Guitar tuning · also high-strung
Guitar Nashville (high-strung) Tuning
Strings 3–6 replaced by the thin octave strings of a 12-string set. Sparkling, harp-like doubling for recordings.
String pitches & frequencies
| String | Note | Frequency | MIDI | Interval to next | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E3 | 164.81 Hz | 52 | perfect fourth | |
| 5 | A3 | 220.00 Hz | 57 | perfect fourth | |
| 4 | D4 | 293.66 Hz | 62 | perfect fourth | |
| 3 | G4 | 392.00 Hz | 67 | minor sixth down | |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz | 59 | perfect fourth | |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz | 64 | — |
Strings listed 6 → 1 (low E to high E). Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament.
Fretboard note map
| String | Open | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | F | F♯ | G | G♯ | A | A♯ | B | C | C♯ | D | D♯ | E |
| 2 | B | C | C♯ | D | D♯ | E | F | F♯ | G | G♯ | A | A♯ | B |
| 3 | G | G♯ | A | A♯ | B | C | C♯ | D | D♯ | E | F | F♯ | G |
| 4 | D | D♯ | E | F | F♯ | G | G♯ | A | A♯ | B | C | C♯ | D |
| 5 | A | A♯ | B | C | C♯ | D | D♯ | E | F | F♯ | G | G♯ | A |
| 6 | E | F | F♯ | G | G♯ | A | A♯ | B | C | C♯ | D | D♯ | E |
How to tune to Nashville (high-strung)
- Open the chromatic tuner (or play each reference tone above).
- Start from the lowest string and tune each one to E3, A3, D4, G4, B3, E4.
- Tune up to each pitch: if you overshoot, drop below and come back up so the string settles.
- Check every string once more — changing the tension of one string slightly pulls the others.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of Nashville (high-strung) tuning?
E3 (164.81 Hz), A3 (220.00 Hz), D4 (293.66 Hz), G4 (392.00 Hz), B3 (246.94 Hz), E4 (329.63 Hz).
How do I tune a guitar to Nashville (high-strung)?
Tune each string to the pitches above with a chromatic tuner, starting from the lowest string; then re-check, because changing one string's tension slightly detunes the others.