How to Tune a Guitar Perfectly Every Time
How To Tune a Guitar
It is crucial to understand that, regardless of your proficiency as a guitarist, knowing how to tune a guitar is fundamental.
However, mastering the art of tuning a guitar is one of the initial challenges every aspiring guitarist faces.
This is so because it is essential to sounding good on the guitar, and a well-tuned guitar makes it possible.
Despite your best efforts, an untuned guitar simply doesn’t produce the desired sound.
Furthermore, if your guitar is not well tuned, the sound may fall short, and you might end up feeling discouraged.
Moreover, it can impede the learning process, as it becomes difficult to discern if you’re hitting the correct notes when your instrument isn’t in tune.
Possessing the skill to properly tune a guitar ensures that you consistently showcase your best performance.
In this blog post, we will guide you through an excellent method designed specifically for beginners on how to tune a guitar.
By following this guide, you will acquire the ability to tune a guitar, whether or not you have a tuner.
You will also be able to recognize the notes of each guitar string and maintain your guitar’s tune for an extended period of time.
No doubt, regular practice is essential for learning an instrument. Hence, with consistent practice over time, tuning a guitar will become second nature to you fairly quickly.
What is Guitar Tuning?
Guitar tuning refers to how the open strings of a guitar are set to produce different pitches.
This applies to various types of guitars, like classical, acoustic, and electric ones.
Tuning is defined by specific musical notes in Western music.
It follows a convention where the notes progress from the lowest-pitched string (the deepest bass-sounding note) to the highest-pitched string (the highest-sounding note).
Other terms used for this tuning convention include going from the thickest string to the thinnest, or even from the lowest frequency to the highest.
This arrangement can be a bit confusing for new guitarists because the highest-pitched string is labeled as the 1st string, while the lowest-pitched one is called the 6th string.
There are numerous tunings, some of which are very similar to established ones but with slight variations.
These encompass the standard tuning method as well as other less common, alternative, or modified approaches.
Groups of guitarists who share a similar musical background often adopt the same or similar tuning styles, creating a sense of community and commonality in their music.
Guitar Standard Tuning Method
Standard tuning is the most commonly used tuning for a six-string guitar.
When a specific alternate tuning, known as scordatura, is not mentioned, musicians automatically assume standard tuning. In scientific pitch notation, this standard tuning is represented by the notes E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4.
While using scientific pitch notation is not always obligatory, it’s important to note that the guitar is classified as a transposing instrument.
This means that music written for guitars is notated one octave higher than its actual pitch.
This practice aims to minimize the need for additional lines on the musical staff, making it simpler to read notes when playing the guitar.
In standard tuning, the 6th string, commonly referred to as the low E string, is set to the note E.
As we progress to the next strings, each one is tuned a fourth higher. However, there’s an exception with the 2nd string (B), which is tuned a major 3rd higher than the 3rd string (G).
What Are the Notes of the Guitar Strings?
To become proficient in tuning a guitar, start by memorizing the sequence of its strings.
When you look at the six strings, you’ll notice they vary in thickness.
Using the standard guitar tuning method, the topmost and thickest one is called the low E string, also known as the sixth string.
Following that, the next thickest is the A string, or the fifth string, and so on, all the way to the first string, which is the high E.
The strings follow a progression from thickest (lowest) to thinnest (highest), that is, E – A – D – G – B – E.
Fortunately, it’s a relatively straightforward concept. To help remember the pitch sequence of your guitar strings, you can use the mnemonic “Every Animal Dances Greatly Before Elephants.”
Alternatively, you can employ the mnemonic “Eddie Ate Dynamite Good, Bye Eddie” for a more vivid recall.
As shown in the diagram, the rightmost E is a high version, while the leftmost E is a low version, but both are E notes.
This distinction is important to understand when tuning. However, if none of these mnemonics resonate with you, feel free to create your own mnemonic to help you remember!
Mastering the sequence of guitar strings is the foundational first step in learning how to tune a guitar effectively.
How to Tune a Guitar
When we talk about tuning a guitar, we’re referring to the process of aligning the open strings of a guitar to specific notes.
Having learned the sequence of notes for standard guitar strings, we have already covered the initial part of standard guitar tuning.
The next step is understanding how to tune our guitar strings to the standard notes of E, A, D, G, B, and E, in that exact order.
Essentially, there are various methods to achieve this, and they include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Tuning a guitar with tuners
- Tuning a guitar by ear
These methods involve adjusting the guitar’s strings using its tuning mechanism.
Therefore, before delving into each of these tuning methods, let’s first explore the guitar tuning mechanism.
Guitar Tuning Mechanism
Guitar tuning is managed through the tuning pegs located on the headstock of the guitar.
