How to Tune a Guitar: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Tune a Guitar Two Methods: Tuning Without a Tuner Using Different Tuning Methods Community Q&A If you want to be a guitar god, you need to have a properly tuned guitar. While there are electric tuners to make the job effortless, a good musician must know how to tune his own instrument in a pinch by correctly tuning one string and then using it as a reference point for all the others. No matter what your tools, you can tune your guitar all by yourself easily. Steps Tuning Without a Tuner 1 Know which note is assigned to each string on the guitar. You'll need to know which string is which to tune them correctly. Guitars have six strings that count from the bottom up -- so the thinnest string is your first string (an E) and the thickest string is your sixth string (also an E).

The strings, in order from first to sixth, should be tuned to the following notes: /f/fd/Tune a Guitar Step 1 Version 2.360p.mp4 e (thinnest string) Know the correct tuning pegs for each string 2 Know the correct tuning pegs for each string. Follow a string all the way up the neck to find it's associated tuning peg. Pluck the string and turn the tuning peg to make the pitch go up (clockwise) or force it to go down (counterclockwise). Turn each peg smoothly and slowly, getting used to applying constant pressure in both directions. /9/91/Tune a Guitar Step 2 Version 2.360p.mp4 You may have to turn the pegs the opposite direction if your guitar was improperly strung. However, any professional stringing will follow the above system. Tune the low-E (6th string) to a tuner, guide, or piano 3 Tune the low-E (6th string) to a tuner, guide, or piano. This is the string you will use as a reference for the other five strings.

To get it right, pull up a YouTube clip of a "Guitar Low-E" and match the note you hear to your guitar. You can also get another instrumentalist, like a piano, to play an E, then match the notes. Slowly turn the tuning peg, plucking the string for reference, until the notes match. /a/a4/Tune a Guitar Step 3 Version 2.360p.mp4 Find a way to listen to an E note. This can be done using a (properly tuned) piano, a pitch pipe, a tuning fork, or a recorded E note found on the web as a .wav or .mp3 file. When the string is slightly out of tune, the E from the guitar will combine with the E from the sound source (i.e. piano), and cause the sound to "waver" in pitch. This is dissonance. As you tighten the guitar string, you should hear this wavering slow down; the two strings are in tune if the wavering has stopped. If you go too far, the wavering will increase again.

Tune the A string to the 5th fret of the E string 4 Tune the A string to the 5th fret of the E string. Now that you have correctly tuned the bottom-E string, you can use it to tune the next string over. Place your finger on the 5th fret of the thickest string, then pluck. This note is the exact same A you need from the string below it. Holding the 6th string down, match it to the open 5th string to tune the A. /a/a2/Tune a Guitar Step 4 Version 2.360p.mp4 Playing the two strings at the exact same time is a good way to check for dissonance, and if the A note is matched up. Tune the D string to the 5th fret of the A string 5 Tune the D string to the 5th fret of the A string. This is the same system as the one used above. Play the open D string, the 4th string, and tune it to the 5th string, 5th fret note, which is another D.

/d/dd/Tune a Guitar Step 5 Version 2.360p.mp4 Tune the G string to the fifth-fretted D string 6 Tune the G string to the fifth-fretted D string. Keep moving down the guitar the same way you tuned the first three strings. Note, however, that the next string must be taken somewhat differently. Don't stop paying attention now -- the B is the only different string! /a/ab/Tune a Guitar Step 6 Version 2.360p.mp4 Tune the B string to the 4th fretted G string 7 Tune the B string to the 4th fretted G string. The B string (second string from the bottom) is slightly different -- it tunes to the 4th fret of the G string, not the 5th. This is the only exception across the guitar in standard tuning. Pluck the B string and compare it to the sound of the 4th-fretted G string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously, checking for that dissonance that means they are out of tune.

/5/53/Tune a Guitar Step 7 Version 2.360p.mp4 Tune the high-E string to the 5th fretted B string 8 Tune the high-E string to the 5th fretted B string. Returning to your old pattern, hold the 5th fret of the 2nd string to get an E. This note is identical to the correctly tuned E string, the thinnest, smallest string. This string should be an identical note, though higher pitched, as the top string, as well -- the are both E. You can use this similarity to check your work by comparing the top and bottom strings. /6/69/Tune a Guitar Step 8 Version 2.360p.mp4 Be very careful when tightening this string as it can break easily. Tune it slowly. If these are new strings, you'll need to retune a few times 9 Know that, if these are new strings, you'll need to retune a few times. Strings actually stretch when placed on the guitar. The note on a string is determined by it's length, thus why fretting changes the note -- it essentially "cuts" the string at that point.

