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Tune your 7-String Guitar to Standard Tuning
You're In Tune, Now Let's Play!
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Standard Guitar Tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Standard tuning is the most common guitar tuning and the foundation for learning guitar. The strings are tuned E-A-D-G-B-E from low to high (6th string to 1st string). This tuning has been standard since the early 19th century and is used across virtually all genres of music, from classical to rock to jazz. Standard tuning offers an excellent balance between playability and musical range. The intervals between strings allow for comfortable chord shapes while providing access to over three octaves of notes. Most guitar instruction, tablature, and music is written assuming standard tuning.
Musical genres
All genres: rock, pop, classical, jazz, blues, country, folk, metal, and more
Famous songs
- "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin
- "Wonderwall" - Oasis
- "Hotel California" - Eagles
- "Blackbird" - The Beatles
- "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana
Tips
- Use the 5th fret method to check your tuning: the 5th fret of each string should match the open string above it (except the G-B strings, where you use the 4th fret)
- Always tune up to the note, not down - this helps the string settle into pitch
- New strings need time to stretch, so retune frequently for the first few hours of play
Instruments
Tunings
General Tunings
Dropped Tunings
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the tuner above to get in tune quickly, then jump straight into your lesson. Most ProGuitar lessons assume standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) unless stated otherwise — the lesson page will tell you if an alternate tuning is needed.
Most rock and pop lessons use standard tuning. Blues and slide guitar often call for Open G or Open D tunings. Folk and Celtic styles frequently use DADGAD. Each lesson on ProGuitar specifies the required tuning so you can set up before you play.
Yes — standard tuning is the foundation for learning chords, scales, and music theory on guitar. All beginner lessons on ProGuitar are taught in standard tuning. Once you are comfortable with the basics, exploring alternate tunings will expand your musical range.
Alternate tunings change the intervals between strings, which affects chord voicings, fingerpicking patterns, and slide technique. For example, Drop D lets you play power chords with one finger, while open tunings make slide guitar more accessible.
Some lessons are specifically designed for alternate tunings like Drop D or Open G — these are labeled on the lesson page. For standard lessons, switching to a different tuning will change the notes and chord shapes, so stick with the tuning the lesson specifies.