Because the note names match a guitar's top five strings, guitar chord shapes work on the vihuela. The sound is very different, because the lower strings are raised an octave.
String by string:
- 5th string: A, an octave above a guitar's A string
- 4th string: D, an octave above a guitar's D string
- 3rd string: G, an octave above a guitar's G string, and the highest note on the instrument
- 2nd string: B, the same as a guitar's B string
- 1st string: E, the same as a guitar's high E string
How to tune:
- Tune the 1st string to E and the 2nd string to B with a tuner.
- Tune the 3rd string to G. It should sound higher than the B next to it.
- Tune the 4th string to D, a fourth below the G.
- Tune the 5th string to A, a fourth below the D.
- Strum and retune. New nylon strings stretch, so expect to retune often at first.
S.I.T. vihuela sets were designed for the instrument and come in CG-VHC1 clear nylon, brighter and more cutting, and CG-VHB1 black nylon, warmer and more traditional. Both use the same gauges. See Vihuela Strings.