But as strings stretch they get longer, meaning they pull out of tune. After retuning 3-4 times, they should be fully stretched and ready to play. /e/e6/Tune a Guitar Step 9.360p.mp4 Method Purchase a chromatic tuner 1 Purchase a chromatic tuner. If you really want to play guitar professionally, you'll need to get perfect tuning. This is only possible, really, with a high-quality chromatic tuner. This is one case where spending a bit more money is really worth it -- the more precise it is, the better your guitar will sound and stay in tune.Some tuners have microphones, and some are clipped on to the headstock to measure vibrations. When placed properly, the vibration sensing tuners can be more precise, as they don't pick up background noises. /7/7b/Tune a Guitar Step 10 Version 2.360p.mp4 To use one, simply turn the tuner on and play a note. It will pick up the note and tell you if it is sharp or flat automatically. Remember -- from top to bottom your strings are E-A-D-G-B-e.

Use free online apps and videos to tune guitars 2 Use free online apps and videos to tune guitars. You can find plenty of videos online that simply strum each perfectly tuned note for you, allowing you to compare easily to the pitch on your guitar. Play the note on the computer, then tun the guitar, continuing to play along and tune until the notes sound identical. /b/b9/Tune a Guitar Step 11 Version 2.360p.mp4 Tune the guitar to itself harmonically 3 Tune the guitar to itself harmonically . Harmonic tuning is more accurate and easier for some people to hear. To do it, compare the harmonic on the fifth fret of one string to that of the seventh fret of a higher string. To play a harmonic, lightly touch the string directly above the fret and let it go as you pluck the string -- you should get a high, clear note ringing out. Another advantage of harmonic tuning is that both strings will continue to ring as you let go of the neck to adjust the tuning pegs. /2/2e/Tune a Guitar Step 12 Version 2.360p.mp4 Note: this doesn't work for the second (B) string.

To tune the second string using harmonics, play the harmonic of the seventh fret on the sixth string and play the second sting open. The harmonic pitch of the fifth fret of the sixth string is the same as the first string played open. Use tuning forks 4 Use tuning forks. Start by tuning the A note of the fifth fret of the first string to the standard A440 reference pitch of tuning fork by adjusting the string tension. Second, tune the E note at the fifth fret of the second string to the E note of the first open string by adjusting second string tension using an electronic tuner to help move note pitch to reference pitch. Third, tune the open third string to the G note at the third fret of the first string by adjusting tension of third string. Next tune the fourth open string to the D note at the third fret of the second string by adjusting fourth string tension. Next tune the fifth open string to the A note of the A440 tuning fork pitch by adjusting tension of fifth string. Last, tune the sixth open string note to the E note of the first open string by adjusting sixth string tension.

If your commercial chromatic electronic tuner is not properly calibrated to the chromatic musical scale, this is likely the best way to tune string tensions. Do not use a low cost electronic tuner; they are off from the guitar fret locations; use a A440 pitch tuning fork to tune all the four A notes from nut to fifth fret instead. [1] /1/1e/Tune a Guitar Step 13 Version 2.360p.mp4 Community Q&A How do you tune a guitar with a chromatic tuner, like Snark Tuners? wikiHow Contributor Simply clip the tuner to the head of the guitar and turn it on. Pluck each string individually, then wait a half second for it to register on the tuner. Then, tune the string so that it matches the note displayed on the tuner, getting the small line right in the center of the half-circle of the tuner. How much does a tuning fork cost? wikiHow Contributor Is a 38-inch guitar going to need to be tuned or sound different than a fully sized guitar? wikiHow Contributor it depends on the type of guitar, but yes usually a 38-inch guitar is going to need to be tuned differently.

However, it doesn't usually sound any different. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Video Tips After tuning, make sure the G string and the G at the eighth fret of the B string sound the same (other than being an octave apart, obviously). These two notes being slightly out of tune is a common problem and will make chords sound very bad. It's better to have the E and B strings a little bit flat relative to the low E string than to have the G string sound out of tune with the E and B strings. You will find it easier to tune each string if you loosen the string to flatten the note, then increase the tension to come up to pitch. Some of the strings have a tendency to "stick" where they slide over the nut, and will be in tune until they suddenly slip flat. By coming up to pitch, this tendency is avoided. You can also lubricate the slot in the nut with graphite (pencil lead) and it will help to avoid sticking during tuning. If you have a microphone on your computer, you can use online tuners, instead of buying a real life one.

