Stringed instrument tunings


This is a chart of stringed instrument tunings. Instruments are listed alphabetically by their most commonly known name.

Terminology

A course may consist of one or more strings.
Courses are listed reading from left to right facing the front of the instrument, with the instrument standing vertically. On a majority of instruments, this places the notes from low to high pitch.
Exceptions exist:
  • Instruments using reentrant tuning may have a high string before a low string.
  • Instruments strung in the reverse direction are noted with the highest sounding courses on the left and the lowest to the right.
  • A few instruments exist in "right-hand" and "left-hand" versions; left-handed instruments are not included here as separate entries, as their tuning is identical to the right-hand version, but with the strings in reverse order.
Strings within a course are also given from left to right, facing the front of the instrument, with it standing vertically. Single-string courses are separated by spaces; multiple-string courses are shown with courses separated by bullet characters.
Pitch: Unless otherwise noted, contemporary western standard pitch and 12-tone equal temperament are assumed.
Octaves are given in scientific pitch notation, with Middle C written as "C4".
Because stringed instruments are easily re-tuned, the concept of a "standard tuning" is somewhat flexible. Some instruments:
  • have a designated standard tuning
  • have more than one tuning considered "standard"
  • do not have a standard tuning but rather a "common" tuning that is used more frequently than others
  • are typically re-tuned to suit the music being played or the voice being accompanied and have no set "standard" at all
Where more than one common tuning exists, the most common is given first and labeled "Standard" or "Standard/common". Other tunings will then be given under the heading "Alternates".

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Zither tuning chart