7-String Guitar Tuner
Tune your 7-string guitar (B E A D G B E) using your microphone. The tuner below is already set — press Start Recording and pluck a string.
String-by-String Frequency Chart
These are the exact target frequencies this tuner listens for, at A4 = 440 Hz equal temperament. String 1 is the thinnest (highest) string.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | B1 | 61.74 Hz |
| 6 | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
How to Use This 7-String Tuner
- Press Start Recording on the tuner above and allow microphone access.
- The 7-String Guitar instrument is already selected.
- Tune strings 6 through 1 first — these are identical to standard 6-string tuning.
- Finish with the low B (string 7, 61.74 Hz). Pluck firmly over the neck pickup and mute the other strings.
If the low B reads erratically, fret it at the 12th fret to sound B2 at 123.47 Hz — an octave up and much easier for a microphone to resolve. Tune there, then confirm the open string.
Standard 7-String Tuning
Standard 7-string tuning is B E A D G B E. The six highest strings are exactly a standard 6-string guitar; the addition is a low B at B1, 61.74 Hz, a perfect fourth below the low E.
That choice of interval matters. Adding the string a fourth below continues the pattern already used between strings 6-5, 5-4, and 4-3, so scale and arpeggio shapes extend onto the 7th string exactly as they behave everywhere else on the neck. Nothing about your existing fretboard knowledge has to change.
7-String vs. Down-Tuning a 6-String
Both routes get you low notes, and they involve a real trade-off:
- A 7-string keeps everything at standard tension. Strings 1-6 stay exactly where they were. You gain range without losing the feel, and you can still play in standard tuning any time.
- Down-tuning slackens the whole instrument. Drop Creaches C2 at 65.41 Hz — slightly higher than a 7-string's B1 — but the whole guitar goes loose and needs heavier strings and a setup.
- Drop tunings give one-finger power chords. Standard 7-string tuning does not, because the interval between strings 7 and 6 is a fourth, not the fifth that Drop tunings create. This is why Drop A on a 7-string is so popular — it adds that back.
Common 7-String Tunings
- Standard (B E A D G B E): The default.
- Drop A (A E A D G B E): 7th string down a whole step, giving one-finger power chords on the bottom three strings.
- A standard (A D G C F A D): Everything down a whole step from 7-string standard.
- Drop G♯ / A♭: Half-step-down variants of the above, common in modern progressive metal.
Setup for the 7th String
The extra string needs attention the others do not. Use at least a .056 — most 7-string sets ship with .059 or heavier. Check that the nut slot is cut wide enough, as a thick string binding in a narrow slot is a frequent cause of tuning instability and audible pinging.
Set the 7th string's intonation individually. Intonation errors are proportionally more audible at low frequencies, and a low B that is fine open but sharp at the 12th fret will make everything you play on it sound wrong.
Troubleshooting
The tuner cannot read the low B. Use the 12th-fret octave method above, or pluck harder over the neck pickup with the other strings muted.
The B reads an octave high. The tuner has locked onto the second harmonic — pluck more softly, away from the bridge.
The low B sounds indistinct and floppy. Gauge, not tuning. Fit a heavier 7th string.
Also available: our 12-string guitar tuner, 5-string bass tuner, and the Drop C tuner for reaching low notes on a 6-string.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is standard 7-string guitar tuning?
B E A D G B E from lowest to highest. It is standard 6-string tuning with an extra low B string (B1, 61.74 Hz) added below the low E, a perfect fourth down.
Do my 6-string chord shapes still work?
Yes, completely. Strings 1 through 6 are tuned exactly as on a 6-string guitar, so every chord, scale, and riff transfers unchanged. The 7th string is purely additional range — you can ignore it entirely and play the instrument as a 6-string.
What string gauge do I need for the low B?
At least .056, and .059 to .064 is common. A standard 6-string set's .046 tuned down to B1 would be unplayably slack. Dedicated 7-string sets exist and are the simplest option.
How is a 7-string different from Drop C on a 6-string?
Drop C reaches a low C2 (65.41 Hz) by detuning, which slackens the whole instrument and changes the interval between strings 6 and 5. A 7-string reaches a lower B1 (61.74 Hz) while keeping all six original strings at standard pitch and tension. You get the extended range without giving up standard tuning.
What is Drop A on a 7-string?
Drop A takes the 7th string down a whole step from B to A (55.00 Hz), applying the Drop D idea to the extra string. It gives one-finger power chords on strings 7, 6, and 5 at a very low pitch, and is common in modern metal.