Avoid using electronic tuners; this old fashioned method of tuning by ear seems best. If you don't have access to a piano, keyboard, or tuner, pick up your phone! In the US, standard dial tone is an F. A more accurate and easier way of tuning the open string notes is the use the fifth fret harmonic pitch and the fifth fret note. First tune the A note of the fifth open string by adjusting string tension using an A440 tuning fork as a reference pitch. Play the D note of the fifth fret of fifth string, and make the harmonic pitch as the D note over the fifth fret of fourth string the same pitch as the D note at fifth fret of fifth string by adjusting tension of fourth string. Do the same for the other strings. If you have trouble remembering the notes for the strings, think, "Every Afternoon Dad Goes, Buys Eggplants" or "Every American Dog Growls Before Eating" (going from low E to high E) or “Every Body Gets Dinner At Eight’ (going from high E to low E). After tuning all strings from the 6th to the 1st, check the 6th string pitch again.

Most probably it will go out of tune because you changed strings tension and the neck changed its shape, making all strings shorter or longer. This is especially the case for acoustic guitars. If this happened, tune your guitar again. If you are tuning a bass guitar, the layout is the same. The difference is a bass guitar doesn't have a B and high E string. Tune your guitar every time you use it. Playing can make your guitar go out of tune, especially if you have a cheap guitar or old, cheap strings or if you use tremolo a lot. Warnings This is not the case with all guitars. Guitars that have "fanned frets" use different scale lengths for each string and are called Novax guitars. If you begin tuning with the higher E string [the thinnest string on the guitar] instead of the thicker, lower E string, you're more likely to break a string in tuning, especially if your strings are old or the guitar has not been tuned in a while. Be sure to keep your face away from the fretboard to avoid being injured by broken strings! There are a few countries left that do not use the standard A440; do your research just in case.

Updated: Views: 1,615,823 "The step by step method tunning from low key, the sixth string E, with a piano is awesome. I can now tune my guitar and help teach others too. Thanks so much for this wonderful article."..." more - Anonymous "Haven't picked up a guitar since the Eighties. But our tiny church needed a guitar player. These instructions brought it back very easily!"..." more - Maureen Tinsley "My guitar hadn't been tuned in 10 years, and I needed a refresher on how to do it. This article helped me a lot."..." more - Rachelle Andrade The part that showed how to tune it and what it should sound like helped me the most. Thanks. - Anonymous It worked, I just finished writing my own song! - D. C. Tune a Guitar - How to Tune the Sixth String of a Guitar How to Tune the Sixth String of a Guitar Each string on a guitar needs to be tuned individually in order for the guitar to sound its best. Here are instructions for tuning the sixth, or low E, string.

Show transcript Hide transcript Transcript: How to Tune the Sixth String of a Guitar Tuning the Sixth Guitar String If you want to learn how to tune your guitar, the first thing you have to know is the name of the strings. We begin with the first one, the thinner one, which is E. The second one is the B string. The third one is G. The fourth one is the D. The fifth one is A, and we finish with the low E string. In order to begin tuning your guitar, use a guitar tuner or a reference pitch, like one from a piano. Look at the black keys on the keyboard. There's a set of two black keys, then an extra white key, then a set of three black keys, then a white key. The white note directly to the right of the set of two black keys is E. Play that note and tune your low E string to it. Without a reference pitch, you can tune your guitar on your own. When you try to play with another instrument, however, it will sound out of tune. In order to interact with other instruments, being in tune with yourself isn't enough. Thank you for watching. If you liked it, please come back to About.com.

About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the Terms of Use . Notes on Guitar Fretboard: 6th String on Guitar Notes on Guitar Fretboard: 6th String on Guitar 6th String on Guitar In Standard tuning, the 6th String is tuned to an E in the second octave. The E is therefore played open. F is on the first fret. G is on the third fret. A is on the fifth fret. B is on the seventh fret. C is on the eighth fret. D is on the tenth fret. E begins again on the twelfth fret, with F on the thirteenth fret, G on the fifteenth, and so on until you run out of frets. This section shows the notes on a guitarist's fretboard, shown with 24 frets (two octaves). Guitars and their necks are designed in many styles and lengths, each with a different numbers of frets. It is good to know how many frets your guitar has, as it tells you what notes your guitar can play up to. Ignore what you can not play, play what is in your range well and with confidence.

