GuitarTuningsGuitartunings.

Custom & Rare Tunings Guitar Tuner

Custom & Rare Tunings
±0
E
Target: 82.4 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
E82
A110
D147
G196
B247
E330

How to Tune to Custom & Rare Tunings

A catch-all home for the hundreds of unusual, one-off and extended-range tunings in our database that don't fit a standard named preset — from seven- and eight-string metal configurations to bespoke fingerstyle and experimental drone tunings. Each song below lists its own exact string notes; use the reference tuner here as a starting point, then match the specific notes shown on each song's page.

This is standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) — no strings to change:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2E2Leave as is
String 5A2A2Leave as is
String 4D3D3Leave as is
String 3G3G3Leave as is
String 2B3B3Leave as is
String 1E4E4Leave as is
Printable Custom & Rare Tunings chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

There are effectively infinite possible guitar tunings — with six strings and a practical range of a few octaves each, players have invented thousands of them. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Sonic Youth and Devin Townsend treated tuning itself as a compositional tool, inventing a new one for almost every song.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:String gauge depends entirely on the specific tuning. As a rule: the lower you tune a string, the heavier the gauge it needs to stay tight and articulate; the higher you raise it, the lighter it should be to avoid breakage. Check the individual song page for its exact notes before choosing strings.
Custom Tuning (CGDGBC)Intermediate
CGDGBCNo Capo
Song Details
Custom Tuning (CGDGBC)Intermediate
CGDGBCNo Capo
Song Details
Custom Tuning (D#A#A#F#A#D)Intermediate
D#A#A#F#A#DNo Capo
Song Details
Custom Tuning (EAC#EAE)Intermediate
EAC#EAENo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a custom tuning?
Any tuning that isn't one of the common named presets — including rare open tunings, experimental modal tunings, and most seven- and eight-string configurations. Each song in this collection specifies its own exact string notes.
How do I tune to a custom tuning?
Open the specific song's page to see its exact string notes low to high, then tune each string to match. The reference tuner on this page defaults to Standard E as a neutral starting point.
Why do artists use so many different tunings?
Alternate tunings unlock chord voicings, drones and open-string resonances that are impossible in standard tuning. Many songwriters invent a tuning to suit a single song's mood, key or fingerpicking pattern.