September Gurls

byBig Star

Required String Notes:F#BEAC#F#

Tune to Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)

Play each string and match the pitch using your microphone. Targets are set to this song’s exact tuning (F#BEAC#F#).

Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)

±0

Target: 92.5 Hz

-50WAITING+50

F#92

B123

E165

A220

C#277

F#370

How to Tune from Standard to Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings to play “September Gurls”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	F#2	Tune up a whole step
String 5	A2	B2	Tune up a whole step
String 4	D3	E3	Tune up a whole step
String 3	G3	A3	Tune up a whole step
String 2	B3	C#4	Tune up a whole step
String 1	E4	F#4	Tune up a whole step

Recommended string gauge: .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046) · affiliate link

Song Overview & Tuning Breakdown

"September Gurls" by Big Star is played in Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#) (F#BEAC#F#). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 6 of 6 strings: string 6 up to F#, string 5 up to B, string 4 up to E, string 3 up to A, string 2 up to C#, string 1 up to F#. Overall string tension rises, so tune up slowly to avoid breaking strings. 1270 other songs in our catalog use Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#).

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Tunings Close to Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)

Already tuned to F#BEAC#F#? These tunings are just one small change away.

Standard E241 songs

E - A - D - G - B - ESame chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.

Custom Tuning (FA#D#G#CF)6 songs

FA#D#G#CFSame chord shapes, every string a half step lower.

Custom Tuning (GCFA#DG)4 songs

GCFA#DGSame chord shapes, every string a half step higher.

Big Star’s Guitar Tunings

Big Star plays 1 of 5 songs in our catalog in Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#). Most-used tunings:

Open G TuningD - G - D - G - B - D2 songs
Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)F#BEAC#F#1 song
Bb Standard TuningBb - Eb - Ab - Db - F - Bb1 song
Custom Tuning (GCFA#DG)GCFA#DG1 song

Gear for Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#)

Strings and tools that make playing "September Gurls" in Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#) easier.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046)

Recommended gauge .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.

View strings

D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 6 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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“September Gurls” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "September Gurls" by Big Star in?

"September Gurls" is played in Custom Tuning (F#BEAC#F#): F#BEAC#F#, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "September Gurls"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune up a whole step (E2 → F#2). String 5: tune up a whole step (A2 → B2). String 4: tune up a whole step (D3 → E3). String 3: tune up a whole step (G3 → A3). String 2: tune up a whole step (B3 → C#4). String 1: tune up a whole step (E4 → F#4).