This chart shows the notes of the 6th Sting on a guitar, where the notes are on a piano and in sheet music on the Grand Staff. All these charts are in Standard tuning for guitar. This section of charts shows the notes in the Key of C Major, the white keys on a piano, as they appear in a Grand Staff and on the guitar neck. These notes are the natural C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Sharps and flats are represented on a piano with black keys. Note that there is no sharp or flat between a B and a C, and an E and an F. This fact is easier to learn on piano (where it may seem obvious) than it is on guitar (where frets are neither black nor white, but all a bit grey), so that a pianist many wonder why I point some things out, and the guitarist will say, "Oh, now I understand...", so I repeat myself, but music does repeat itself, over and over again. I hope to teach new guitarists this. When playing guitar, one may play any of the possible notes, but different guitar stings have different sounds.

It is you, the guitarist, who must choose which place on a fretboard you like best, which is the easiest and enjoyable for you. about author KarrArikh Tor began teaching bass and guitar to students when he was sixteen. Over the years he has taken less beginner students and has specialised in teaching intermediate guitar and bass guitar students how to use music theory to expand their playing. Many students have had to write out their own charts, but many have been worked out as posters for the walls of KarrArikh Tor's classroom, the Dark World International studios. This darkworld.com area is a reference tool of those posters and print-outs used by KarrArikh Tor in his lessons. The Dark World International Experimental School of Music is the attempt to teach a larger audience of intermediate guitarists about the music theory behind what they play, free of charge, free of cookies. If you find this area informative and helpful, all KarrArikh Tor asks is that you remember Dark World International artists when you are next purchasing music online, give us a listen, and buy your favourite Dark World release from any of the dealers online selling Dark World releases.

Or if you want a physical CD or Book, visit our Shop and click on the CreateSpace catalogue, they tell us they ship world-wide. The Dark World International Experimental School of Music How to Tune an Acoustic Guitar Open Mic How to Tune an Acoustic Guitar It is often very frustrating for beginners to play tunes on their guitar, even though they have learned the basic keys and are good with strumming. The reason behind this, is that the guitar is not tuned properly. It is always advisable to tune the guitar at least once before every playing session. Here in this article I would like to put before you the basics of how to tune an acoustic guitar. Expert guitarists take about 30 seconds to tune their guitars. It takes a lot of practice to be proficient with this art. It is not a very complicated thing to do, but what's important is that you need to recognize and differentiate the notes between the strings. Here, I assume that you have some basic knowledge about acoustic guitars; nothing more than the fact, that you are aware that it has six strings and they produce the notes, low E, A, D, G, B, E, and each string is connected to a tuning key.

The first and the most important step in tuning the acoustic guitar is tuning the sixth string. It is very important because, we can tune the other strings with reference to the sixth string, but we do not have any reference for the sixth string in a guitar that is not tuned. For tuning the sixth string we take the help of some external music source. There are various audio files available on the internet, which provide us this note. If you have got a proper tuned piano at your disposal, then perhaps you could use the same to find out the tune for the sixth string. Look carefully at your pianos keyboard, you will notice that there is a set of two black keys followed by a set of three black keys. The white key just after the second black key of the first set, gives the low E note. Listen carefully to the note and turn the tuning key connected to the sixth string, increase or decrease the tension on the string very carefully to get this note on your sixth string. Once you get this note, the other five strings can be tuned with reference to it. Now, let's try to tune the fifth string. The open fifth string, when in tune, produces the same note, A as the note at the sixth string, fifth fret.

So try tuning the fifth string, matching the note it produces with the note produced by the tuned sixth string at its fifth fret. When both the notes are the same, then we know that the sixth and fifth strings have been tuned correctly. The process is similar for the fourth string too. The fifth string, fifth fret produces the note D, which a tune the fourth string should produce. Tune the fourth string to the note produced by the fifth string at its fifth fret. Once you are done with this string, you have three of your strings tuned properly. Tuning the third string is again similar to tuning the fifth and fourth string. The third string, when played open, produces the D note. The fourth string, fifth fret also produces the D note. Hence, we again need to repeat the same process of tuning the third string to the note produced by the fourth string at its fifth fret. The second string, when played open produces the note B. The second string can be tuned to the third string, fourth fret which produces the same note B. Please notice the fact that the third string produces the note B at its fourth and not the fifth fret. The first string can again be tuned to the note produced by the second string at its fifth fret.

