Tunings & Gauges for Fretted Instruments

VARIOUS POPULAR TUNINGS

Tunings are given here from the bass string to the treble. Where there are higher pitched strings where you would usually find a lower string they are given in place. I also find it usful to use the terminology refering to eg. 5 courses, 10 strings. ie. 10 strings tuned in pairs. A ball end string can easily be converted to a loop by carefully cutting the brass ball out with wire snips. Compiled by Dave Benton, Pete McClelland and Chris Stanton.

INSTRUMENT	TUNING Bass --> Treble
MANDOLIN	G	D	A	E
Light	34w	22w	13	09
Medium	36w	24w	14	10
MANDOLA (TENOR)	C	G	D	A
Alvey Turner	36w	30w	20	13
Medium	48w	32w	24w	14
OCTAVE MANDOLA	G	D	A	E
Light	44w	30w	20w	12
Medium	48w	36w	22w	14
IRISH BOUZOUKI	GG	DD	AA	EE/DD
Light	40w	28w	16	11
Medium	44w	28w	20w	13
Fylde (octave tuned)	48w/24w	28w/10	16/16	10/10
GREEK BOUZOUKI	Cc	Ff	AA	DD
	30w/13	24w/10	14/14	11/11
CITTERN	GG	DD	AA	EE	AA
GDADA	46w	36w	17	13	08
GCGCG/GDGDG	44w	34w	24w	16	10
MANDOCELLO	CC	GG	DD	AA
	74w	48w	34	22w
5 STRING BANJO	G	C/D	G	B	D
Light	09	20w	13	11	09
Medium	10	24w	15	13	10
JAZZ TENOR BANJO	C	G	D	A
Medium	30w	22w	14	10
IRISH TENOR BANJO	G	D	A	E
Light	36w	24w	16	12
Medium	38w	26w	18	12
PLECTRUM BANJO	C	G	B	D
Alternative Tuning:	D	G	B	E
Light	22w	18	12	10
Medium	24w	20w	14	11
OUD	G	A	B	E	A	D
Nylon Strung	41w	33w	29w	25w	29	24
LUTE	DD	FF	GG	CC	FF	AA	DD	G
Nylon Strung
BALALAIKA	E	E	A
	012	011	08
UKELELE	G	C	E	A
Alternative Tuning:	A	D	F#	B
Nylon Strung	28	34	32	24
BARITONE UKE	D	G	B	E
Nylon Strung	35w	30w	32	28
CUATRO	A	D	F#	B
Nylon Strung
CUATRO DE PUERTO RICO	B	E	A	D	G
CHARANGO (Chile)	E	A	E	C	G
DULCIMER (Ionian Mode)	A	D	DD
Light	20w	10	10
Medium	22w	11	11
(Myxolydian Mode)	D	A	DD
Light	30w	18p	10
Medium	32w	20p	11
ACOUSTIC GUITAR	E	A	D	G	B	E
Extra Light	47w	39w	30w	23w	14	10
Light	52w	42w	30w	23w	15	11
Medium	56w	45w	35w	26w	17	13
12 STRING GUITAR	eE	aA	dD	GG	BB	EE
Extra Light	27w/47w	18p/39w	12/30w	10/23w	14	10
Light	30w/52w	20p/42w	14/30w	10/23w	15	11
ELECTRIC GUITAR	E	A	D	G	B	E
Extra Light	38w	30w	22w	14	11	08
Light	42w	32w	24w	16	11	09
Medium	46w	36w	26w	17	13	10
DOBRO	D	B	D	G	B	D
Medium	60w	46w	34w	24p	18	14
BASS GUITAR	E	A	D	G
Extra Light	95	70	60	40
Light	100	80	65	45
Medium	105	85	70	50
TENOR GUITAR - CGDA	A	D	G	C
	27w	20w	13	9
TENOR GUITAR - GDAE	E	A	D	G
	42w	30w	20w	13
PORTUGUESE GITARRA	D	A	B	E	A	B/D
Sometimes tuned one tone lower	30w	20w	18w	12	09	08
BANDURRIA	AA	DD	GG	CC	FF	BbBb
Sometimes tuned a semitone lower	36w	32w	22w	20w	15	11
LAUD	GG	CC	F#F#	BB	EE	AA

TIPLE	Aa	dDd	f#F#f#	BB
	22w/10	15/34w/15	12/26w/12	10/10
HURDY GURDY	Chanterelles AA		Bourdons AA		G	C
	Viola A		Viola A		Cello G	Cello C
SYMPHONIE	G	C	G
Alternative:	G	D	G
SAZ	D	A	D
(There are many alternatives)