sixstring

Sixstring, or six-string, is a term used to describe a stringed instrument configured with six strings. It is most commonly associated with the six-string guitar, a central instrument in many musical genres, but can also refer to six-string variants in other instruments such as the six-string bass or customized ukuleles.

Most six-string guitars use six strings arranged in a standard order and tuning. The standard tuning for a typical guitar is E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4, though players frequently employ alternative tunings such as drop tunings, open tunings, and modal tunings to suit different styles.

Design and construction vary by model. Electric six-strings often have solid or chambered bodies with magnetic pickups and scale lengths commonly around 24.75 to 25.5 inches. Acoustic six-strings differ in body size and bracing, and may be dreadnought, concert, or other shapes. Materials such as maple, rosewood, mahogany, spruce, and other tonewoods influence timbre, while string gauges affect tension and playability.

History and usage: The modern six-string guitar evolved from earlier stringed instruments, achieving broad adoption in the 19th and 20th centuries. It became foundational to genres such as blues, jazz, rock, country, and pop, with playing techniques including fretting, picking, strumming, tapping, and, in some styles, extended-range tunings.

See also or related terms such as guitar, bass, and other six-string instruments.