The first string of a tuned guitar produces the note E, which is the note produced by the second string, at is fifth fret. Following this simple process lets you tune your guitar. Beginners normally take five minutes or a little more than that to get the tuning done, while with regular practice the tuning time can be reduced to a matter of seconds. The main difficulty that lies with beginners is in differentiating between a high and low note. A simple solution can be provided for this. When playing the note simply hum the tune along with it, as the string continues to vibrate. Do it repeatedly. Now play the other note and hum along with it as the string continues to vibrate. Now keep swapping between the two notes and hum to each tune. You will realize whether you are humming high or low. This simple method will help you in differentiating between high and low notes. By Shah Newaz Alam How to Tune a Guitar - Guitar Noise Guitar Noise Paul Hackett Guitar Lessons Guitar Lessons for Beginners , Guitar Tuning 4 Tuning a guitar is the single most important concept for a beginning guitarist to learn. At the same time it is often their first stumbling block. If your guitar is not in tune, you will never sound good.

Rather than having your friends tune your guitar for you all the time you should learn how to do it for yourself. This lesson contains instructions for a beginner to tune a 6 string guitar to standard tuning. I get questions by email like the following all the time: I have just bought a cheap acoustic guitar from a pawn shop because I have little or no money. I don’t know much about playing the guitar. How do I tune this thing? Are there any pages to help me out? While I consider the task of tuning a guitar one of the most basic things for a guitarist to learn, explaining it so a complete beginner can understand is difficult. So I am forever rewriting this particular lesson in an effort to simplify things. What you should know right away is that tuning a guitar is the single most important concept for a beginning guitarist to learn. At the same time it is often their first stumbling block. If your guitar is not in tune, you will never sound good. Rather than having your friends tune your guitar for you all the time you should learn how to do it for yourself. This lesson contains instructions for a beginner to tune a 6 string guitar to standard tuning.

For more experienced players, there is a lot of detailed information compiled on the Guitar Tuning page. There you will find lessons on 12 string guitars, open tunings, alternate tunings, harmonics and more. To begin there are some important things to keep in mind when tuning your guitar: You should get into the habit of tuning your guitar every time you pick it up. Always “tune up.” You want to increase the tension of the string until it reaches the desired tone. If you go too far, loosen the string tension and tune up again. The goal of tuning is to put your strings in tune with each other. In “standard tuning” your strings should be tuned to the following notes (low-to-high): EADGBe. The easiest way to get into tune and stay there is buy an electronic tuner. These small and inexpensive devices can save you a lot of trouble. While an electronic tuner is a great addition to your guitar case, they come in really handy in live situations and noisy environments, you should not rely on them exclusively. Do not neglect learning the skill of tuning for yourself as it is great for developing your ear. The First Step The first thing you need to do when tuning your guitar is get a reference pitch.

You should start with the low E string, also known as the sixth string. You can get a reference pitch by using another guitar that is in tune, a piano, a tuning fork, an electronic tuner or even a midi file on your computer. Your goal is to tune your sixth string to sound exactly like the low E sound. To do this, play the pitch, then slowly adjust the tuning peg of your sixth string until the pitch of your guitar sounds exactly like the file. Remember to tune up by increasing the string tension. If you tune too far give the string a lot of slack and start the process again. It is best if you eliminate all other noise from your area. That means turn off radios and anything else that may distract your ears. Once your sixth string is tuned to E you are ready to tune the other strings. Next you are going to tune the fifth string A. To do that you must match the tone of the 6th string with the tone of the 5th. This is done by playing the same note on each string, one after the other. Place your the index or middle finger of your left hand just behind the 5th fret of the 6th string.

Using your right hand play the 6th string at the 5th fret. Immediately after play the 5th string open – that is, no fingers on any fret. Listen to the two tones. As the two notes are still ringing use your right hand to adjust the 5th string’s tuning peg. Remember to tune up. Once both strings sound exactly the same your fifth string is in tune. You are going to do the same to tune the 4th and 3rd strings. Once the 5th string sounds good, fret it at the 5th fret, and play the 4th string open. Adjust the 4th string’s tuning peg to match the notes. Keep going to tune the 3rd string: fret the 4th string on the 5th fret, and play the 3rd string open, and match the notes. When it comes time to tune the 2nd string, you have to fret the 3rd string on the 4th fret (not the 5th), and play the second string open, and adjust the 2nd string’s tuning peg.

