String Names and Notes on Electric, Classical, Acoustic Guitar
When you start learning to play guitar, it’s important to know the names and notes of a guitar’s strings in standard tuning.
Guitar String Names and Notes in Standard Tuning
Whether you’re buying an electric, classical, acoustic, or western guitar, tuning your instrument before playing is essential. Proper tuning ensures a harmonious sound and is crucial for developing your musical ear. This guide will walk you through the basics of tuning your guitar using various tools and methods.
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Why Tuning Your Guitar Is Important
Tuning is not just for guitars; it applies to all stringed instruments and even wind instruments, which can be affected by temperature changes and transportation. Playing an out-of-tune instrument is not only unpleasant but can also hinder your musical development.
Understanding Guitar String Names and Numbers
The strings on a standard six-string guitar are named as follows, from the thickest to the thinnest:
- E (6th string)
- A (5th string)
- D (4th string)
- G (3rd string)
- B (2nd string)
- E (1st string)
In solfège, these are known as mi, la, re, sol, si, and mi. The top E string (6th) and the bottom E string (1st) are two octaves apart, with the 1st string being higher.
Using Guitar Tuners
Modern guitar tuners and tuning apps display both the note and the string number. For example, the 6th string (top, thickest string) is E, the 5th string is A, and so on.
Types of Guitar Tuners
1. Standard Tuners: Show the string number and note.
2. Chromatic Tuners: Display only the note, not the string number, requiring you to know which note corresponds to each string.
Recommended Tuning Apps
One popular choice for Android users is the Boss Chromatic Tuner TU-3 app. This app helps you tune your guitar accurately by displaying the notes you play.
Conclusion
Tuning your guitar is a fundamental skill every guitarist must master. Whether you use a traditional tuner or a modern app, understanding the relationship between string numbers and notes will help you keep your instrument sounding great.
How to quickly remember the names of the strings and how to memorize them?
Just remember this phrase…
Dutch: “Een Aap Die Geen Bananen Eet”
English: “Eddy Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddy”
German: “Eine Alte Dame Ging Brötchen Essen”
Learn How to Tune Your Guitar
Want to make sure your guitar is perfectly in tune before trying Drop D or Down tuning? Learn how to tune your electric, acoustic, classical, or western guitar step-by-step in our complete guide:
👉 How to Tune a Guitar in Standard E (440 Hz)
That page explains standard tuning, tuning methods, and how to use a chromatic tuner or tuning app accurately — the perfect place to start before exploring alternate tunings.
String Names and Notes for Down and Drop Tunings
Before you start tuning your guitar, it’s important to understand the difference between standard tuning, drop tuning, and down tuning. Many guitarists confuse Drop D tuning—where only the thick low E string is tuned down to D—with Down tuning (D Standard), where the entire guitar is tuned lower. Knowing this distinction helps you tune accurately and achieve the sound you want, whether you play rock, metal, or acoustic styles.
Drop D Tuning
Drop D tuning is one of the simplest and most popular alternate tunings on guitar. It means you only change one string — the thickest low E string (6th string) — and tune it down one whole step from E to D.
- E (6th string) → D
- A (5th string) = A
- D (4th string) = D
- G (3rd string) = G
- B (2nd string) = B
- E (1st string) = E
Why Use Drop D Tuning?
Drop D is loved by rock, metal, and modern acoustic players because it:
- Adds a heavier and darker sound.
- Lets you play power chords with one finger on the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings.
- Keeps the rest of the strings in standard tuning, so it’s easy to switch back and forth.
Bands like Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Foo Fighters and NIrvana often use Drop D for their powerful, open-string riffs.
Quick Tip
Even though you’re only tuning one string down, always check the other five strings afterward — the neck and bridge react to changes in tension. A quick retune ensures your guitar stays perfectly in pitch.
Important: Floating Bridge Warning!
If your guitar has a floating bridge (such as a Floyd Rose system), Drop D tuning is not recommended unless you fully rebalance the bridge. Lowering the tension on one string can cause the bridge to tilt, which throws all strings out of tune. If you’re using a fixed bridge (like on most acoustic, classical, or standard electric guitars), Drop D tuning is safe and quick to apply.
D (Down) Tuning or D Standard Tuning
D Down tuning, also called D Standard tuning, means lowering all six strings by a whole step (two semitones). This creates a deeper, heavier sound and reduces string tension, giving your guitar a looser, warmer feel — popular in rock, grunge, and metal styles..
- E (6th string) → D
- A (5th string) → G
- D (4th string) → C
- G (3rd string) → F
- B (2nd string) → A
- E (1st string) → D
Why Use D (Down) Tuning?
Guitarists use D Standard tuning for several reasons:
- It produces a heavier, darker tone without changing familiar chord shapes.
- Vocalists benefit because songs transpose one whole step lower, making high notes easier to reach.
- The lower tension makes bends and vibrato smoother, and open chords ring with a warmer, more resonant sound.
- In acoustic and folk music, D tuning adds depth and fullness, especially for fingerstyle or open-string playing.
- In rock and metal, it delivers thicker rhythm tones and more aggressive riffs.
Artists from Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains to John Mayer and Ben Howard have used D tuning for its expressive and organic character — it simply makes the guitar feel and sound more alive.
String Gauge Recommendations
Down tuning works best with slightly heavier string gauges. Using very light strings (like .008 or .009 sets) can cause rattling or buzzing due to the reduced tension. For a permanent down-tuned setup, switch to .010 or .011 strings — but make sure your nut slot and truss rod are adjusted accordingly.
Important: Floating Bridge Warning!
If your guitar has a floating bridge (such as a Floyd Rose system), avoid down tuning unless you plan to keep the guitar permanently in D Standard. Changing string tension without adjusting the bridge will cause instability and tuning issues. If you do intend to stay in D Standard, have the bridge properly rebalanced and adjusted.
Dorp D and D Downtune Using Guitar Tuners
Before tuning, check the settings of your guitar tuner!
Most tuners have a G-mode (Guitar Mode), which is designed for standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and only recognizes those notes.
When tuning to Drop D or D Standard (Down Tuning), switch your tuner to C-mode (Chromatic Mode).
In chromatic mode, the tuner detects all pitch variations, allowing you to tune each string accurately even when the notes fall outside standard tuning. Always double-check each string after tuning — lower tension can slightly shift the pitch once the neck adjusts.
Whether you use a clip-on tuner, a pedal tuner, or a mobile tuning app, make sure it supports chromatic detection.
This ensures perfect accuracy for both Drop D and D Standard tunings, keeping your guitar stable and in tune.
Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!
Wouter Baustein
Music Producer, Music & Mindset Coach
If you like clear, practical guitar and music coaching instead of random YouTube tips, you need structure. My guitar books and coaching programs give you that structure, so you can finally make real progress and level up your playing.
