Stringed Instrument Tunings - B

B

Instrument Strings & Courses Tuning(s) Alternative Names Origin Notes Picture
Baglamas 6 strings

3 courses

 D4 D5•A4 A4•D5 D5 Baglama, Baglama Saz, Baglamadaki Greece Standard AKA "Modal D"
Bajo quinto 10 strings

5 courses

 A2 A1•D3 D2•G2 G2•C3 C3•F3 F3 Mexico Although true 10-string bajo quintos are made, many so-called "bajo quintos" are really bajo sextos with the lowest course of strings removed.
Bajo Sexto 12 strings

6 courses

 Standard/Common (All fourths):

E2 E1•A2 A1•D3 D2•G2 G2•C3 C3•F3 F3

Alternate:

  • Guitar:

E2 E1•A2 A1•D3 D2•G2 G2•B3 B3•E3 E3

 Mexico
Balalaika, Alto 3 strings

3 courses

 E3 E3 A3 Alto Russia
Balalaika, Bass 3 strings

3 courses

 E2 A2 D3 Bass Russia
Balalaika, Contrabass 3 strings

3 courses

 E1 A1 D2 Contrabass Russia
Balalaika, Piccolo 3 strings

3 courses

 B4 E5 A5 Piccolo Russia
Balalaika, Prima 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

E4 E4 A4

Alternates:

  • Folk: C4 E4 G4
  • Russian guitar: G3 B3 D4
 Prima Russia This is the standard instrument of the balalaika family
Balalaika, Prima, 6-string 6 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

E4 E4 • E4 E4 • A4 A4

Alternates:

  • Same as for 3-string prima
 Prima Russia
Balalaika, Secunda 3 strings

3 courses

 A3 A3 D4 Secunda Russia
Balalaika, Tenor 3 strings

3 courses

 A2 A2 E3 Tenor Russia
Bandola Andina Colombiana 16 strings

6 courses

 F#3 F#3•B3 B3•E4 E4 E4•A4 A4 A4•D5 D5 D5•G5 G5 G5 Colombia
Bandola Llanera 4 strings

4 courses

 A2 D3 A3 E4 Venezuela
Bandola Oriental 8 strings

4 courses

 G3 G3•D4 D4•A4 A4•E5 E5 Venezuela
Bandolin 15 strings

6 courses

 E5 E4 E5•A5 A4 A5•D5 D5 D5•F#5 F#5 F#5•B5 B5 B5 Ecuador
Bandurria, Philippene 14 strings

6 courses

 F#2•B2 B2•E3 E3•A3 A3 A3•D4 D4 D4•G4 G4 G4 Philippenes One octave higher than the Philippene laud.
Bandurria, Spanish 12 strings

6 courses

 G#2 G#2•C#3 C#3•F#3 F#3•B3 B3•E4 E4•A4 A4 Spain Standard tuning AKA "Spanish tuning",

one octave higher than the laud.
Banjo, Bass 4 strings

4 courses

 E1 A1 D2 G2 US The Cello banjo is sometimes called "bass banjo", but it is tuned differently, and there are true bass banjos as well.
Banjo, Cello 4 strings

4 courses

 C2 G2 D3 A3 "bass" banjo US All-fifths tuning is used for the cello, mandocello, and violin.
Banjo, Cello 5 strings

5 courses

 G3 D2 G2 B2 D3 banjo cello US One octave lower than 5-string Bluegrass Banjo.
Banjo, Contrabass 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

E1 A1 D2

Alternates:

  • D1 G1 C2
  • D1 A1 D2
  • C1 G1 C2
 US Essentially in the same range as the bass banjo, but with a much larger resonator. These instruments are very rare, and tuning is not standardized.
Banjo (5-string) 5 strings

5 courses

 Standard/Common:

G4 D3 G3 B3 D4

Alternates:

  • C tuning: G4 C3 G3 B3 D4
  • Double C: G4 C3 G3 C3 D4
  • Sawmill: G4 D3 G3 C3 D4
  • Open D: F#4 D3 F#3 A3 D4
  • Guitar: G4 D3 G3 B3 E4
  • Willie Moore: G4 D3 G3 A3 D4
  • Doc Bog's D: F#4 D3 G3 A3 D4
  • Cumberland Gap:G4 E3 A3 D3 E4
  • G Minor: G4 D3 G3 Bb3 D4
  • Open C: G4 C3 G3 C3 E4
 Bluegrass Banjo US via Africa
  • Standard AKA "Open G"
  • Sawmill AKA "Mountain Modal"
  • Open D AKA "Graveyard," "Reuben"
  • Guitar AKA "Old G," "Sandy River Belle"

There are dozens of other, less common tunings.
Banjolin 4 strings

4 courses

 G3 D4 A4 E5 US Hybrid of mandolin and banjo
Banjo (Long Neck) 5 strings

5 courses

 G4 B2 E3 G#3 B3 "Pete Seeger" Banjo US (commissioned by Pete Seeger) Open string tuning; often played with capo on 3rd fret
Banjo, Tenor 4 strings

4 courses

 Standard/Common (all fifths):

C3 G3 D4 A4

Alternate:

  • Irish (all fifths): G2 D3 A3 E4
 US US via Africa Irish tuning same as octave mandolin tuning
Banjo, Plectrum 4 strings

4 courses

 C3 G3 B3 D4 US via Africa
Bisernica 5 strings

4 courses

 E3•A3•D4•G4 G4 Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia Other courses are sometimes doubled.
Bordonua 10 strings

5 courses

 A2 A3•D4 D3•F#3 F#4•B3 B3•E4 E4 Puerto Rico
Bouzouki 8 strings

4 courses

 C3 C4•F3 F4•A3 A3•D4 D4 Tetrachordo bouzouki Greece Standard AKA "F6 tuning"
Bouzouki 6 strings

3 courses

 D3 D4•A3 A3•D4 D4 Trichordo bouzouki Greece Standard AKA "F6 tuning"
Bouzouki, Irish ( See Irish bouzouki ) ( See Irish bouzouki )
Brac 5 strings

4 courses

 E2•A2•D3•G3 G3 Basprim, Brach Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia
Braguinha 4 strings

4 courses

 D4 B4 G4 D5 Braguinã, Cavaquinho, Machete de braga Medeira, Portugal Standard AKA "Banjo tuning" (octave higher than the plectrum banjo)
Bugarija 5 strings

4 courses

 G2•B2•D3•G3 G3 Kontra Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia First course is sometimes not doubled.

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