8 String Guitar Tuning Guide
Interested in an 8-string guitar? We’ll explain how it’s tuned.
What Is the Standard Tuning on an 8-string Guitar?
An 8-string guitar is like a regular 6-string, but with two lower strings for playing notes in the bass register.
Standard tuning on a 6-string guitar is E A D G B E, from the sixth string, the lowest in pitch, to the first string, the highest.
The 8-string adds a seventh string tuned to the musical interval of a fourth lower, which is B. The eighth string is tuned another fourth below that, at F#.
Standard tuning on an 8-string guitar is therefore F# B E A D G B E.
However, guitarists in your favorite bands may use one of many alternate tunings.
Changing Strings on an 8-string Guitar
Changing strings on an 8-string is the same procedure as on a 6-string guitar. However, you need to take care to select the right set of strings with the correct gauge for each string.
An 8-string is an extended-range guitar: the strings are longer than those on a regular guitar. Eight-string guitars are intermediate in scale length between the shorter 6-string guitar and the longer bass guitar.
The set of strings you need will depend on the scale length of your 8-string, which can vary between 27 inches (686mm) and 29.5 inches (750mm) and whether or not your guitar has a single scale or is multi-scale (the design where each string has a different scale length).
When in doubt, go to your guitar manufacturer’s website, find the listing for your model, and look at the specifications to find the string gauges. Buy a new set with the same gauges.
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