Guitar Pro 8: Change Tuning – Easy Step by Step Tutorial

Here’s a quick tutorial to help you locate and modify the tuning of a track in Guitar Pro 8.

Any questions? Drop them in the comments!

Before We Begin

• Start a new project or open your file in Guitar Pro.

Where is the tuning?

For a New Project

1. Open a New Project:
   Open a new project in Guitar Pro, and a window titled “Add a Track” will appear.
   
   
2. Configure the Track:
   Choose the instrument, the number of strings, and the tuning.

For an Existing Project

1. Select the Track:
   Select the track you want to tune.
   
   
2. Access the Tuning Window:
   • Go to the inspector on the right.
   • Click on TRACK > MUSICAL NOTATION > Tuning.

You can also access the tuning window through Click-and-Edit by clicking directly on the tuning type displayed at the top left of the score.

You can configure instruments with up to 10 strings, including electric and acoustic guitars, basses, and other instruments. Each string can be tuned individually.

Examples of Alternative Tunings

Drop D: This configuration lowers the lowest string of a standard guitar by a whole tone (from E to D), making it easier to play power chords with one finger. (DADGBE)

Open G: Frequently used in blues and folk, this tuning adjusts the strings to form an open G chord when played open. (DGDGBD)

DADGAD: Popular in Celtic music, this tuning offers a distinctive sound that allows for complex chords and unique melodies.

Choosing the instrument and configuration

In the tuning panel, you can choose from a variety of instruments and the number of strings they have.

Tuning Options

Tuning List: A dropdown list offers most standard, dropped, open, and other variant tunings.

Listening and adjusting each string

Before applying a tuning, you can use the audio preview function to listen to each string individually by clicking the play button in the tuning window.

This allows you to hear how each string sounds with the new tuning before finalizing the changes.

Customization and saving tuning

How to save custom tunings?

You can save your own tuning configurations in Guitar Pro. To save a tuning, simply adjust the strings to your preference, then select the ‘Save Tuning’ option to save it for future use.

Application and Visualization

Applying a New Tuning to an Edited Track

1. Choosing the Tuning: Once the tuning is selected, apply it to the chosen track.
2. Finger Position Adjustment: When you change the tuning, it may be necessary to adjust the finger positions on the score. Guitar Pro offers two options:
   • Automatic Adjustment: The note positions are modified to maintain the original pitches.
   • Keep Finger Positions: The notes remain in the same positions, but their pitches change according to the new tuning.

Example: Changing from Standard Tuning to Drop C

To illustrate, here is Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”: one in standard tuning (EADGBE) and another in Drop C tuning (CGCFAD).

• Score in Standard Tuning:

• Score in Drop C Tuning with Kept Finger Positions:

The note positions on the fretboard remain the same, but the pitches change according to the new tuning. This means that the played melody will sound different because the notes will be lower.

• Score in Drop C Tuning with Finger Position Adjustment:

The note positions on the fretboard will be adjusted to maintain the original pitches. This may result in shifts on the fretboard.

1. Applying a New Tuning to an Edited Track: Once the tuning is chosen, apply it to the selected track by adjusting or retaining the fingering of the score according to the tuning. The score will be updated.
   
2. Displaying Tuning on the Score: You can display the current tuning directly on the score for reference.

In the TUNING window > Show > Preview > check the “Visible” box to display your instrument’s tuning on the score.

Tips

• Test Different Tunings: Explore various tunings to discover new sounds.
• Use the Save Function: Save special tunings for future projects to save time.

We hope this tutorial helps you make the most of this essential feature in Guitar Pro 8.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.