Definition of Nashville tuning
Nashville tuning (also high-strung or high-string guitar) is the practice of replacing the heavy lower strings of a guitar with lighter ones that sound an octave higher.
The six strings of a guitar are normally tuned to the notes E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4. The lowest four strings, numbers 6–3, are wound. On a high-strung guitar, these strings are replaced with lighter gauge strings, often from the higher string from each course of a twelve-string guitar set.
Because the note names are the same, the chord shapes do not change, making high-strung guitars relatively easy to play for most guitarists. The resulting sound is bright and distinctive. It is common practice for sessions in Nashville to have a rhythm guitarist playing in Nashville tuning.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Nashville tuning?
Nashville tuning (also high-strung or high-string guitar) is the practice of replacing the heavy lower strings of a guitar with lighter ones that sound an octave higher.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Nashville tuning – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Trumpetrep – CC BY-SA 4.0