All fourths Tuning on 6-string guitar
All fourths tuning is E2 A2 D3 G3 C4 F4, written EADGCF. Raise the 2nd string a semitone to C4 and the 1st a semitone to F4. The bottom four strings are already a fourth apart in standard tuning and do not move.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (lowest) | E2 | 82.41 | 40 |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 | 45 |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | 50 |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | 55 |
| 2nd | C4 | 261.63 | 60 |
| 1st (highest) | F4 | 349.23 | 65 |
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
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Why guitarists use All fourths tuning
Removing the major third between the 3rd and 2nd strings makes the fretboard completely regular: one scale or chord shape works identically on any string pair. That is why bass players find it natural, and it is the reason the trade-off exists at all, since standard tuning bought easier open chords by breaking that symmetry.
Where you will hear it: jazz, practice and theory work, players crossing over from bass. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
All fourths compared with standard EADGBE tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | All fourths | All fourths (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (lowest) | E2 | 82.41 | E2 | 82.41 | unchanged |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 | A2 | 110.00 | unchanged |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | D3 | 146.83 | unchanged |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | G3 | 196.00 | unchanged |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 | C4 | 261.63 | +1 semitone (+14.68 Hz) |
| 1st (highest) | E4 | 329.63 | F4 | 349.23 | +1 semitone (+19.60 Hz) |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to All fourths, string by string
- Play the 6th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads E2 at 82.41 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 5th open and adjust until the tuner reads A2 at 110.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 4th open and adjust until the tuner reads D3 at 146.83 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads G3 at 196.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads C4 at 261.63 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads F4 at 349.23 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is All fourths tuning on a 6-string guitar?
All fourths is E2, A2, D3, G3, C4, F4, written EADGCF. Raise the 2nd string a semitone to C4 and the 1st a semitone to F4. The bottom four strings are already a fourth apart in standard tuning and do not move.
What are the frequencies of All fourths tuning?
E2 is 82.41 Hz, A2 is 110.00 Hz, D3 is 146.83 Hz, G3 is 196.00 Hz, C4 is 261.63 Hz, F4 is 349.23 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
2 of 6. the 2nd goes from B3 to C4 (up 1 semitone), the 1st (highest) goes from E4 to F4 (up 1 semitone).
What is the lowest note in All fourths tuning?
E2 at 82.41 Hz, MIDI note 40. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
Other 6-string guitar tunings
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .