Learning How To Tune A Guitar is a fundamental skill for any aspiring guitarist. An out-of-tune guitar simply won’t produce the sounds you’re aiming for, making practice frustrating. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps of tuning your guitar, whether you’re using an electronic tuner or training your ear. Mastering guitar tuning ensures your practice sessions are enjoyable and rewarding, setting you on the right path to musical success.
Understanding the Basics of Guitar Tuning
Before diving into the methods, let’s cover the fundamentals of guitar tuning. The process revolves around the tuning pegs located on the guitar’s headstock. Adjusting these pegs changes the tension of the strings, thereby altering their pitch. Tightening a string raises the pitch (making it sharper), while loosening it lowers the pitch (making it flatter).
How Often Should You Tune Your Guitar?
A frequently asked question by beginners is, “How often should I tune my guitar?” The answer is simple: every time you play. Guitars are sensitive instruments that can easily fall out of tune due to various factors. Temperature changes, humidity shifts, and even the act of playing itself, especially string bending or extended playing sessions, can affect tuning. It’s wise to develop a habit of checking your guitar tuning regularly during practice. If chords sound off, even when you’re certain of your finger placement, it’s a clear sign your guitar needs tuning.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Tune Your Guitar
Thanks to technology, guitar tuning has become more accessible than ever. Electronic tuners offer a quick and precise way to tune. Alternatively, you can use a reference note, such as from a piano or a tuning fork, to tune one string and then tune the rest by ear. Let’s explore both methods.
Tuning Your Guitar with a Chromatic Tuner
Clip-on electronic tuners have revolutionized the tuning process. These devices attach to your guitar’s headstock and detect string vibrations. They are a significant improvement over older tuners that required plugging in. Clip-on tuners are incredibly user-friendly, displaying whether a string is flat (too low), sharp (too high), or perfectly in tune. Suitable for both acoustic and electric guitars, they are an affordable and accurate tool for achieving perfect guitar tuning. Many modern beginner guitar amplifiers also include built-in tuners for added convenience.
Tuning Your Guitar Without a Tuner: By Ear and with Apps
If you find yourself without a dedicated tuner, don’t worry. Learning how to tune a guitar without a tuner is a valuable skill.
Mobile tuner apps offer a readily available alternative. Numerous free and paid apps utilize your device’s microphone to detect the pitch of your guitar strings. As you adjust your tuning pegs, the app’s display provides real-time feedback, guiding you to the correct pitch. This method is convenient and effective for achieving accurate guitar tuning.
Another method involves using a reference pitch. This could be from a piano, a well-tuned guitar, or a tuning fork. This approach demands a bit more ear training. You’ll need to match the pitch of one of your guitar strings to the reference pitch “by ear.” Play the reference note, then play the corresponding note on your guitar. Listen closely for any difference in pitch and adjust your tuning peg until the guitar note matches the reference. Once one string is in tune, you can tune the remaining strings relative to the tuned string. This involves fretting a note on a lower string and tuning the next open string to match that fretted note.
Mastering Guitar String Names and Notes: EADgbe
A standard guitar has six strings. From the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch), the standard guitar string notes are E, A, D, G, B, and E. This is often remembered with the mnemonic EADgbe.
To help you memorize these guitar string names, try using these helpful phrases: “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie” or “Eat A Dead Goose Before Eating.” The 1st string is the thinnest string, the high E, and the 6th string is the thickest, the low E.
It’s worth noting that there are also alternate guitar tunings that musicians explore for different sounds and playing styles. However, standard tuning (EADgbe) is the foundation for most genres and essential for beginners to learn first.
Tuning Each Guitar String: A Step-by-Step Method
Let’s break down the process of tuning each string using the method of relative tuning, where you tune each string based on the string below it.
Tuning the Low E String (6th String)
If you have a reference pitch (like a piano E note or a tuning fork), start by tuning your low E string (the thickest string) to that reference. If not, you can use the 7th fret of the A string as your E reference note (explained below).
Fine-Tuning Your Low E – 6th String
Pluck the low E string and compare its pitch to your reference E note. Adjust the tuning peg for the E string until the pitches match.
Tuning the A String (5th String)
Next, to tune your A string, fret the low E string at the 5th fret. This fretted note is an A. Play this note and then play your open A string. Adjust the tuning peg for the A string until the open A string matches the pitch of the 5th fret of the E string.
Tuning the D String (4th String)
To tune the D string, fret the A string at the 5th fret. This is a D note. Play this fretted note and then play your open D string. Tune the D string until it matches the pitch of the 5th fret of the A string.
Tuning the G String (3rd String)
For the G string, fret the D string at the 5th fret. This produces a G note. Compare this to your open G string and adjust the tuning peg until they match.
Tuning the B String (2nd String)
The B string is slightly different. To tune the B string, fret the G string at the 4th fret (not the 5th). This fretted note is a B. Tune your open B string to match the pitch of the 4th fret of the G string.
Tuning the High E String (1st String)
Finally, to tune the high E string, fret the B string at the 5th fret. This is a high E note. Tune your open high E string to match the pitch of the 5th fret of the B string.
Once you’ve tuned all six strings, strum a chord to check overall tuning. You may need to make minor adjustments to refine the tuning further. With practice, this process becomes quicker and more intuitive. After mastering guitar tuning, you’ll be ready to explore reading guitar tabs and learning your favorite songs!
Explore Guitar Summer Camps
School of Rock offers engaging summer music camps where students learn essential guitar skills, including how to tune a guitar, alongside playing in a band and performing their favorite songs. From songwriting workshops to mastering stage presence for guitarists, our camps cater to all skill levels.
Discover Summer Camps
Tips to Keep Your Guitar in Tune for Longer
After achieving perfect guitar tuning, you’ll want to maintain it. Here are some helpful tips to keep your guitar in tune longer:
- Regularly Change Strings: Old strings lose their elasticity and ability to hold tune. When your strings sound dull or frequently go out of tune, it’s time for a fresh set.
- Stretch New Strings: New guitar strings need to be stretched. After installing new strings, gently stretch them by pulling them away from the fretboard or by playing vigorously. Be careful not to pull too hard to avoid breakage.
- Proper Guitar Care: Protect your guitar from drastic changes in temperature and humidity. Extreme conditions can cause the wood to expand or contract, affecting tuning. When not playing, wipe down the strings with a soft cloth and store your guitar in its case or gig bag.
By following these steps and practicing regularly, you’ll master how to tune a guitar, keep it in tune longer, and enjoy a much more rewarding and musical experience.
Considering a new guitar? Explore our Guitar Buying Guide
