Tuning the Guitar to Itself

Lesson 4/57 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Beginner Country Guitar
Tuning the Guitar to Itself

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 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.
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Brett Duncan

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Class Sessions

1- Silent Strums and Continuous Rhythm 2- D Major Chord 3- Country Progressions 4- LESSON ONE 5- Eighth Note Rhythms 6- Minor Chord 7- Bass Note Rhythm Patterns 8- F Major Chord 9- Alternate Bass Note Picking 10- Bass Note Runs 11- Country Licks 12- Sixteenth Note Rhythms 13- How to Tune Your Guitar 14- INTRODUCTION 15- Silent Strum Symbols 16- Approach to Practice 17- The Hammer-On 18- Four Four Bass Note Rhythm Patterns 19- The Pull-Off 20- Eighth Note Rhythm Patterns 21- Tuning to Another Instrument 22- Pivot Finger 23- The C Major Chord 24- Combining Rhythms and Licks 25- Strumming 26- Slide Finger 27- Rhythm Variations 28- Electronic Tuner 29- Tuning the Guitar to Itself 30- The Seventh Chord 31- Acoustic Guitars 32- Suspended Chord 33- Tuning Hints 34- Electric Guitars 35- Chord Progressions 36- How to Read Sheet Music 37- Easy Chord Table 38- Amplifiers 39- Rhythm Patterns 40- How to Transpose 41- Strings 42- The Capo 43- Seating 44- Chord Symbols 45- The pick 46- Right Arm Position 47- Chord Chart 48- Right Hand Support 49- Notes on the Guitar Fretboard 50- Pick Technique 51- The Chromatic Scale 52- The Rudiments of Music 53- Time Signatures 54- Note Values 55- Notes, Rhythms and Rests 56- Chord Diagrams Used in This Book 57- Rhythm Symbols

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