What is Nashville tuning?
Nashville tuning, also called high-strung tuning, keeps the familiar E A D G B E note names but raises the lowest four courses by one octave. From the sixth string to the first, the pitches are E3 A3 D4 G4 B3 E4. The B and high E strings stay at their normal standard-tuning octaves.
Target frequencies
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | E3 | 164.81 Hz |
| 5 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 4 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
| 3 | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
How to set it up
- Buy a Nashville/high-strung set or select the octave strings intended for a 12-string guitar.
- Install one string at a time and confirm its intended pitch before adding tension.
- Bring each string up gradually, then stretch it gently.
- Tune through all six strings several times while the new set settles.
Why players use it
The tuning preserves standard chord fingerings while removing the heavy bass register. Double-tracking a normal guitar with a Nashville-tuned guitar creates a wide, 12-string-like shimmer while allowing each performance to be panned or processed separately. It also works well for bright arpeggios and layered acoustic arrangements.
Setup considerations
The much lighter bass-side strings may change neck relief, nut fit, intonation, and pickup balance. A guitar dedicated to Nashville tuning can benefit from a setup for the lighter gauges. If the instrument will switch back and forth, expect to retune and recheck its setup.