TUNING REFERENCE

Drop A tuning

A · E · A · D · G · B · E

Drop A is a 7-string guitar tuning with open strings A–E–A–D–G–B–E.

Instrument
7-String Guitar
Strings
7
Open notes
A E A D G B E
With octaves
A1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

A Minor on the fretboard

Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.

Choose a scale to see it in Drop A. A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

7-String Guitar referenceA Minor scale in this tuning

7-String Guitar · Drop A · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

A Minor in Drop A on 7-String GuitarPhysical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker.0123456789101112A1E2A2D3G3B3E4String 1, fret 0: A1, rootARString 1, fret 2: B1BString 1, fret 3: C2CString 1, fret 5: D2DString 1, fret 7: E2EString 1, fret 8: F2FString 1, fret 10: G2GString 1, fret 12: A2, rootARString 2, fret 0: E2EString 2, fret 1: F2FString 2, fret 3: G2GString 2, fret 5: A2, rootARString 2, fret 7: B2BString 2, fret 8: C3CString 2, fret 10: D3DString 2, fret 12: E3EString 3, fret 0: A2, rootARString 3, fret 2: B2BString 3, fret 3: C3CString 3, fret 5: D3DString 3, fret 7: E3EString 3, fret 8: F3FString 3, fret 10: G3GString 3, fret 12: A3, rootARString 4, fret 0: D3DString 4, fret 2: E3EString 4, fret 3: F3FString 4, fret 5: G3GString 4, fret 7: A3, rootARString 4, fret 9: B3BString 4, fret 10: C4CString 4, fret 12: D4DString 5, fret 0: G3GString 5, fret 2: A3, rootARString 5, fret 4: B3BString 5, fret 5: C4CString 5, fret 7: D4DString 5, fret 9: E4EString 5, fret 10: F4FString 5, fret 12: G4GString 6, fret 0: B3BString 6, fret 1: C4CString 6, fret 3: D4DString 6, fret 5: E4EString 6, fret 6: F4FString 6, fret 8: G4GString 6, fret 10: A4, rootARString 6, fret 12: B4BString 7, fret 0: E4EString 7, fret 1: F4FString 7, fret 3: G4GString 7, fret 5: A4, rootARString 7, fret 7: B4BString 7, fret 8: C5CString 7, fret 10: D5DString 7, fret 12: E5E

Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.

Fret positions and pitches · first catalog string to last
Open stringFretsNotes with octaves
1 · A10 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12A1 · B1 · C2 · D2 · E2 · F2 · G2 · A2
2 · E20 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E2 · F2 · G2 · A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3
3 · A20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3 · F3 · G3 · A3
4 · D30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12D3 · E3 · F3 · G3 · A3 · B3 · C4 · D4
5 · G30 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12G3 · A3 · B3 · C4 · D4 · E4 · F4 · G4
6 · B30 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 12B3 · C4 · D4 · E4 · F4 · G4 · A4 · B4
7 · E40 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E4 · F4 · G4 · A4 · B4 · C5 · D5 · E5

Intervals from the first string

Each interval is measured by pitch class from the first physical open string. String order is preserved for re-entrant and doubled-course tunings.

StringNoteSemitonesInterval
1A10Root
2E27Perfect 5th
3A20Root
4D35Perfect 4th
5G310Minor 7th
6B32Major 2nd
7E47Perfect 5th

Compare with Standard (7-String)

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard (7-String). Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1B1A1-2 semitones
2E2E20 semitones
3A2A20 semitones
4D3D30 semitones
5G3G30 semitones
6B3B30 semitones
7E4E40 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 7-string guitar tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.

Chords available in the open strings

E MinorG Major

Scales containing every open-string pitch class

C MajorD MajorE MinorE Minor pentatonicG MajorG Major pentatonicA MinorB Minor

Related tunings

Standard (7-String)Drop G#Drop GDrop F#

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