Cavaquinho tuner – Alternative (GGBD)
G-G-B-D · Alternative
Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your Cavaquinho is to Alternative (GGBD) tuning (G-G-B-D). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Alternative (GGBD) tuning
Compared with Standard (DGBD), Alternative (GGBD) moves 1 string. Every change is upward, the largest by 5 semitones, so the strings pull tighter than in Standard (DGBD).3 strings stay exactly where they were.
| String | Standard (DGBD) | Alternative (GGBD) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | G4 | up 5 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound G-G-B-D – from G4 at the bottom to D5 at the top, a span of 7 semitones.
Left open, the strings together spell G. That is a by-product of how the intervals are laid out rather than the point of the tuning, but it does mean some chords need very few fingers here. See G shapes in this tuning →
History
Where the Alternative (GGBD) tuning comes from
G-G-B-D is one of the older tunings of the cavaquinho, used in some Portuguese and Brazilian traditions. It has been largely replaced by D-G-B-D.
Other Cavaquinho tunings
Standard
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my Cavaquinho to Alternative (GGBD)?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (G-G-B-D).
Which notes are used in Alternative (GGBD) tuning?
Alternative (GGBD) tuning for Cavaquinho uses the notes G-G-B-D, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.