Stringed instrument tunings

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

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:

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 (i.e. paired or tripled strings) are shown with courses separated by bullet characters (•).

Pitch: Unless otherwise noted, contemporary western standard pitch (A4 = 440 Hz) and 12-tone equal temperament are assumed.

Octaves are given in scientific pitch notation, with Middle C written as "C4". (The 'A' above Middle C would then be written as "A4"; the next higher octave begins on "C5"; the next lower octave on "C3"; etc.)

Because stringed instruments are easily re-tuned, the concept of a "standard tuning" is somewhat flexible. Some instruments:

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".

6 courses

A3 A3•B3 B3•E4 E4•A4 A4•D5 D5•G5 G5

Alternates: May also use various oud tunings

5 courses

A A•E E•A A•C# C# C#•F# F# F#

Alternate:

4 courses

F2 A2 C3 F3

3 strings

Casamance: D3 G3 F4

Gambian: C3 F3 E4

A rare 4-string version also exists.

1 course

14 courses

F1 F2•G1 G2•A1 A2•B1 B2•C2 C3•D2 D3•E2 E3•F2 F3•G2 G2•C2 C2•F3 F3•A3 A3•D4 D4•G4

6 courses

6 courses

Tuning is same as guitar.

36 courses

F2 G2 C3 D3 E3 F3 F#3 G3 A3 A#3 B3 C4 C#4 D4 D#4 E4 F4 F#4 G4 G#4 A4 A#4 B4 C5 C#5 D5 D#5 E5 F5 F#5 G5 G#5 A5 A#5 B5 C6

3 courses

5 courses

6 courses

E2 E1•A2 A1•D3 D2•G2 G2•C3 C3•F3 F3

...
Wikipedia