A 7-string guitar adds one string below the low E. In standard 7-string tuning it is a low B, a fourth below E, giving B E A D G B E. The top six strings are a normal guitar, so every shape you know still works, and the extra string takes riffs and bass lines down to B1. It is the standard for extended-range metal and popular with jazz players for walking bass lines.
This 7-string guitar tuner is our guitar tuner with 7-string (low B) selected. The Tuning menu also has the Brazilian 7-string with a low C, used in choro and samba, and the Russian 7-string in open G.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and play the low 7th string: tune it to B (B1).
- Tune the other six as standard: E A D G B E.
- Pick the low B firmly and let it ring for a second; very low notes need a moment before the reading settles.
- Keep the phone close to the guitar or the amp and mute the strings you are not tuning.
Drop A and other 7-string tunings
Lowering the 7th string a whole step to A gives drop A (A E A D G B E), a one-finger power chord on the low three strings. Many bands also tune the whole guitar a half step down. For those, use the chromatic tuner string by string.
Tips
- Tune the 7th string last and check it again: it reacts most to changes in neck tension.
- By ear, the 7th string at the 5th fret should match the open 6th string.
- Change the 7th string more often: low strings go dull first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard tuning for a 7-string guitar?
B E A D G B E, low to high: a normal guitar plus a low B.
How do I tune a 7-string to drop A?
Lower only the 7th string a whole step, from B to A: A E A D G B E. Use the chromatic tuner for that string.
Why is my low B reading unstable?
Low notes reach a phone mic weakly. Pluck firmly, let the string ring, mute the others and move the phone closer.
Is a 7-string the same as a baritone guitar?
No. A baritone has six strings tuned lower, often B E A D F♯ B; a 7-string keeps the six standard strings and adds one.