7-String Guitar Tuning

Mic off

7-string standard B E A D G B E

Uses your microphone. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.

Tuning

Pitch

Normal

Strings

Detect string

A4 calibration

440Hz
  • Space Start / stop
  • 1-7 Play a string
  • A Auto detect

Standard tuning on a 7-string guitar is B E A D G B E: normal six-string standard tuning with an extra low B string underneath.

What is 7-string standard tuning?

The top six strings are tuned exactly like a six-string guitar, so every chord and scale you know still works. The extra 7th string is tuned to B, a fourth below the low E, the same distance as between most of the other strings.

That low B extends your range for heavy riffs, jazz bass lines and big chord voicings. Set the tuner's Strings to 7 and it listens for the low B as well.

7-string standard tuning notes

7-string standard from the thickest string to the thinnest is B E A D G B E. The frequencies are for standard pitch, A4 = 440 Hz.

StringNoteFrequency
7th (thickest)B161.74 Hz
6thE282.41 Hz
5thA2110.00 Hz
4thD3146.83 Hz
3rdG3196.00 Hz
2ndB3246.94 Hz
1st (thinnest)E4329.63 Hz

How to tune to 7-string standard

Tune each open string to the notes above, from the thickest string to the thinnest.

The tuner at the top of this page is already set to 7-string standard. Press the mic button, play each open string and let it ring, then turn the tuning peg until the string lights up green. Tune up slowly, a little at a time, and give the string a moment to settle.

Why guitarists use 7-string standard

  • Extra low range without changing anything on the top six strings.
  • Heavy riffs in B and Drop A with one string change.
  • Wider chord voicings for jazz and fingerstyle.

Learn to play in 7-string standard

Hear it played and try it yourself with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:

7-String Essentials - Chords Chris Feener 7-String Essentials - Scales Chris Feener 7-String Essentials - Arpeggios Chris Feener 7-String Metal Riffs - Part 1 Sean Conklin

Other guitar tunings

Drop DD A D G B E Half step downE♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭ D standardD G C F A D Drop CC G C F A D Drop C#C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯ Drop BB F♯ B E G♯ C♯ DADGADD A D G A D Open GD G D G B D Open DD A D F♯ A D Open EE B E G♯ B E Open CC G C G C E 7-string Drop AA E A D G B E 8-string standardF♯ B E A D G B E 9-string standardC♯ F♯ B E A D G B E

Back to the online guitar tuner

7-string standard tuning FAQ

How do I tune to 7-string standard tuning?

Play each open string, from the thickest to the thinnest, and turn its tuning peg until the tuner lights up green. The notes are B E A D G B E from low to high.

Why does the low B take longer to read?

Low strings vibrate slowly, so the tuner needs a moment longer to measure them. Pluck firmly near the neck and let the string ring for a second.