A variety of different tunings are used. The most common by far, known as "standard tuning" (EADGBE), is as follows:

  • sixth (lowest tone) string: E (a minor thirteenth below middle C—82.4 Hz)
  • fifth string: A (a minor tenth below middle C—110 Hz)
  • fourth string: D (a minor seventh below middle C—146.8 Hz)
  • third string: G (a perfect fourth below middle C—196.0 Hz)
  • second string: B (a minor second below middle C—246.92 Hz)
  • first (highest tone) string: E (a major third above middle C—329.6 Hz)

A guitar using this tuning can tune to itself by the fact the 5th fret on one string is the same note as the next open string i.e. a 5th fret note on the 6th string is the same note as the 5th string, apart from between the third and second string, where the 4th fret note on the third string equals the second string. 

 

Guitar Progessions 

I   IV   V Progression

Also called "3 Chord Progression".

 (1) e.g. G,C and D

90% of all music uses this progression (rock, country, blues, soul, even classical!).

This particular "key" (key of G) is used in a lot of popular music, especially country. This means you can "play along" with songs and you'll be in the same key, or pitch.

These three chords happen to use a lot of "open" strings -- strings on which you do NOT place your fingers. Open string chords "ring" in a most pleasing manner and generally sound richer than non-open string chords. /* */

Finally, this particular key is one that most people find very easy to sing in. It's not too high, not too low -- just right.

Play these chords in different combinations; try and become adept in switching between chords (especially between the G and the C). You'll quickly recognize the "I-IV-V" signature. For instance, "Louie Louie" would be "GGG CC DDD CC". Most country tunes would be something like "GGGG GGGG CCCC GGGG DDDD CCCC GGGG". As you become familiar with the pattern, you'll start recognizing different combinations ... maybe something like "DDD CCC GGG GGG".

(2) A, D, E

These three chords are also a "I-IV-V" chord sequence -- just in a slightly higher key, or pitch. You can play the same songs you might play with the G-C-D combo ... they'd just be a little higher. It's more common to find the A-D-E combination in rock music than in country.

(3) C, F, G

Another "I-IV-V" progression -- this time, it's C, F, and G. Since we already know C and G, we really only have to learn one new chord -- F.

This key is about half-way through the scale from G. That means you can sing either higher or lower to be in the proper pitch. You'll also probably note that F doesn't "ring" as richly as the other chords you've learned -- because it doesn't have as many open strings. You'll probably find it the most difficult to play of all you've learned so far.

(4) E, A, B

This time we need E, A, and B. We already know E and A -- we just need to add the B. This does present a problem, though.

The Final Three (I-iii-IV-V Progression)

We've now learned seven chords -- G, C, D, A, E, F, and B7. It's time to slip in the last three. These will be "minor" chords.

The three chords are A Minor, E Minor, and D Minor. These are also written as Am, Em, and Dm. You won't necessarily play these three chords together -- although if you did, you'd have a great blues progression. Play the A, D, and E progression -- then play the same thing, but use Am, Dm, and Em instead. Yep, that's the "blues", alright.

You'll probably use the Am and Em the most. The Am fits well with the C, F, and G combination. Use it like "C, Am, F, G". (Think of that little piano ditty, "Heart and Soul" -- remember Tom Hanks dancing on the Keyboard in "Big"?) This combination works well in both slow and fast tempos.

The Em fits well with G, C, and D -- the order would be "G, Em, C, D". This is the same progression as the last, just again in a different key.

This particular combination (addinging the minor with the I-IV-V chords) is called a "I-iii-IV-V" progression