Tuning finder

Guitar tuning finder

Choose the tuning you have and the one you want. See the target note for each string and exactly what changes.

A free note-and-string reference for six-string guitar. Tune with your app, pedal or clip-on.

Your string changes

Standard → Drop D

D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4

Only string 6 changes. Keep the other five strings as they are.

Six-string guitar, thickest to thinnest. Starting in Standard, changing to Drop D.
String	From	Target	Change
6	E2	D2	Down 1 step
5	A2	A2	Keep this string
4	D3	D3	Keep this string
3	G3	G3	Keep this string
2	B3	B3	Keep this string
1	E4	E4	Keep this string

From Standard, lower only the thickest string from E to D. The other five strings stay the same.

The small number is the octave. D2 and D3 are both D, but D3 is one octave higher. Match the note and octave before fine-tuning the meter.

Use the comparison while you tune

Check your starting tuning. The changes assume your open strings already match the “From” notes. If you do not know, start by checking Standard.
Play one open string at a time. Mute the others. A tuner can center on a different note, so check the target note before centering its pitch.
Make small changes and recheck all six. Changing string tension can affect strings you already tuned. Peg direction depends on your instrument.

Lower tunings can feel loose or buzz; Drop C may need different strings or a setup. If a string feels unusually tight, stop and check the note and octave.

Eight guitar tunings

Every note below is an open string, shown from thickest to thinnest. A half step is one semitone; a whole step is two.

Standard

E2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4

The usual six-string guitar tuning: E–A–D–G–B–E.

Drop D

D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4

From Standard, lower only the thickest string from E to D. The other five strings stay the same.

Half step down (E♭ Standard)

E♭2 · A♭2 · D♭3 · G♭3 · B♭3 · E♭4

Every string is one semitone below Standard. E♭–A♭–D♭–G♭–B♭–E♭ is also written D♯–G♯–C♯–F♯–A♯–D♯.

D Standard

D2 · G2 · C3 · F3 · A3 · D4

Every string is one whole step below Standard. Unlike Drop D, all six strings change.

Drop C

C2 · G2 · C3 · F3 · A3 · D4

From Standard, lower the thickest string two whole steps and the other five one whole step. From D Standard, lower only the thickest string a whole step.

Open G

D2 · G2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · D4

From Standard, lower strings 6, 5 and 1 a whole step. The open strings form a G major chord.

Open D

D2 · A2 · D3 · F♯3 · A3 · D4

D–A–D–F♯–A–D. Compared with DADGAD, only the third string changes: G goes down to F♯ (also written G♭).

DADGAD

D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · A3 · D4

From Standard, lower strings 6, 2 and 1 a whole step. The third string stays G, which distinguishes DADGAD from Open D.

My tuner says D♯. The song says E♭.

Those are the same pitch in equal temperament. For half-step-down guitar tuning, the two rows below describe the same six targets. Each string goes down one semitone from Standard; the different spelling does not mean you should tune any farther.

Flat namesE♭2 · A♭2 · D♭3 · G♭3 · B♭3 · E♭4

Sharp namesD♯2 · G♯2 · C♯3 · F♯3 · A♯3 · D♯4

Show Standard → half step down with sharp names →

A chromatic tuner follows these notes without an E♭ preset. In MultiTuner, chromatic tuning is free; saving this set of custom target notes requires Premium. Note-name cross-check: Rocktron’s VersaTune manual.

Common points of confusion

Is Drop D the same as D Standard?

No. Drop D is D–A–D–G–B–E. D Standard is D–G–C–F–A–D. From Standard, Drop D changes one string; D Standard changes all six. See the full comparison with Drop C.

Is E♭ Standard the same as D♯ Standard?

Yes, in equal temperament they use the same pitches with different note names. Switch the ♯ option above if your tuner uses sharps.

Do I need a paid tuner to use these notes?

A chromatic tuner can follow the notes you play. MultiTuner includes chromatic mode and all its built-in presets free, within two saved tuners. Creating or editing custom target notes requires Premium; E♭ Standard and Drop C are custom targets rather than built-in presets.

Does this page listen to my guitar?

This page compares target notes and string changes. Use MultiTuner or another tuner to measure the note you play.

Notes and sources

The built-in targets match MultiTuner’s preset catalog. Half-step down is derived by lowering every Standard target one semitone. Drop C is Drop D lowered two semitones. Note naming follows UNSW’s note/octave reference. Cross-checks: Fender’s alternate tunings, Drop C and half-step-down tuning.

Need the steps in more detail? Read the Drop D guide or DADGAD guide.