TUNING REFERENCE

Standard (9-String) tuning

C# · F# · B · E · A · D · G · B · E

Standard (9-String) is a 9-string guitar tuning with open strings C#–F#–B–E–A–D–G–B–E.

Instrument
9-String Guitar
Strings
9
Open notes
C# F# B E A D G B E
With octaves
C#1 F#1 B1 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

C# 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 Standard (9-String). A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

9-String Guitar referenceC# Minor scale in this tuning

9-String Guitar · Standard (9-String) · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

C# Minor in Standard (9-String) on 9-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.0123456789101112C#1F#1B1E2A2D3G3B3E4String 1, fret 0: C#1, rootC#RString 1, fret 2: D#1D#String 1, fret 3: E1EString 1, fret 5: F#1F#String 1, fret 7: G#1G#String 1, fret 8: A1AString 1, fret 10: B1BString 1, fret 12: C#2, rootC#RString 2, fret 0: F#1F#String 2, fret 2: G#1G#String 2, fret 3: A1AString 2, fret 5: B1BString 2, fret 7: C#2, rootC#RString 2, fret 9: D#2D#String 2, fret 10: E2EString 2, fret 12: F#2F#String 3, fret 0: B1BString 3, fret 2: C#2, rootC#RString 3, fret 4: D#2D#String 3, fret 5: E2EString 3, fret 7: F#2F#String 3, fret 9: G#2G#String 3, fret 10: A2AString 3, fret 12: B2BString 4, fret 0: E2EString 4, fret 2: F#2F#String 4, fret 4: G#2G#String 4, fret 5: A2AString 4, fret 7: B2BString 4, fret 9: C#3, rootC#RString 4, fret 11: D#3D#String 4, fret 12: E3EString 5, fret 0: A2AString 5, fret 2: B2BString 5, fret 4: C#3, rootC#RString 5, fret 6: D#3D#String 5, fret 7: E3EString 5, fret 9: F#3F#String 5, fret 11: G#3G#String 5, fret 12: A3AString 6, fret 1: D#3D#String 6, fret 2: E3EString 6, fret 4: F#3F#String 6, fret 6: G#3G#String 6, fret 7: A3AString 6, fret 9: B3BString 6, fret 11: C#4, rootC#RString 7, fret 1: G#3G#String 7, fret 2: A3AString 7, fret 4: B3BString 7, fret 6: C#4, rootC#RString 7, fret 8: D#4D#String 7, fret 9: E4EString 7, fret 11: F#4F#String 8, fret 0: B3BString 8, fret 2: C#4, rootC#RString 8, fret 4: D#4D#String 8, fret 5: E4EString 8, fret 7: F#4F#String 8, fret 9: G#4G#String 8, fret 10: A4AString 8, fret 12: B4BString 9, fret 0: E4EString 9, fret 2: F#4F#String 9, fret 4: G#4G#String 9, fret 5: A4AString 9, fret 7: B4BString 9, fret 9: C#5, rootC#RString 9, fret 11: D#5D#String 9, 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 · C#10 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12C#1 · D#1 · E1 · F#1 · G#1 · A1 · B1 · C#2
2 · F#10 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12F#1 · G#1 · A1 · B1 · C#2 · D#2 · E2 · F#2
3 · B10 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12B1 · C#2 · D#2 · E2 · F#2 · G#2 · A2 · B2
4 · E20 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12E2 · F#2 · G#2 · A2 · B2 · C#3 · D#3 · E3
5 · A20 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12A2 · B2 · C#3 · D#3 · E3 · F#3 · G#3 · A3
6 · D31 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 11D#3 · E3 · F#3 · G#3 · A3 · B3 · C#4
7 · G31 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 8 · 9 · 11G#3 · A3 · B3 · C#4 · D#4 · E4 · F#4
8 · B30 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12B3 · C#4 · D#4 · E4 · F#4 · G#4 · A4 · B4
9 · E40 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12E4 · F#4 · G#4 · A4 · B4 · C#5 · D#5 · 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
1C#10Root
2F#15Perfect 4th
3B110Minor 7th
4E23Minor 3rd
5A28Minor 6th
6D31Minor 2nd
7G36Tritone
8B310Minor 7th
9E43Minor 3rd

Compare with Standard (9-String)

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard (9-String). Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1C#1C#10 semitones
2F#1F#10 semitones
3B1B10 semitones
4E2E20 semitones
5A2A20 semitones
6D3D30 semitones
7G3G30 semitones
8B3B30 semitones
9E4E40 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 9-string guitar tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.

Chords available in the open strings

D MajorE MinorF# MinorG MajorA MajorB Minor

Scales containing every open-string pitch class

D MajorB Minor

Related tunings

Drop B

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