Standard Guitar Tuning Frequencies – Complete Guide

Standard guitar tuning uses the notes E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4 from the thickest string to the thinnest. With A4 set to 440 Hz, their fundamental frequencies are 82.41 Hz, 110.00 Hz, 146.83 Hz, 196.00 Hz, 246.94 Hz, and 329.63 Hz.

These values give precise tuning targets. If note and octave labels such as E2 or E4 are unfamiliar, this guide to scientific pitch notation explains how note names identify exact pitches.

What Are the Standard Guitar Tuning Frequencies?

The standard guitar tuning frequencies are 82.41 Hz for E2, 110.00 Hz for A2, 146.83 Hz for D3, 196.00 Hz for G3, 246.94 Hz for B3, and 329.63 Hz for E4. These are the open-string targets for a six-string guitar in E–A–D–G–B–E tuning, assuming 12-tone equal temperament and A4 = 440 Hz.

String	Position	Note	Frequency
6th	Thickest, lowest	E2	82.41 Hz
5th		A2	110.00 Hz
4th		D3	146.83 Hz
3rd		G3	196.00 Hz
2nd		B3	246.94 Hz
1st	Thinnest, highest	E4	329.63 Hz

Why do string numbers run from high to low?

Guitarists number the thinnest, highest-pitched string as the first string and the thickest, lowest-pitched string as the sixth. That convention can make a frequency chart seem reversed at first.

When someone says “tune from the sixth string to the first,” the sequence is low E, A, D, G, B, high E. When someone says “from the first string to the sixth,” the same pitches appear in reverse: E4, B3, G3, D3, A2, E2.

Are these exact or rounded values?

The displayed values are rounded to two decimal places, which is more precise than most practical guitar-tuning situations require.

A vibrating guitar string also produces harmonics above its fundamental frequency. The table lists the fundamental—the lowest repeating frequency that determines the perceived note—not every frequency present in the sound. A broader guitar note frequency reference can help when you need pitches beyond the six open strings.

Why Do the Two E Strings Have Different Frequencies?

The two open E strings have different frequencies because they are two octaves apart. The sixth string is E2 at about 82.41 Hz, while the first string is E4 at about 329.63 Hz; moving up two octaves multiplies frequency by four.

E2 versus E4

The letter E identifies a pitch class, while the number identifies the octave. E2 and E4 share the same position within their respective octaves, but E4 vibrates four times as fast as E2:

82.4069 × 2 = 164.8138 Hz for E3

164.8138 × 2 = 329.6276 Hz for E4

That doubling relationship is why notes an octave apart sound closely related even though one is much higher. The octave relationship in music provides more examples of frequency doubling and halving.

How Are Guitar-String Frequencies Calculated?

Guitar-string frequencies are calculated from a reference pitch using the 12-tone equal-temperament formula. With A4 fixed at 440 Hz, every semitone changes frequency by the constant ratio (2^{1/12}).

The formula is:

[
f = 440 \times 2^{n/12}
]

Here, (f) is the target frequency and (n) is the number of semitones above or below A4. A negative value of (n) represents a note below A4. For context on why A4 is used as the reference, see the explanation of the A4 frequency standard.

Worked example: the open A string

The open fifth string is A2, which sits two octaves below A4. Two octaves equal 24 semitones, so (n = -24):

[
f = 440 \times 2^{-24/12}
]

[
f = 440 \times 2^{-2} = 110\text{ Hz}
]

The result is exact within this tuning system: A2 equals 110 Hz. The other open-string values are calculated in the same way and then rounded for practical use.

Why are most adjacent strings a perfect fourth apart?

Standard tuning places E2–A2, A2–D3, D3–G3, and B3–E4 a perfect fourth apart. G3–B3 is a major third.

This irregular interval makes common chord shapes more manageable than an all-fourths layout. An equal-tempered perfect fourth spans five semitones, while a major third spans four. The guide to the perfect fourth interval explains the first relationship in more detail.

How Do You Tune a Guitar to These Frequencies?

