Guitar tuning
8-String Standard Tuning
Eight-string standard adds a low F# below seven-string standard tuning.
- Notes low to high
- F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, E
- Strings
- 8
- Default frets
- 24
- Open pitch range
- F#1 to E4
- 24-fret pitch range
- F#1 to E6
- Also called
- F# Standard 8-String, F#BEADGBE
How this tuning changes the guitar
Eight-string standard adds low F sharp and B beneath ordinary six-string standard tuning. The upper seven strings match seven-string standard, and each new low-string interval is a perfect fourth.
Fretboard and chord implications
Familiar six- and seven-string shapes remain available on the upper strings. The low F sharp extends scale and arpeggio patterns while enabling bass-register roots, contrary motion, and chord voicings spanning more than three octaves.
8-String Standard Tuning fretboard notes
8-String Standard Tuning string notes
| String | Note | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | F# | F#1 |
| 7 | B | B1 |
| 6 | E | E2 |
| 5 | A | A2 |
| 4 | D | D3 |
| 3 | G | G3 |
| 2 | B | B3 |
| 1 | E | E4 |
Common uses
- progressive heavy music
- djent
- extended-range chords
- wide-range riffing
Practice this tuning
- Tune from low to high as F# B E A D G B E, then play each open string while saying its note name and string number aloud.
- Extend an F sharp minor scale shape from the eighth string through the upper strings, marking every root and fifth before adding the remaining tones.
- Arrange an F sharp minor progression with separate bass notes on strings 8 and 7 and compact chord voicings on strings 4 through 1.
Open this tuning in the fretboard tool
Start with 8-string standard tuning loaded, then adjust root, scale, fret count, labels, colors, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboard