Stringed Instrument Tunings - H

H

Instrument Strings & Courses Tuning(s) Alternative Names Origin Notes Picture
Halszither 9 strings

5 courses

 G2 • D3 D3 • G3 G3 • B3 B3 • D4 D4 Krienser Halszither Switzerland
Hardingfele 4 strings

4 courses

plus 4-5 resonating strings

 Standard/Common:

A3 D4 A4 E5

res. strings: (B3) D4 E4 F#4 A4


Common alternates:

  • Kolagutstille: A3 C4 A4 E5

res.: (A3) D4 E4 G4 A4

  • Seljekvatstille: A3 D4 F#4 E5

res.: (B3) D4 E4 F#4 A4

  • Trollstilt: A3 E4 A4 C#5

res.: (A3) C#4 E4 F#4 A4

  • Forstemt: A3 E4 A4 E5

res.: (A3) C#4 E4 F#4 A4

  • Gorrlaus: F3 D4 A4 E5

res.: (F3) B3 D4 G4 A4

  • Bas: G3 D4 A4 E5

res.: (B3) D4 E4 G4 A4

 Hardanger violin, Hardanger fiddle Norway
  • Standard AKA "Oppstilt bas" : More than 80% of music written for this instrument uses this tuning.
  • Trollstilt AKA

"Devil's Tuning"

  • Bas AKA "Violin tuning"


There are many other variant tunings, most of them uncommon.
Harp, Concert 47 strings

47 courses

 Cb1 Db1 Eb1 Fb1 Gb1 Ab1 Bb1

* Cb7 Db7 Eb7 Fb7 Gb7

 Pedal Harp, Double-action Harp, Diatonic Double-action Harp France * Only lowest and highest octaves shown. Tuning proceeds through 6-1/2 octaves using the Cb diatonic scale
Harp, Celtic 34 strings

34 courses

 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A2 B2

* C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 A6

 Clàrsach, Folk Harp, Lever Harp British Isles * Number of strings varies, generally between 19-40; 34 strings is typical. Not all models have levers. Only lowest and highest octaves shown. Tuning proceeds through 4-1/2 octaves using the C diatonic scale.
Harpsichord Varies Typical:

C2 C#2 D2 D#2 E2 F2 F#2 G2 G#2 A2 A#2 B2 * C#6 D6 D#6 E6 F6 F#6 G6 G#6 A6 A#6 B6 C7

 Virginal, Spinet, Clavicytherium, Ottavino, Pedal Harpsichord, et al Europe (Belgium?) Many variants exist having differing number of keys, multiple keyboards, pedal boards, choirs of strings, etc., and they may have anywhere from about 120 to many hundreds of strings. Tuning is given for a typical single-keyboard, 5-octave instrument, for the main choir of strings. Only lowest and highest octaves are shown; intervening notes are tuned chromatically. Often tuning is in some musical temperament other than 12-tone equal temperament (common on modern pianos).
Harzither 8 strings

4 courses

 GG • CC • EE • GG Bergzither Germany
Huapanguera 8 strings

5 courses

 G2 •D3 D4•G3 G3•B3 B3•E3 Mexico
Huobosi 4 strings

4 courses

 E2 A2 D3 G3 Hubo, Sugudu China
Hurdy Gurdy 5 or 6 strings

5 courses

 Traditional:

(G4)G4 C4 G3 C3 C2

Alternates:

  • Altered Traditional:

(G4)G4 C4 G3 C3 G2

  • Bourbonnais:

(D5)D4 D4 G3 D3 D2

  • Altered Bourbonnais:

(D5)D4 D4 A3 D3 G2

  • Vendée:

(A5)A5 D4 A3 D3 D2

 Beggar’s lyre, Crank lyre, Cymphan, Forgolant, Organistrum, Symphonia, Wheel fiddle France Stringing is given in reverse order, owing to the orientation of the instrument while playing. The first one (or two) strings are melody strings; others are drone strings. Other regional tuning variants exist.

Read more about this topic:  Stringed Instrument Tunings