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Lute / Renaissance Tuning Guitar Tuner

Lute / Renaissance Tuning
±0
E
Target: 82.4 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
E82
A110
D147
F#185
B247
E330

How to Tune to Lute / Renaissance Tuning

Standard tuning with the G string dropped to F#, recreating the interval structure of a Renaissance lute. This small change (just one half step on one string) transforms the guitar into a remarkably effective lute substitute, allowing you to play 400+ years of Renaissance lute tablature directly on a modern guitar. It's the gateway to an enormous repertoire of beautiful early music.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 1 of 6 strings:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2E2Leave as is
String 5A2A2Leave as is
String 4D3D3Leave as is
String 3G3F#3Tune down a half step
String 2B3B3Leave as is
String 1E4E4Leave as is
Printable Lute / Renaissance Tuning chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

The Renaissance lute was the most popular instrument in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries — essentially the guitar of its era. Thousands of compositions survive in lute tablature. By making this one half-step change to your guitar, you gain access to music by John Dowland, who was as famous in Elizabethan England as any modern rock star. Shakespeare mentioned the lute in multiple plays.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:Standard strings work perfectly. The only change is dropping the G string by one half step to F#, which is an extremely minor tension reduction. No special strings or setup required.

Gear for Lute / Renaissance Tuning

Tools that make tuning to E - A - D - F# - B - E easier.

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

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Lute / Renaissance TuningIntermediate
E - A - D - F# - B - ENo Capo
Song Details
Lute / Renaissance TuningIntermediate
E - A - D - F# - B - ENo Capo
Song Details
Lute / Renaissance TuningIntermediate
E - A - D - F# - B - ENo Capo
Song Details
Lute / Renaissance TuningIntermediate
E - A - D - F# - B - ENo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Why F#?
The Renaissance lute uses intervals of perfect fourths between all pairs of adjacent strings (unlike the guitar, which has a major third between the G and B strings). Dropping the G to F# creates four consecutive fourths (E-A, A-D, D-F#, F#-B) with the same major third remaining between B and E. This matches the lute's interval pattern and allows lute tablature to be read directly.
How to tune my guitar like a lute?
Simply drop your G string (3rd string) by one half step from G to F#. That's it — everything else stays in standard tuning. You can verify the tuning by playing the 4th fret of the 4th string (D), which should now match your open 3rd string (F#). This is the simplest alternate tuning to achieve.
Can I play lute tablature on guitar with this tuning?
Yes — that's the primary purpose of this tuning. Renaissance lute tablature (which uses letters instead of numbers) can be played directly once you're in lute tuning. The fret positions correspond correctly, and the intervallic relationships match. Many guitar editions of Dowland, da Milano, and other lute composers assume this tuning.
What is Greensleeves in lute tuning?
"Greensleeves" is a traditional English melody dating to the late 16th century, originally performed on lute. In lute tuning (E-A-D-F#-B-E), you can play arrangements that accurately reproduce the original lute voicings. The F# on the 3rd string gives the inner chord voices their correct Renaissance flavor.