Stringed Instrument Tunings - S

S

Instrument Strings & Courses Tuning(s) Alternative Names Origin Notes Picture
Sanshin 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

C3 • F3 • C4

Alternates:

  • Ichi-agi chōshi: E♭3 • F3 • C4
  • Ni-agi chōshi: C3 • G3 • C4
  • Ichi, ni-agi chōshi: D3 • G3 • C4
  • San-sage chōshi: C3 • F3 • B♭3
 Okinawa shamisen, jabisen Ryukyu Islands, Japan Standard AKA Hon chōshi
Sanxian 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

A2 • D3 • A3

Alternate: D3 A3 D4

 Sanhsien, Small Sanxian, Xianzi, Quxian, Shuxian, Chinese Banjo China
Sanxian, Large 3 strings

3 courses

G2 • D3 • G3

 Sanhsien, Large Sanxian, Xianzi, Quxian, Shuxian, Chinese Banjo China Other size variants exist, but are uncommon.
Sarangi, Nepalese 4 strings

4 courses

 G4•C5•C5•G5 Nepal
Sargija 6 strings

3 courses

 C3 C3 • G3 G3 • D3 D3 Sharkia, Sharki, Shargija Albania
Seis Cinco 6 strings

5 courses

E3•A4 A3•D3•F#4•B4

 Seis Cinco North-western Venezuela
Setar 4 strings

3 courses

 C3 C4 • G3 • C4 Iran
Shamisen 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

D G D

Alternates:

  • San sagari: D G C
  • Ni agari: D A D
 Samisen, Sangen Japan Standard = "Honchoshi" tuning
Sitar 8 strings

(3 are drones)

8 courses

plus 12 resonating strings

 C5 C4 G3 C2 G2

drones: C2 C2 F2

 North India 5th string can be tuned to C. Sympathetic (resonating) strings are tuned to the raga being played.
Socavon 4 strings

4 courses

 G3 D4 A4 B2 Bocona Panama
Strumstick 3 strings

3 courses

 Standard/Common:

G3 D4 G4

Alternate:

  • F3 C4 F4
 Dulcitar, Dulcimer stick, Strumbly, Standard Strumstick US Other sizes exist. General tuning is Root-5th-Octave, but the variations used are endless.

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