Standard tuning according to historical sources has existed since the 17th century. One of the popular guitars was the five string guitar, which came in much before the standard six string guitar. The five string guitar required multiple tunings and the most popular tuning was ADGBE. ADGBE is almost identical to the current standard tuning except it doesn’t have the lowest string. ADGBE tuning went on to become EADGBE after the introduction and induction of low E to the five strings. Soon the guitar became a six string instrument.

Although EADGBE is called standard tuning, there have always been alternative and what we call alternate tuning. There are different types of alternate tuning for a six string guitar and they are:

People, who use open tunings, tune the six strings of their guitar to form one simple chord. Open tunings makes it easier to play any kind of unusual or alternate chord combination as well as innovative tonal clusters. This is made possible by using the sustained and drone strings. The best part of open tuning is that it enhances harmonics and bottleneck slide as a result of which you will be able to play full 6 string chords.

Another type of alternate tuning is instrumental tunings, which is based on the tunings procedure of historical and modern instruments like the Charango, oud, mandolin, cittern, and many others. Hence the tuning chart for these instruments presents a wonderful way to achieve alternate tuning.

Regular tunings sounds like standard tuning but is more of an alternate tuning. In this kind of tuning, all the strings are tuned up on the fretboard. As a result of this, chord forms can be moved up or down the fretboard like it takes place in a normal bar chord.