The Mini Guitar Standard Tuning, as its name suggests, is specifically designed for smaller scale length instruments, with the provided JSON noting a 492mm mensur. This tuning offers a familiar playing experience by transposing the standard EADGBe tuning up a perfect fourth across all strings, resulting in ADGCEA. It delivers a bright, articulate, and higher-pitched voice, perfectly suited for the intended mini guitar, while retaining the versatility and muscle memory of standard guitar voicings.

Technical Analysis

Technically, this tuning is a direct upward transposition of standard EADGBe, with every string tuned up by five semitones (a perfect fourth). This means the intervallic relationships between the open strings remain precisely the same as standard tuning:

• String 6 (A2) to String 5 (D3): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
• String 5 (D3) to String 4 (G3): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
• String 4 (G3) to String 3 (C4): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)
• String 3 (C4) to String 2 (E4): Major Third (4 semitones)
• String 2 (E4) to String 1 (A4): Perfect Fourth (5 semitones)

This identical intervallic structure is a significant advantage, as all chord shapes, scale patterns, and arpeggios learned in standard tuning are directly transferable. The only difference is that everything you play will sound a perfect fourth higher. This makes it incredibly accessible for guitarists already familiar with standard tuning, requiring no re-learning of finger positions, only an adjustment to the higher overall pitch.

Open Chords and Voicings

While maintaining standard intervals, the open strings themselves (A2 D3 G3 C4 E4 A4) create a rich and complex voicing. These notes form an A minor 7 (add 11) chord (A, C, E, G, D). This provides a naturally resonant and full sound when strumming all open strings, offering a sophisticated harmonic foundation. Due to the familiar interval structure, standard open chords like G, C, D, Em, Am, etc., are all easily within reach by simply using their standard shapes, though they will sound a perfect fourth higher than their standard tuning counterparts (e.g., an open G shape will sound as a C chord, an open C shape will sound as an F chord).

How to Tune

Important Caution: This tuning involves a substantial increase in tension for all strings, as each is tuned up 5 semitones from standard EADGBe. To prevent excessive tension, potential string breakage, and possible damage to your instrument's neck, it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge set of strings specifically designed for higher tunings or mini guitars. Please proceed with care and monitor your instrument's neck relief as you tune.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 5 semitones from A2 to D3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 5 semitones from D3 to G3.
• String 3 (G): Tune up 5 semitones from G3 to C4.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 5 semitones from B3 to E4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune up 5 semitones from E4 to A4.

String 6 (lowest string): A2

String 5: D3

String 4: G3

String 3: C4

String 2: E4

String 1 (highest string): A4