There are so many different guitar tunings these days. You’ll find a variety of patterns, scales and keys. However, the vast number of them are rarely used or heard of. When you first learn to play the guitar, it is a good idea to stick with the most common types of strings and frets. That way, you’ll be able to easily transition from one to another if you ever want to switch genres or styles in the future. Most guitarists also stick with their original tunings for a lifetime. It’s just how we were taught as children. Nevertheless, there is so much more out there than what you may have initially thought! In this article, we will explore the world of different guitar tunings and get some tips on those who may want to experiment further with their instrument.
Standard Tuning
The most common tuning in use today is standard tuning. Most beginners gravitate towards this as a starting point because it’s the easiest and most comfortable to play. You may have heard of other commonly used tunings, but they’re not as common as standard tuning. The strings in standard tuning are E-A-D-G-B-E. If you are adjusting your guitar to other tunings, you’ll need to make sure that your strings are not too low or too high for the new tuning. If you’re changing your tuning to drop D, for example, you’ll need to make sure that your strings are low enough for the tuning.
Drop D Tuning
Drop D tuning is a popular alternative to standard tuning. It consists of dropping the second and fourth strings down a whole step (D-A-D-G-B-E). Drop D is commonly used by heavy metal and hard rock artists.
Double-E Tuning
Double-E tuning drops the third and fifth strings a half-step (E-G-D-A-E). This is commonly used by blues and jazz artists.
Open tuning
Open tuning drops all of the strings an octave (B-A-F-C-G-D). This is used by acoustic artists and folk musicians.
Chords and Beyond
A lot of guitar tunings are based on chords. This allows you to quickly and simply change keys to another without re-learning new chords. Chord-based tunings are also called “ Beyond ” tunings. That being said, if you’re interested in exploring further tunings that aren’t based on chords, check out our resources below.
Conclusion
Guitarists get stuck in their ways and don’t explore other forms of picking and playing. However, there are so many different tunings out there that you stand a greater chance of finding exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you’re looking for new chords, new scales, drop tunings, jazz, blues, metal or something else, there’s almost certainly a tuning out there that will suit you. Keep exploring and you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.