Repetitive tuning

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title: "Repetitive tuning" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["repetitive-guitar-tunings"] topic_path: "general/repetitive-guitar-tunings" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetitive_tuning" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Shift_C-major_chord_three_strings_in_major_thirds_tuning_on_six-string_guitar.png" caption="Major-thirds tuning repeats itself (at a higher octave) after three strings. Thus, chords can be shifted vertically on the same frets."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/First_and_second_inversions_of_C-major_chord_on_six-string_guitar_with_major-thirds_tuning.png" caption="p=1}}}}" alt="The C major chord and its first and second inversions. In the first inversion, the C note has been raised 3 strings on the same fret. In the second inversion, both the C note and the E note have been raised 3 strings on the same fret."] ::

Repetitive tunings are a type of alternative tunings for the guitar. A repetitive tuning begins with a list of notes that is duplicated, either at unison or at higher octaves.

Among regular tunings, there are four repetitive-tunings (besides trivially repetitive tunings such as C-C-C-C-C-C); this article discusses three minor-thirds tuning, major-thirds tuning, and augmented-fourths tuning (but not major seconds tuning, which is not repetitive on six strings). Among open tunings, there are repetitive versions of open C tuning and open G tuning, which have been associated with the English and Russian guitars, respectively.

Repetition eases the learning of fretboard and chords and eases improvisation. For example, in major-thirds tuning, chords are raised an octave by shifting fingers by three strings on the same frets. "/

Repetitive tunings are listed after their number of open pitches. For example, the repetitive open-C tuning C-E-G-C-E-G has three open-pitches, each of which is associated with repeated notes {(C,C), (E,E), (G,G)}.

One

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Tritone_in_the_chromatic_circle.png" caption="augmented-fourths (tritone) tuning]]s repeats its two notes three times."] ::

The trivial tuning repeats the same note every string. It is also called a unison regular tuning. :C-C-C-C-C-C.

Other trivial-tunings repeat their single notes on a higher octave (or on higher octaves), for example, :C-C-c-c-c'-c'.

Two

The following tunings repeat their notes on a higher octave after two strings:

  • Augmented-fourths tuning, for example, B-F-b-f-b'-f'. Any note fingered on one string can be fingered on two other strings. Thus chords can be fingered in many ways in augmented-fourths tuning. It is also a regular tuning in which the interval between its strings is a tritone (augmented fourth).

  • A cittern tuning, such as C-G-c-g-c'-g'. There are other tunings for the cittern.

  • Alternating fourths and fifths tuning, such as A1-D2-A2-D3-A3-D4. (ADADAD)

This kind of tuning can also be called modal D or open D5 as it contains a D chord without a third. It is also used on other instruments, e.g. fiddle, mandolin and the Irish bouzouki.

Three

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Augmented_chord_in_the_chromatic_circle.png" caption="Every [[major-thirds tuning]] repeats its three notes twice."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/RussianSevenStringTuning.jpg" caption="For the Russian guitar, the open strings form a G-major chord, which is twice repeated"] ::

The following tunings repeat their notes after three strings:

  • Major-thirds tuning, such as E-G-c-e-g-c' and : D-G-B-D-G-B-D, Chord inversion is especially simple in major-thirds tuning. Chords are inverted simply by raising one or two notes three strings. The raised notes are played with the same finger as the original notes. The major-thirds tuning is also a regular tuning having a major third interval between strings.

  • Open G tuning, which is used as D', G', B, D, g, b, d' for the (7-string) Russian guitar.

  • Open C tuning. For the English guitar's open C tuning, there are ten strings—of which the highest eight are paired in four courses (duplicated strings), C E GG cc ee gg.

Four

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Diminished_seventh_chord_in_the_chromatic_circle.png" caption="[[Minor-thirds tuning]]s repeat its four notes after four strings (twice on an [[eight-string guitar]])."] ::

In each minor-thirds tuning, every interval between successive strings is a minor third. It repeats its open-notes after four strings. Doubled notes have different sounds because of differing "string widths, tensions and tunings, and [they] reinforce each other, like the doubled strings of a twelve string guitar add chorusing and depth," according to William Sethares.

In the minor-thirds tuning beginning with C, : C-D-F-a-c-d the open strings contain the notes (c, d, f) of the diminished C chord. The minor-thirds tuning is also a regular tuning, which has a minor third interval between consecutive strings.

Notes

References

References

  1. Kirkeby, Ole. (1 March 2012). "Major thirds tuning". m3guitar.com.
  2. Sethares, Bill. (2001). "Alternate tuning guide". University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering.
  3. {{harvtxt. Sethares. 2001
  4. {{harvtxt. Sethares. 2001i
  5. Sethares, Bill. (2001i). "Alternate tuning guide". University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering.
  6. {{harvtxt. Sethares. 2001
  7. {{harvtxt. Griewank. 2010
  8. "19th Century etudes for the Russian 7-string guitar in G Op". Editions Orphee.
  9. "Selected Concert Works for the Russian 7-String Guitar in G open tuning". Editions Orphee.
  10. Smith, Gerald Stanton. (1984). "Songs to seven strings: Russian guitar poetry and Soviet "mass song"". Indiana University Press.
  11. Sethares, Bill. (2001o). "Alternate tuning guide". University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering.
  12. Hannu Annala. (2007). "Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers". Mel Bay.
  13. {{harvtxt. Sethares. 2001

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