E-A-D-G-B-E looks like someone spilled alphabet soup on the fretboard. But there's a hidden geometry in there, a little cosmic order, and once you feel it, the whole neck opens up like a star map.
From the thickest string to the thinnest, the strings are E, A, D, G, B, E. Most neighboring strings are tuned a perfect fourth apart. The only exception is between the G and B strings, which are a major third apart.
◆ KEY IDEA
Mostly fourths, one exception
Why not tune it in even steps? You could, but then chords would demand huge, painful stretches. Standard tuning is the compromise that keeps both chords and scales playable by a normal human hand.
Maximus will take you to space; I'll bring you back down. Practically speaking: it's what everyone uses. Learn it and every song, teacher, and chord chart on Earth already speaks your language.
★ PRO TIP
The two E's are a gift
Your turn ⭐
Tuning logic
Question 1 of 3
Most of the guitar's strings are tuned a 'fourth' apart. Which pair breaks the pattern?
The cheat sheet
- Standard tuning is E A D G B E, low to high.
- Most strings are a 'fourth' apart; only G-to-B is a 'third'.
- That one exception makes common chord shapes fit the hand.
- It's the near-universal tuning — learn it before any alternate tunings.
Common questions
Why isn't the guitar tuned in even intervals?
It could be (some alternate tunings are), but even intervals force big finger stretches for chords. Standard tuning's mix of fourths plus one third is the sweet spot that keeps chords and scales reachable.
Are there other tunings?
Yes — drop D, open G, DADGAD and many more, each with its own sound. But standard (E A D G B E) is what the vast majority of songs and lessons use, so learn it first.
Which string is which again?
Thickest to thinnest: E (low), A, D, G, B, E (high). The mnemonic 'Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie' keeps the order straight.