Tune the first string by fretting the 2nd string at the 5th fret, and play the first string open. Match the two tones, and you’re done. If you are really new to playing music you may have problems hearing if the sounds actually match. New guitarists tend to break a lot strings by tuning too far because they just don’t know. There are ways to avoid this. As mentioned earlier, the best way to make tuning really easy and painless is to buy an electronic tuner. Guitar Noise recommends the MU30 – Chromatic Tuner/Metronome by Ibanez. The metronome feature makes this particular tuner an essential piece of inexpensive equipment. Sometimes people who believe they are tone deaf can tune a lot easier using a harmonic tuning method. If you want to learn how to tune your guitar using harmonics see our lesson Harmonic Tuning . Some other places you can find a reference pitch include: After the early morning BBC2 Open University transmission the test card with the young girl and blackboard has a 440Hz “A” tone. Useful tuning reference, providing you wake up in time. The French telephone dial-tone is also at 440Hz.

You can dial up 440Hz to tune your violin in Vienna, Austria. If you want to learn how to tune a 12 string guitar see the answer to the FAQ What if my guitar has 12 strings? DK UK | Publishers of Award Winning Information | DK.com hide © 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited. Registered Number 01177822, England. Registered Office: 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL. 'Dorling Kindersley', 'DK', 'Eyewitness' and the open book logo DK are trade marks of Dorling Kindersley Limited. © 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited. Registered Number 01177822, England. Registered Office: 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL. 'Dorling Kindersley', 'DK', 'Eyewitness' and the open book logo are trade marks of Dorling Kindersley Limited. Tuning - Paracho Elite Guitars BAJO SEXTO TUNING 1.

Beginning at position 1 (equivalent to the 1st string on a guitar or little E), the first two strings are tuned, in unison, to the note of F. The pitch is equivalent to the F note which is found on the 3rd fret of the 4th string on a guitar. 2. At position 2, the next set of strings moving upward, both strings are tuned in unison to the note of C, equivalent to the C found at the 3rd fret of the 5th string on a guitar. 3. At position 3, the next two strings are tuned in unison to the note of G, equivalent to the G note found at the 3rd fret of the sixth string of a guitar. 4. At position 4, you will find two strings of different size. The smaller string is tuned to the note of D, equivalent to the open 4th string of a guitar, also found on a tuner. The larger string is tuned also to the note of D, one octave lower than the other string, which can be found on a bass tuner or simply tuned by ear, one octave lower than the smaller string. 5.

At position 5, tune the smaller string to the note of A, equivalent to the open 5th string of a guitar, which is also found on a guitar tuner. The larger string is tuned one octave lower (A) or found on a bass guitar tuner. 6. At position 6, tune the smaller string to the note of E, equivalent to the open sixth string of a guitar, found on a guitar tuner. The larger string is tuned to the E pitch, one octave lower or with a bass tuner. Strings How to Tune a Guitar - A Simple Guide How to Tune a Guitar Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in! There was an error. Please try again. Please select a newsletter. Please enter a valid email address. Did you mean ? How To Tune A Guitar | The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need What is Standard Tuning? Most guitarists tune their instruments to “standard tuning.” If you’re just beginning to play and aren’t sure which tuning to use, most likely you will want to stick to standard tuning.

As you get more comfortable with your instrument, feel free to experiment with other tunings to keep your practice fresh, but for now standard tuning will be your best bet to get the right sound out of your guitar. The strings on your guitar are numbered one through six, starting with your highest string. Take a look at the image to the left to see which note each string should be tuned to. Each note corresponds to the pitch your string should produce when played open, without holding down any of the frets. Note that your highest and lowest strings are both tuned to E, just two octaves apart. When you are tuning, it is best to start with the sixth string and work your way down. You will find that because the sixth string is the thickest, it tends to hold tune better, providing you with a better foundation for a well-tuned instrument. Finding the Right Pitch when Tuning Your Guitar When you’re learning how to tune a guitar, it’s very important to have a reliable method of finding the right pitch for each string. Most guitarists either use an electronic tuner or tune their guitar to itself or another instrument. Each method does come with pros and cons.

