How to Use Nashville Tuning on a Guitar

Nashville tuning is a way of tuning acoustic guitar strings or electric guitar strings to a higher pitch so that all open strings are within a major tenth of each other. Also known as high-strung tuning, Nashville tuning maintains the standard pitches of a guitar's top two strings while raising the lower strings by an octave. This results in the following guitar tuning:

• Sixth string moves up from E2 to E3
• Fifth string moves up from A2 to A3
• Fourth string moves up from D3 to D4
• Third string moves up from G3 to G4
• Second string stays at B3
• First string stays at E4

As a result of this tuning, the sixth string remains your low E string, but the first string (high E string) is no longer the highest open tone. The G string becomes the highest open tone, as it sounds a G4, which is a minor third above an E4.

Nashville tuning lets a guitarist produce the sound of a higher-pitched instrument, including a mandolin, banjo, ukulele, 12-string guitar, or even a six-string guitar with a capo. Famous rock songs that feature Nashville tunings include "Hey You" by Pink Floyd, "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas, "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones, and "Closer to the Heart" by Rush. Jazz fusion crossover guitarist Pat Metheny is also fond of the Nashville tuning, and you can hear it in action on tunes like "Phase Dance" by the Pat Metheny Group.

Use Nashville tuning to produce a high, chime-like sound that cuts through the instrumental mix of other band members. High-strung tuning offers a bright acoustic tone and can help you record a bell-like electric guitar track that stands out even with other guitars in the mix. Nashville tuning works particularly well on strummed guitar parts, but it can make traditional lead playing a bit tricky, due to the heightened amount of tension it places on a guitar strings. The first time you use a Nashville tuning, strum gently so as not to break any strings. The great part about the Nashville tuning is that once you've set up your high-strung guitar, you can start playing just like you always would. The pitches remain the same.

Stringing your guitar in Nashville tuning is easy, provided you have the right guitar string set. Look for strings designed for Nashville-tuned guitars to ensure that they have the proper gauge. You can also use strings from a 12-string set. You'll want the "octave up" strings for your bottom four notes and the standard set of strings for your top two pitches.

Don't try to string your guitar Nashville-style with a set of standard guitar string gauges. The tension on the lower four strings isn't good for your guitar's neck, and it will only be a matter of time before the strings snap—particularly your G string.

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