Tune each open string separately, beginning with the sixth string at E2 and ending with the first string at E4. Pluck one string, let the tuner identify its note and frequency, then adjust the tuning machine until the reading centers on the target.

1. Mute the other five strings so they do not vibrate sympathetically.
2. Pluck the open string with a moderate, even attack.
3. Confirm both the note name and octave before making a large adjustment.
4. Tighten the string to raise its pitch or loosen it to lower its pitch.
5. Approach the target from slightly flat when possible, then recheck the string.
6. Repeat the full sequence because changing one string can slightly affect the others.

If you are working without an electronic reference, you can also learn how to tune a guitar by ear using a known starting pitch and interval comparisons.

What do sharp, flat, and cents mean?

A tuner may show that a string is sharp, meaning its frequency is above the target, or flat, meaning its frequency is below the target. Many tuners express the difference in cents; 100 cents equal one equal-tempered semitone.

Because the relationship is logarithmic, a one-hertz error represents a larger musical difference near low E than near high E. For normal playing, center the indicator rather than interpreting raw hertz alone.

Why does the tuner reading jump?

A reading may jump if you pluck too hard, allow adjacent strings to ring, or tune near background noise. Harmonics can also make a tuner display a higher note or octave.

Pluck near the middle of the string with moderate force and wait for the initial attack to settle. If the pitch repeatedly drifts after tuning, temperature, string stretching, friction at the nut, or worn strings may be involved; these are common reasons instruments go out of tune.

Does Changing the A4 Reference Change Every Guitar Frequency?

Changing the A4 reference changes every target frequency proportionally. For A4 = 432 Hz, multiply each standard frequency by (432/440).

String	Note	A4 = 440 Hz	A4 = 432 Hz
6th	E2	82.41 Hz	80.91 Hz
5th	A2	110.00 Hz	108.00 Hz
4th	D3	146.83 Hz	144.16 Hz
3rd	G3	196.00 Hz	192.44 Hz
2nd	B3	246.94 Hz	242.45 Hz
1st	E4	329.63 Hz	323.63 Hz

A4 = 432 Hz preserves the EADGBE note pattern and intervals but lowers the entire system slightly. See the comparison of 432 Hz and 440 Hz tuning for the practical difference.

Why isn’t the A string tuned to 440 Hz?

The open A string is A2, not A4. At the conventional reference, A4 is 440 Hz, A3 is one octave lower at 220 Hz, and A2 is another octave lower at 110 Hz.

Tuning the fifth string to 440 Hz would raise it two octaves and create extreme tension. “A = 440 Hz” defines the reference A in octave 4, not every A on an instrument.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Hz should each guitar string be tuned to?

In standard six-string tuning, tune the open strings low to high to E2 at 82.41 Hz, A2 at 110.00 Hz, D3 at 146.83 Hz, G3 at 196.00 Hz, B3 at 246.94 Hz, and E4 at 329.63 Hz. These targets assume A4 = 440 Hz.

Is standard guitar tuning based on 440 Hz?

Standard guitar frequency charts generally assume A4 = 440 Hz and 12-tone equal temperament. A guitar can use the same EADGBE note pattern with another reference pitch, but all six frequencies will shift proportionally.

Are acoustic and electric guitar tuning frequencies the same?

Yes. A standard-tuned six-string acoustic guitar and electric guitar use the same E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4 open-string frequencies. Their tone and harmonic content differ, but the fundamental target pitches do not.

Why does my tuner show the correct note but the wrong octave?

The tuner may be detecting a harmonic instead of the fundamental, especially after a hard pluck or when the fundamental is weak. Mute the other strings, pluck more gently, and compare the displayed octave with the E2-to-E4 targets in the table.

Do capoed guitar strings use the same frequencies?

No. A capo raises every open-string pitch by one semitone per fret while preserving the intervals between the strings. For example, a capo at the first fret changes the sounding open notes from E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4 to F2–B♭2–E♭3–A♭3–C4–F4.