How to Tune a Guitar with a Chromatic or Pitch Tuner For most beginners, using a tuner is the simplest way to find the right pitch for your guitar. Tuners come in a few different varieties; chromatic tuners “hear” the note you are playing and display the pitch your string is currently tuned to. You will be able to see if your guitar is sharp or flat, and also see when you’ve adjusted the string to the correct note. Pitch tuners play the pitch for each string and you must match each note by ear. You can also get a tuning fork, which you strike to produce the correct pitch for your guitar string. If you happen to be near your computer when the need to tune arises, it’s also easy to find a great free online guitar tuner, like this one by Fender. If you do decide to invest in a tuner or tuning fork, ask yourself if you are a more visual person or if you have developed an “ear” for musical notes and intervals. Visual people and beginning musicians will benefit greatly from the use of a chromatic tuner, and over time may begin to develop a better ear for music by using a tuner as a guide.

If you feel confident in your ability to hear and distinguish pitch (or if you like a challenge), you might be happier with a tuning fork or a tuner that plays pitch. Tuning a Guitar Without a Tuner If you find yourself playing solo without a tuner, you can make a guitar sound decent by tuning it to itself. Start with your sixth string held down on the fifth fret. You’re now playing an A on your E string. Adjust your fifth string, the A string, until your A string played open matches the pitch of the E string played on the fifth fret. It can be helpful to hum the correct note as you tune your open string, so you can better hear if your string is tuned too tight or loose. Next, tune your D string to match the pitch of your A string played on the fifth fret. You can continue tuning each string to the fifth fret of the string above it, except for the B string. To tune your B string, hold the G string down on the fourth fret. As long as each string is tuned to the correct interval from the next string, your guitar will still sound fine by itself.

Tuning a Guitar with a Piano If you don’t have a guitar tuner handy, but you do have access to a piano, you can use the piano to find the correct pitch for your guitar. Tuning to a piano or keyboard is a great way to get the right pitch for your guitar, and is especially useful if you will be playing along with a pianist or other instruments. Just tune your sixth string to the E two octaves below middle C. From there, you can tune your guitar to itself or continue to match each pitch to the right notes as you go up the keyboard. Alternate Guitar Tunings What do Joni Mitchell and Black Sabbath have in common? It’s all in the tuning! Both artists often used alternate tunings to get unique sounds from their guitars. Once you have a good idea of how to tune a guitar, it can be lots of fun to experiment with alternate guitar tunings. There are hundreds of possible alternate tunings for the guitar, but two of the most common alternate tunings are Drop D and Open G. Drop D Tuning Tuning your guitar to Drop D is pretty simple. Start with your guitar in standard tuning, and just tune your sixth string down a full step from E to D.

Famous songs in Drop D tuning include the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence”, Foo Fighters’ “Everlong”, and Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”. Open G Tuning If you love Keith Richards’ guitar playing in the Rolling Stones, you are already a fan of Open G tuning. In Open G, your guitar strings are tuned to the notes of the G chord, so when you strum open you’re already playing a complete chord. Starting from the sixth string, tune to the following notes: D-G-D-G-B-D How Often Should I Tune My Guitar? Guitars are very sensitive instruments. The wood in your guitar expands and contracts slightly due to changes in temperature and humidity, which changes the tension in the strings, and causes them to go out of tune. You might even notice your guitar going out of tune as you play it, particularly if you tend to play very hard or frequently bend pitches. Due to the guitar’s sensitivity, it’s best to tune at the start of your practice, and again any time you sense that it doesn’t sound quite right. You will notice even professional musicians occasionally need to take some time during performances to tune. How Can I Make My Guitar Stay in Tune Longer?

Keep your guitar in tune longer by changing your strings regularly. Depending on how often you play, you might want to change your strings anywhere from once a month to once a week. When you’re not playing, store your guitar in a hard case in a cool, dry place to avoid changes in heat and humidity. If you follow those tips but still have persistent issues with your guitar going out of tune, there may be an issue with your instrument’s intonation. Intonation refers to your instrument’s ability to hold pitch. Intonation may be affected by wear and tear as you play your guitar or the way your guitar was manufactured. Visit a local guitar shop and ask them to take a look at your guitar’s intonation and they should be able to help you find the right solution to your tuning woes. – Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger Now that you know how to tune a guitar, be sure to check out our other great resources to help you learn more about your instrument. If you’re really serious about improving your guitar skills fast, the right guitar teacher will be the best resource you can have. Visit TakeLessons to find your perfect teacher today! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons.

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Question: The sixth and first strings of a guitar are tuned to which note?
Answer: E