If you take a look at your guitar’s headstock (the thin end of the guitar), you’ll notice these small ‘keys’ that can be turned.
These keys are known as ‘machine heads’ or tuning pegs. Each guitar string is connected to its own machine head.
So, when we adjust a machine head, we alter the pitch that the guitar string produces.
The process of tuning a guitar is straightforward. To adjust the pitch of a guitar string, simply turn the corresponding tuning key on the head of the guitar.
As you turn the pegs, the pitch of the strings will either go up or down.
When we turn the machine head in a specific direction, the string’s pitch increases.
Conversely, if we turn the machine head in the opposite direction, the pitch of the strings decreases.
For example, when you turn the tuning key away from you, it tightens the string and raises its pitch.
Conversely, when you turn the tuning key toward you, it loosens the string and lowers its pitch.
Adjusting the strings affects the pitch; tightening raises it, while loosening lowers it.
For beginners seeking an easy way to tune a guitar, start by gently turning the keys. Can you hear the change in sound?
Gradually adjust the key and pluck the string in between tweaks to become familiar with the different pitches.
Exercise caution and refrain from applying too much force or making drastic key movements all at once.
Keep in mind that over-tightening may lead to a snapped string. Similarly, excessive loosening of the key could cause it to unravel.
If you’re unsure about what to do, opt for a slow and steady approach.
How to Tune a Guitar with Tuners
The most effective method for tuning your guitar is to employ a guitar tuner. This electronic device actively listens to the pitch of each string.
Currently, there is a diverse array of guitar tuners available on the market. We can use a dedicated guitar tuner, a tuning app on your phone, or even an online tuner.
These devices make the process of tuning guitar notes both swift and straightforward.
Tuning a guitar with either of the tuners may initially seem challenging, but once you grasp the basics, it becomes a straightforward process.
The device identifies the note and provides visual guidance on whether you need to adjust the string higher or lower to achieve perfect tuning.
This tool significantly simplifies the tuning process.
How to Use a Chromatic (Guitar) Tuner
Start by placing your chromatic tuner in front of you and switching it on. This initial step is crucial for achieving accurate tuning on your guitar.
Focus on the top string and pluck it gently, using either your fingers or a pick, depending on what feels most comfortable.
However, using a pick may provide a slightly more precise reading on the tuner.
Pay close attention to the tuner display as you perform this process.
Typically, the tuner display will show the note being played and a scale that moves.
When the scale indicator aligns at the center, it indicates that the string is perfectly tuned to the displayed note.
Most guitarists proceed from the lowest to the highest string. They start with the low E string (6th string), followed by the A string (5th string), and then the D string (4th string).
Afterward, they move to the G string (3rd string), the B string (2nd string), and finally, the high E string (1st string).
To tune the top string to E, keep plucking it and making adjustments using the machine heads until the tuner registers an E note.
This ensures that your top string is perfectly in tune.
Next, move on to the next string, the A string, and repeat the process.
Gradually work your way down from the top to the bottom, following standard tuning.
After you’ve gone through all the strings, go back and repeat the tuning process for each one.
This double-check ensures that all your strings are precisely tuned.
How to Tune a Guitar by Ear
Learning to tune a guitar by ear, while not as precise as other methods, can be a valuable skill.
Additionally, it can enhance your ability to recognize pitch, ultimately making you a more adept guitarist.
There are several approaches to tuning a guitar by ear. Whichever method you choose, start by tuning one “reference string,” typically your 6th string (the lowest and thickest string), to the correct pitch.
This initial step ensures that you don’t inadvertently tune the remaining strings incorrectly.
Essentially, to tune your guitar by ear, you must first establish a reference note for the other strings.
Keep the other five strings open and then press down on the string you’re tuning to match it, either at unison (the exact same pitch) or at octave (the same note at an octave above or below the original).
Tuning by Ear
As mentioned earlier, in standard tuning, the relationship between the guitar’s strings is E-A-D-G-B-E, with the intervals being fourth, fourth, fourth, third, and fourth.
After tuning our low-E string using a reference note, we can proceed to tune the open A string to the E string.
When you play the E string at the fifth fret, it produces an A note—the fourth interval in the E major scale. This is exactly the same note as the open A string.
They are both A notes at the same pitch, and they should sound identical.
If they don’t, you’ll need to adjust the tuning peg for the A string until it matches the note you’re playing on the low-E string.
Similarly, when you press the fifth fret of your fifth (A) string, you’ll hear a D note.
This D note corresponds to the pitch your fourth string should be at.
The only instance where this pattern differs is when you’re tuning the second (B) string to the third (G) string.
This time, you’ll play the fourth fret of the G string to get the B note needed for tuning the second string.
Afterward, continue this process across the guitar until all of your strings are properly tuned.
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