Guitar · E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4

Nashville tuning

Nashville tuning, also called high-strung tuning, puts octave strings on strings 6 to 3, so those four sound an octave higher: E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4 from string 6 to string 1. Strings 2 and 1 stay as in standard tuning. Tap a string to hear its target note and tune with your microphone. A4 = 440 Hz.

Tap a string to hear it · Hz

Listening

String 6 to string 1, low to high

From standard: strings 6 to 3 up one octave, 12 semitones (E2→E3, A2→A3, D3→D4, G3→G4).
Unchanged: string 2 stays B3 and string 1 stays E4.
Not in order: string 3 (G4) is now higher than string 2 (B3), so the strings do not rise from low to high.

Mic stays on your device. On only after you press the button; nothing is recorded or uploaded.

Strings

Which string goes where

Each of strings 6 to 3 is replaced by the thin octave string of a twelve-string set. Strings 2 and 1 are your normal strings.

String	Standard	Nashville	Hz	Fit
6	E2	E3	164.81	octave string
5	A2	A3	220.00	octave string
4	D3	D4	293.66	octave string
3	G3	G4	392.00	octave string
2	B3	B3	246.94	normal string, unchanged
1	E4	E4	329.63	normal string, unchanged

Do not tune normal strings up an octave. A normal E, A, D or G string is likely to break well before it reaches the octave pitch. Use the thin octave strings from a twelve-string set.

Chord shapes

What your chord shapes sound like

Keep your usual fingering and your chord names. Four strings are an octave higher, so the notes keep their names but sit in a different register. A few shapes now have a different note at the bottom, shown as a slash chord.

Nashville chord shapes

E shape → E 0 2 2 1 0 0

Nashville · E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4

Shape you play Quality

Finger row: suggested finger — 1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 pinky; – not fretted.

Sounding notes, string six to string one
String	Fret	Standard	Nashville
6	0	E2	E3
5	2	B2	B3
4	2	E3	E4
3	1	Ab3	Ab4
2	0	B3	B3
1	0	E4	E4

What is checked: each fret is applied to E3–A3–D4–G4–B3–E4 and the pitches must match the sounding chord. Notes are written with flats, so Ab is the same pitch as G# and Gb is the same as F#. The shape is the first voicing the main chord finder suggests in standard tuning.

Common open shapes in Nashville tuning

Fret code (6→1)	Chord you hear	Notes now
X 3 2 0 1 0	C	C4 E4 G4 C4 E4
X X 0 2 3 2	D	D4 A4 D4 Gb4
0 2 2 1 0 0	E	E3 B3 E4 Ab4 B3 E4
1 3 3 2 1 1	F	F3 C4 F4 A4 C4 F4
3 2 0 0 0 3	G	G3 B3 D4 G4 B3 G4
X 0 2 2 2 0	A	A3 E4 A4 Db4 E4
X 0 2 2 1 0	Am	A3 E4 A4 C4 E4
X X 0 2 3 1	Dm	D4 A4 D4 F4
0 2 2 0 0 0	Em	E3 B3 E4 G4 B3 E4
X 3 2 3 1 0	C7	C4 E4 Bb4 C4 E4
X X 0 2 1 2	D7/C	D4 A4 C4 Gb4
0 2 0 1 0 0	E7	E3 B3 D4 Ab4 B3 E4
3 2 0 0 0 1	G7	G3 B3 D4 G4 B3 F4
X 0 2 0 2 0	A7	A3 E4 G4 Db4 E4

Tuning

How to tune a guitar to Nashville tuning

Fit the four octave strings to strings 6 to 3, then raise each one to its target note with the tuner. Strings 2 and 1 stay at B3 and E4. Go a step at a time and check the whole set again after a few minutes.

String	Standard	Nashville	Move
6	E2	E3	up 12
5	A2	A3	up 12
4	D3	D4	up 12
3	G3	G4	up 12
2	B3	B3	no change
1	E4	E4	no change

Don't mix them up

Nashville vs standard vs C standard

Nashville tuning does not move the whole guitar up or down. It keeps note names and changes the register of four strings. C standard and half step down move every string.

Tuning	6	5	4	3	2	1	In short
Standard	E2	A2	D3	G3	B3	E4	the starting point
Nashville	E3	A3	D4	G4	B3	E4	this page: strings 6 to 3 up 12, strings 2 and 1 unchanged
C standard	C2	F2	Bb2	Eb3	G3	C4	every string down 4 from standard
Half step down	Eb2	Ab2	Db3	Gb3	Bb3	Eb4	every string down 1 from standard

Nashville tuning questions

What are the notes of Nashville tuning?

Nashville tuning is E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4 from string 6 to string 1.

Is Nashville tuning the same as high-strung tuning?

Yes. Nashville tuning and high-strung tuning are two names for the same thing: octave strings on strings 6 to 3.

Is Nashville tuning the same as a twelve-string guitar?

No. A twelve-string has twelve strings in six pairs. Nashville tuning puts only the octave strings of the four lowest pairs, plus a normal B and E, on a six-string guitar.

Do I need new chord shapes?

No. Keep your usual fingering and chord names. Four strings sound an octave higher, so the notes keep their names in a higher register.

Can I tune my normal strings up an octave?

No. A normal E, A, D or G string is likely to break well before it reaches the octave pitch. Use the thin octave strings from a twelve-string set for strings 6 to 3.

Will the tuner mix up string 6 and string 1?

String 6 is E3 and string 1 is E4, the same note an octave apart. The tuner picks the nearest string by pitch, so pluck one string at a time. If it picks the wrong string, tap a string to lock it.

More tunings: C standard tuning, half step down tuning, capo transpose chart and guitar chords for beginners.