Stringed Instrument Tunings - K

K

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

4 courses

 G • G • B B • D D Madagascar
Kacapi 6 strings

3 courses

 A#• B •C# •F• F# Malaysia Uses a gamelan pelog scale. Tuning is approximated to western notation.
Khonkhota 8 strings

5 courses

G4 G3•C4•D4 D3•A3•D4 D4 Qonqhota, Ponputu, Mokholos, Machus South America Strings/courses are usually 8/5 but 7/5, 9/5, 10/5 or 11/5 variations exist.
Kithara Sarda 6 strings

6 courses

 B2 E2 A2 D3 F3 B3 Sardinia, Italy.
Kobza 8 strings

4 courses

 Standard/Common:

GG • DD • GG • CC

Alternate:

  • DD • AA • DD • GG
 Kobuz, Kobsa Moldavia, Romania, Hungary
Komuz 3 strings

3 courses

 A E A Qomuz, Gopuz, Kopuz, Kopus Kyrgyzstan
Kora 21 strings

21 courses

 Traditional Tunings:
  • Tomora Ba/Silaba: F2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5
  • Tomora Mesengo: F2 C3 +D3 +Eb3 F3 G3 +A3 +Bb3 C4 +D4 +Eb4 F4 G4 +A4 +Bb4 C5 +D5 +Eb5 F5 G5 +A5
  • Hardino: F2 C3 -D3 +E3 F3 G3 -A3 +B3 C4 -D4 +E4 F4 G4 -A4 +B4 C5 -D5 +E5 F5 G5 -A5
  • Sauta: F#2 C3 D3 E3 F#3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F#4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F#5 G5 A5
 West Africa Scales roughly correspond to Western major, minor, and lydian scales, but are not in equal temperament. Any of the scales may be considered "standard".
Koto 13 strings

13 courses

 Traditional tunings:
  • Itsikotchu-chô:

D4 D4 A3 B3 D4 E4 F#4 A4 B4 D5 E5 F#5 A5

  • Oshiki-chô:

E4 A3 B3 D4 E3 F#3 A3 B3 C#4 E4 F#4 A4 B4

  • Sui-chô:

E4 A3 B3 C#4 E3 F#3 A3 B3 C#4 E4 F#4 A4 B4

  • Hyô-jô:

B3 E3 F#3 A3 B3 C#4/D4 E4 F#4 A4 B4 C#5/D5 E5 F#5

  • Taishiki-chô:

B3 E3 F#3 G#3 B3 C#4 E4 F#4 G#4 B4 C#4 E4 F#4

  • Banskiki-chô:

F#3 B3 C#3 E3 F#3 G#3/A3 B3 C#4 E4 F#4 G#4/A4 B4 C#5

  • Sôjô:

G3 G3 D3 E3 G3 A3 B3 D4 E4 G4 A4 B4 D5

 箏, 琴 Japan
  • Tuning depends on the piece being played.
  • A4 is closer to 430Hz than to the western standard (440 Hz), and intervals are in just intonation and not equal temperament.
  • In some tunings alternate choices are available for strings 6 and 11 (indicated with a slash); whatever note is chosen these strings are always tuned one octave apart.
Kwitra 8 strings

4 courses

 GG • EE • AA • DD Kuitra, Kouitra, Quwaytara Algeria

Read more about this topic:  Stringed Instrument Tunings