{"id":1779921,"date":"2023-12-22T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1779921"},"modified":"2025-08-23T12:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T16:13:08","slug":"8-string-guitar-tuning-guide","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/8-string-guitar-tuning-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"8 String Guitar Tuning Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interested in an 8-string guitar<\/a>? We\u2019ll explain how it\u2019s tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Standard Tuning on an 8-string Guitar?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An 8-string guitar is like a regular 6-string, but with two lower strings for playing notes in the bass register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard tuning on an 8-string guitar is therefore F# B E A D G B E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, guitarists in your favorite bands may use one of many alternate tunings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing Strings on an 8-string Guitar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An 8-string is an extended-range<\/strong> guitar: the strings are longer than those on a regular guitar. Eight-string guitars are intermediate in scale length<\/strong> between the shorter 6-string guitar and the longer bass guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> (the design where each string has a different scale length).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When in doubt, go to your guitar manufacturer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n