How to Tune Your Guitar

Tuning to Another Instrument

If you are playing along with another instrument, it is essential that your guitar be in tune with that instrument. Tune the open strings of your guitar to the corresponding notes of the accompanying instrument. E.g., to tune to a piano, tune the open 6th string to the E note on the piano, as shown on the keyboard diagram. Then tune your guitar to itself from this note using the method outlined on the following page, or tune each string of your guitar to those notes of the piano shown on the keyboard diagram.

Tuning Fork

A tuning fork produces a note (usually the 5th string A note) which you tune one string to. Then you tune the other strings to that string.

Pitch Pipes

Pitch pipes produce notes that correspond to each of the six open strings.

Tuning the Guitar to Itself

Unless you are using an electronic tuner, to be able to tune the guitar accurately usually requires many months of practice. You will probably need your music teacher or musician friend to help you tune when you are learning. If you do not have another instrument to tune to, you can tune the guitar to itself by using the following method.

• Place a left hand finger on the 6th string (thickest string) at the the fifth fret, and play the string.
• Play the open 5th string (an A note). If this note sounds the same as the note you played on the 6th string at the fifth fret, the A note is in tune.
• If the open A string sounds higher, it means that it is sharp.Turn the tuning key slowly in a clockwise direction. This will lower the pitch of the string. Play the two strings again and compare the notes. Keep doing this until the open A string sounds the same as the E string at the fifth fret.
• If the open A string sounds lower, it means that it is flat. Turn the tuning key slowly in a counter-clockwise direction. This will raise the pitch of the string. Play the two strings again and compare the notes. Keep doing this until the open A string sounds the same as the E string at the fifth fret.
• Tune the open 4th string (a D note), to the note on the fifth fret of the 5th string, using the method outlined previously.
• Tune all the other strings in the same way, except for the open 2nd string (a B note),which is tuned to the note produced on the fourth fret of the 3rd string. (See diagram).
• To check the tuning, strum a chord.

Tuning Hints

One of the easiest ways to practice tuning is to actually start with the guitar in tune and then de-tune one string. When you do this, always take the string down in pitch (i.e., loosen it) as it is easier to tune "up" to a given note rather than "down" to it.

As an example slightly detune the 4th string (D). If you play a chord now, the guitar will sound out of tune, even though only one string has been altered. Following the correct method, you must tune the open 4th string against the D note at the fifth fret of the 5th string. Play the note loudly, and listen carefully to the sound produced. This will help you retain the correct pitch in your mind when tuning the next string.

Now that you have listened carefully to the note that you want, the D string must be tuned to it. Play the D string, and turn its tuning key at the same time, and you will hear the pitch of the string change (it will become higher as the tuning key tightens the string). It is important to follow this procedure, so that you hear the sound of the string at all times, as it tightens. You should also constantly refer back to the correct sound that is required (i.e., the D note on the fifth fret of the 5th string).