TUNING REFERENCE

Drop E tuning

E · B · E · A · D · G · B · E

Drop E is a 8-string guitar tuning with open strings E–B–E–A–D–G–B–E.

Instrument
8-String Guitar
Strings
8
Open notes
E B E A D G B E
With octaves
E1 B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

E 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 E. A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

8-String Guitar referenceE Minor scale in this tuning

8-String Guitar · Drop E · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

E Minor in Drop E on 8-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.0123456789101112E1B1E2A2D3G3B3E4String 1, fret 0: E1, rootERString 1, fret 2: F#1F#String 1, fret 3: G1GString 1, fret 5: A1AString 1, fret 7: B1BString 1, fret 8: C2CString 1, fret 10: D2DString 1, fret 12: E2, rootERString 2, fret 0: B1BString 2, fret 1: C2CString 2, fret 3: D2DString 2, fret 5: E2, rootERString 2, fret 7: F#2F#String 2, fret 8: G2GString 2, fret 10: A2AString 2, fret 12: B2BString 3, fret 0: E2, rootERString 3, fret 2: F#2F#String 3, fret 3: G2GString 3, fret 5: A2AString 3, fret 7: B2BString 3, fret 8: C3CString 3, fret 10: D3DString 3, fret 12: E3, rootERString 4, fret 0: A2AString 4, fret 2: B2BString 4, fret 3: C3CString 4, fret 5: D3DString 4, fret 7: E3, rootERString 4, fret 9: F#3F#String 4, fret 10: G3GString 4, fret 12: A3AString 5, fret 0: D3DString 5, fret 2: E3, rootERString 5, fret 4: F#3F#String 5, fret 5: G3GString 5, fret 7: A3AString 5, fret 9: B3BString 5, fret 10: C4CString 5, fret 12: D4DString 6, fret 0: G3GString 6, fret 2: A3AString 6, fret 4: B3BString 6, fret 5: C4CString 6, fret 7: D4DString 6, fret 9: E4, rootERString 6, fret 11: F#4F#String 6, fret 12: G4GString 7, fret 0: B3BString 7, fret 1: C4CString 7, fret 3: D4DString 7, fret 5: E4, rootERString 7, fret 7: F#4F#String 7, fret 8: G4GString 7, fret 10: A4AString 7, fret 12: B4BString 8, fret 0: E4, rootERString 8, fret 2: F#4F#String 8, fret 3: G4GString 8, fret 5: A4AString 8, fret 7: B4BString 8, fret 8: C5CString 8, fret 10: D5DString 8, fret 12: E5, rootER

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 · E10 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E1 · F#1 · G1 · A1 · B1 · C2 · D2 · E2
2 · B10 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12B1 · C2 · D2 · E2 · F#2 · G2 · A2 · B2
3 · E20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E2 · F#2 · G2 · A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3
4 · A20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3
5 · D30 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12D3 · E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3 · B3 · C4 · D4
6 · G30 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12G3 · A3 · B3 · C4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4
7 · B30 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12B3 · C4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4 · A4 · B4
8 · E40 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E4 · F#4 · 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
1E10Root
2B17Perfect 5th
3E20Root
4A25Perfect 4th
5D310Minor 7th
6G33Minor 3rd
7B37Perfect 5th
8E40Root

Compare with Standard (8-String)

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard (8-String). Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1F#1E1-2 semitones
2B1B10 semitones
3E2E20 semitones
4A2A20 semitones
5D3D30 semitones
6G3G30 semitones
7B3B30 semitones
8E4E40 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 8-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 (8-String)Drop D#Double Drop D (8-String)F Standard

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