Eight-string standard tuning
Standard seven-string tuning with an F# string added a fourth below the low B. The three lowest strings are the same as a standard bass guitar's top three, an octave up.
- 1st E
- 2nd B
- 3rd G
- 4th D
- 5th A
- 6th E
- 7th B
- 8th F#
- Notes, highest to lowest
- F# B E A D G B E
- Notes, lowest to highest
- E B G D A E B F#
- Strings
- 8
- Interval pattern
- 8th to 7th: 5 semitones; 7th to 6th: 5 semitones; 6th to 5th: 5 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: 5 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 4 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 5 semitones
- Family
- extended
- Typical scale length
- 26.5–28 in
- Written use
- Used for material that needs the bottom of a bass guitar's range under guitar chord shapes.
- Key of this tuning
- F#
Strings
Each string of this tuning, with its scientific pitch, its MIDI note number (middle C is 60) and its distance above the lowest string.
| String | Note | Octave | MIDI | Semitones above the lowest | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (highest) | E | 4 | 64 | 34 | Minor seventh plus two octaves above the lowest string |
| 2nd | B | 3 | 59 | 29 | Perfect fourth plus two octaves above the lowest string |
| 3rd | G | 3 | 55 | 25 | Minor second plus two octaves above the lowest string |
| 4th | D | 3 | 50 | 20 | Minor thirteenth above the lowest string |
| 5th | A | 2 | 45 | 15 | Augmented ninth above the lowest string |
| 6th | E | 2 | 40 | 10 | Minor seventh above the lowest string |
| 7th | B | 1 | 35 | 5 | Perfect fourth above the lowest string |
| 8th (lowest) | F# | 1 | 30 | 0 | the reference string |
Common chord shapes
The shapes below were found by searching this tuning's fretboard. The search prefers the lowest playable position, requires every chord tone, spans no more than four frets and allows no muted string between two sounding ones. Shapes in an altered tuning are not the standard ones: they are the shapes this tuning actually produces.
| Chord | Shape (lowest string first) | Notes | Degrees | Span | Sounding | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F#m | 0-2-2-0-4-2-2-2 | F# C# F# A F# A C# F# | 1 5 1 b3 1 b3 5 1 | 4 | 8 | Minor |
| Bm | 0-0-2-2-0-4-0-2 | F# B F# B D B B F# | 5 1 5 1 b3 1 1 5 | 4 | 8 | Minor |
| Em | 1-0-0-2-2-0-0-0 | G B E B E G B E | b3 5 1 5 1 b3 5 1 | 2 | 8 | Minor |
| E | 2-0-0-2-2-1-0-0 | G# B E B E G# B E | 3 5 1 5 1 3 5 1 | 2 | 8 | Major |
| A | x-2-0-0-2-2-2-0 | x C# E A E A C# E | x 3 5 1 5 1 3 5 | 2 | 7 | Major |
| D | 0-3-2-0-0-2-3-2 | F# D F# A D A D F# | 3 1 3 5 1 5 1 3 | 3 | 8 | Major |
Diatonic chords in F#
The seven triads built on the major scale of this tuning's home key, each as a playable shape in this tuning.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Shape (lowest string first) | Sounding | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | F# | F# A# C# | 0-2-2-1-4-3-2-2 | 8 | Major |
| ii | G#m | G# B D# | 2-0-4-2-1-1-0-4 | 8 | Minor |
| iii | A#m | A# C# E# | x-2-1-1-3-3-2-1 | 7 | Minor |
| IV | B | B D# F# | 0-0-2-2-1-4-0-2 | 8 | Major |
| V | C# | C# E# G# | 2-2-1-4-3-1-2-1 | 8 | Major |
| vi | D#m | D# F# A# | 0-4-2-1-1-3-4-2 | 8 | Minor |
| vii° | Fdim | F Ab Cb | 2-0-1-2-3-1-0-1 | 8 | Diminished |
What this tuning is used for
Used for material that needs the bottom of a bass guitar's range under guitar chord shapes.
- GenreProgressive metal
- GenreExperimental
Related tunings
- TuningSeven-string standard
- TuningDrop A
- TuningBaritone (B to B)
Related