Nashville tuning (high strung) tuning

The bottom four strings are replaced by the octave strings of a twelve-string set, so the third through sixth strings sound an octave above standard. The second and first strings are ordinary. The result occupies the same register as the top four strings doubled.

1st E
2nd B
3rd G
4th D
5th A
6th E

Notes, highest to lowest: E A D G B E
Notes, lowest to highest: E B G D A E
Strings: 6
Interval pattern: 6th to 5th: -7 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: -7 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 4 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 5 semitones
Family: special
Typical scale length: 24.75–25.5 in
Open strings contain: A7sus4, E7sus4, Em7, G6, Gadd9, Asus2, Asus4, Dsus2, Dsus4, Em
Written use: Used to add a shimmering layer to an acoustic arrangement without a twelve-string instrument. It is a recording technique more than a playing tuning.
Key of this tuning: E

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	0	Perfect unison above the lowest string
2nd	B	3	59	-5	-5 semitones above the lowest string
3rd	G	3	55	-9	-9 semitones above the lowest string
4th	D	4	62	-2	-2 semitones above the lowest string
5th	A	3	57	-7	-7 semitones above the lowest string
6th (lowest)	E	4	64	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
E	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	E B E G# B E	1 5 1 3 5 1	2	6	Major
A	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	E A E A C# E	5 1 5 1 3 5	2	6	Major
D	2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)	F# A D A x x	3 5 1 5 x x	2	4	Major
C	x-x-2-0-1-0 (6→1)	x x E G C E	x x 3 5 1 3	2	4	Major
G	x-2-0-0-0-x (6→1)	x B D G B x	x 3 5 1 3 x	2	4	Major
Am	0-0-2-2-1-0 (6→1)	E A E A C E	5 1 5 1 b3 5	2	6	Minor

Chord

Shape (lowest string first)

Notes

Degrees

Span

Sounding

Quality

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

E B E G# B E

1 5 1 3 5 1

Major

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

E A E A C# E

5 1 5 1 3 5

Major

2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)

F# A D A x x

3 5 1 5 x x

Major

x-x-2-0-1-0 (6→1)

x x E G C E

x x 3 5 1 3

Major

x-2-0-0-0-x (6→1)

x B D G B x

x 3 5 1 3 x

Major

0-0-2-2-1-0 (6→1)

E A E A C E

5 1 5 1 b3 5

Minor

Diatonic chords in E

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	E	E G# B	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	6	Major
ii	F#m	F# A C#	2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)	6	Minor
iii	G#m	G# B D#	x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)	4	Minor
IV	A	A C# E	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	6	Major
V	B	B D# F#	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	6	Major
vi	C#m	C# E G#	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	4	Minor
vii°	D#dim	D# F# A	2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)	4	Diminished

Numeral

Chord

Notes

Shape (lowest string first)

Sounding

Quality

E G# B

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

Major

F#m

F# A C#

2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)

Minor

iii

G#m

G# B D#

x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)

Minor

A C# E

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Major

B D# F#

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

Major

C#m

C# E G#

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

Minor

vii°

D#dim

D# F# A

2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)

Diminished

What this tuning is used for

Used to add a shimmering layer to an acoustic arrangement without a twelve-string instrument. It is a recording technique more than a playing tuning.

GenreCountry and AmericanaNamed after its long use in Nashville studio sessions.
GenreFolk rockUsed as a doubled layer behind a standard-tuned acoustic.

Related tunings

TuningStandardthe tuning this is derived from
TuningBaritone (B to B)the opposite register, a fourth below standard

Everything in E · All tunings

TuningStandard tuning — E A D G B EE A D G B E · 6 strings
TuningBaritone (B to B) tuning — B E A D F# BB E A D F# B · 6 strings
TuningOpen E tuning — E B E G# B EE B E G# B E · 6 strings
ChordE11 — Dominant eleventh1 9 3 11 5 b7 · E F# G# A B D
ChordE13 — Dominant thirteenth1 9 3 5 13 b7 · E F# G# B C# D
ChordE6 — Sixth1 3 5 6 · E G# B C#
DegreesE — degree mapE major and natural minor · frets 0–22
Neck mapE — note mapE major · frets 0–22 · E F# G# A B C# D#

Everything in this key: E · Tunings · Theory Atlas