VARIOUS POPULAR TUNINGS
Tunings are given here from the bass string to the treble. Where there are higher pitched strings where you would usually find a lower string they are given in place. I also find it usful to use the terminology refering to eg. 5 courses, 10 strings. ie. 10 strings tuned in pairs. A ball end string can easily be converted to a loop by carefully cutting the brass ball out with wire snips. Compiled by Dave Benton, Pete McClelland and Chris Stanton.
INSTRUMENT | TUNING Bass --> Treble
|
MANDOLIN | G | D | A | E |
Light | 34w | 22w | 13 | 09 |
Medium | 36w | 24w | 14 | 10 |
MANDOLA (TENOR) | C | G | D | A |
Alvey Turner | 36w | 30w | 20 | 13 |
Medium | 48w | 32w | 24w | 14 |
OCTAVE MANDOLA | G | D | A | E |
Light | 44w | 30w | 20w | 12 |
Medium | 48w | 36w | 22w | 14 |
IRISH BOUZOUKI | GG | DD | AA | EE/DD |
Light | 40w | 28w | 16 | 11 |
Medium | 44w | 28w | 20w | 13 |
Fylde (octave tuned) | 48w/24w | 28w/10 | 16/16 | 10/10 |
GREEK BOUZOUKI | Cc | Ff | AA | DD |
| 30w/13 | 24w/10 | 14/14 | 11/11 |
CITTERN | GG | DD | AA | EE | AA |
GDADA | 46w | 36w | 17 | 13 | 08 |
GCGCG/GDGDG | 44w | 34w | 24w | 16 | 10 |
MANDOCELLO | CC | GG | DD | AA |
| 74w | 48w | 34 | 22w |
5 STRING BANJO | G | C/D | G | B | D |
Light | 09 | 20w | 13 | 11 | 09 |
Medium | 10 | 24w | 15 | 13 | 10 |
JAZZ TENOR BANJO | C | G | D | A |
Medium | 30w | 22w | 14 | 10 |
IRISH TENOR BANJO | G | D | A | E |
Light | 36w | 24w | 16 | 12 |
Medium | 38w | 26w | 18 | 12 |
PLECTRUM BANJO | C | G | B | D |
Alternative Tuning: | D | G | B | E |
Light | 22w | 18 | 12 | 10 |
Medium | 24w | 20w | 14 | 11 |
OUD | G | A | B | E | A | D |
Nylon Strung | 41w | 33w | 29w | 25w | 29 | 24 |
LUTE | DD | FF | GG | CC | FF | AA | DD | G |
Nylon Strung |
BALALAIKA | E | E | A |
| 012 | 011 | 08 |
UKELELE | G | C | E | A |
Alternative Tuning: | A | D | F# | B |
Nylon Strung | 28 | 34 | 32 | 24 |
BARITONE UKE | D | G | B | E |
Nylon Strung | 35w | 30w | 32 | 28 |
CUATRO | A | D | F# | B |
Nylon Strung |
CUATRO DE PUERTO RICO | B | E | A | D | G |
CHARANGO (Chile) | E | A | E | C | G |
DULCIMER (Ionian Mode) | A | D | DD |
Light | 20w | 10 | 10 |
Medium | 22w | 11 | 11 |
(Myxolydian Mode) | D | A | DD |
Light | 30w | 18p | 10 |
Medium | 32w | 20p | 11 |
ACOUSTIC GUITAR | E | A | D | G | B | E |
Extra Light | 47w | 39w | 30w | 23w | 14 | 10 |
Light | 52w | 42w | 30w | 23w | 15 | 11 |
Medium | 56w | 45w | 35w | 26w | 17 | 13 |
12 STRING GUITAR | eE | aA | dD | GG | BB | EE |
Extra Light | 27w/47w | 18p/39w | 12/30w | 10/23w | 14 | 10 |
Light | 30w/52w | 20p/42w | 14/30w | 10/23w | 15 | 11 |
ELECTRIC GUITAR | E | A | D | G | B | E |
Extra Light | 38w | 30w | 22w | 14 | 11 | 08 |
Light | 42w | 32w | 24w | 16 | 11 | 09 |
Medium | 46w | 36w | 26w | 17 | 13 | 10 |
DOBRO | D | B | D | G | B | D |
Medium | 60w | 46w | 34w | 24p | 18 | 14 |
BASS GUITAR | E | A | D | G |
Extra Light | 95 | 70 | 60 | 40 |
Light | 100 | 80 | 65 | 45 |
Medium | 105 | 85 | 70 | 50 |
TENOR GUITAR - CGDA | A | D | G | C |
| 27w | 20w | 13 | 9 |
TENOR GUITAR - GDAE | E | A | D | G |
| 42w | 30w | 20w | 13 |
PORTUGUESE GITARRA | D | A | B | E | A | B/D |
Sometimes tuned one tone lower | 30w | 20w | 18w | 12 | 09 | 08 |
BANDURRIA | AA | DD | GG | CC | FF | BbBb |
Sometimes tuned a semitone lower | 36w | 32w | 22w | 20w | 15 | 11 |
LAUD | GG | CC | F#F# | BB | EE | AA |
| | | | | | |
TIPLE | Aa | dDd | f#F#f# | BB |
| 22w/10 | 15/34w/15 | 12/26w/12 | 10/10 |
HURDY GURDY | Chanterelles AA | Bourdons AA | G | C |
| Viola A | Viola A | Cello G | Cello C |
SYMPHONIE | G | C | G |
Alternative: | G | D | G |
SAZ | D | A | D |
(There are many alternatives) | | | |