The Peterson StroboPlus HD (SP-1) is THE premier desktop digital tuner on the market! Equally as comfortable on a tech’s workbench as it is in a player’s guitar case, this tuner, with all of its features, is no exception to Peterson’s reputation for being THE most accurate in the industry — don’t let its demure palm size fool you! Players of both acoustic and electric instruments can rest assured— a built-in electret condenser microphone and ¼” input jack provide excellent connectivity. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/800_hd.jpg)
StroboPLUS HD
$149.99
![iStroboSoft™ offers the unmatched accuracy of a mechanical strobe tuner for the highest degree of precision available in a software tuning application. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/iPhone_6_Plus_portrait-landscape_perspective2.jpg)
iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99
![The Peterson StroboSoft2 Tuning Suite gives you the power to route your audio through your DAW on an insert point or to strap it across your buss and tune with unrivaled accuracy. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/800_ss.jpg)
StroboSoft 2.0
$49.99 - $99.99
![Capable of handling “stretched” interval tuning, this is the instrument technician’s most valuable tool. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/Untitled-1_0011_490st.jpg)
AutoStrobe 490-ST
$1,140.00
![The AutoStrobe 590 is THE preeminent mechanical strobe tuner for tone generation and metronome facilities. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/800_590.jpg)
AutoStrobe 590
$1,175.00
![The Peterson AutoStrobe 490 is agreed by music students, technicians, and professionals to be the standard by which all tuners are measured. | Peterson Strobe Tuners](/imageServ/bank/Untitled-1_0012_490.jpg)
AutoStrobe 490
$950.00
Things to check to get the most out of your instrument’s tuning
2. Tune UP - not down – when tuning to the pitch of a note on your guitar.
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. If you want to drop tune from standard to any number of half steps or semitones down in pitch and you don’t want to learn new note names, use the Transpose feature as follows: Guitar in Standard Tuning with Transpose -1 (Minus One) = E flat Standard Tuning Guitar in Standard Tuning with Transpose -2 (Minus Two) = D Standard Tuning Guitar in Standard Tuning with Transpose -3 (Minus Three) = D Flat Standard Tuning Guitar in Standard Tuning with Transpose -4 (Minus Four) = C Standard Tuning
5. Check intonation frequently, especially when changing strings and especially prior to recording.
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