Category: Tuning

Here’s an excerpt, just to give you the gist of today’s guitar lesson:
“This is probably the most important piece of knowledge that you can learn when it comes to tuning your guitar. The process of tuning your guitar to itself is one by which you tune each string to another string on the guitar. Basically, it means that you can tune the guitar without having to use a tuner or pitch tool. The only set back about using this method is that your guitar may not end up in exact concert pitch. What I mean by that is that the strings may not run E, A, D, G, B, E as they would if they were in correct concert pitch (you would need a tuner or pitch tool to do that), rather they will all be tuned to whatever note the top string happens to be at the time of tuning.”

Another important aspect of learning guitar is also touched on - recording yourself occasionally to provide a reality check:
“An old piano teacher of mine used to record my playing at different times throughout my terms work. At the end of the term she would give me a tape that contained a selection of pieces that I had played running from work that I had completed early in the term to the things that I was working on at the end of the term. I would take this tape home and I would play it to my friends and family. People listening to the tape would say, “Man, you’re getting good”.
This did two things for me. First of all, it made me go back to my teacher for more lessons. Secondly, it made me practice more because I could see the benefits of working on something over time. Basically, the progress that I could hear on the tape motivated me to progress further.
I strongly recommend that you begin to record your practice sessions for future reference.”
Click here to learn to tune your guitar

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The pitches of the six open strings are E A D G B E


TUNING METHOD ONE: First try the high E-string (first string). Try to match the sound of your E-string to the sound of the E-string of the tuner. Listen to it as much as you need to. Follow your instincts. If you think you have matched the sound on the tuner, you will probably be correct. If the strings
are put on correctly on your guitar, the pitch will go up when the tuning peg is turned away from you, and
lower when the peg is turned towards you. When the first string is in tune listen to the sound of the second
string on the tuner, and repeat the same procedure until all six strings are in tune.


TUNING METHOD TWO: With the strings loose tune the open fifth string up to the pitch of A.

Next tune the fourth string up until it has the same sound as the fifth string held down at the fifth fret.

Next tune the third string up until it has the same sound as the fourth string held down at the fifth fret.

Next tune the second string up until it has the same sound as the third string held down at the fourth fret.

Next tune the first string up until it has the same sound as the second string held down at the fifth fret.

Lastly tune the sixth string up until, when it’s plucked simultaneously with the first string, it has the same sound but two octaves lower.


Note: Tuning a guitar is not as hard as you might think, but it will take some practice. So if it takes a while to tune the guitar the first couple of times, do not get frustrated; it will become easier in the future.


Guitar Tuner download
Some people find it much easier to use a computer guitar tuner to tune their guitar visually. Here is a link to the AP Guitar Tuner which you can install on your computer. It’s easy to use, and if you’re not confident about your ear for tuning, the visual tools make it a breeze!




Alternate Guitar Tunings

And last, but not least is the free online guitar tuner from Get Tuned which features lots of alternate guitar tunings such as the ever-popular drop D tuning.

Your Guitar Tuner
Why go anywhere when you have a perfectly good tuner right here! Click on the string to get the note!

Of course, if you are not always near a computer when you need to tune your guitar, the Qwik Tune digital quartz tuner is by far the best of the carry-in-ya-pocket tuners. It features a 1/4″ jack for electric tuning and an “Electronic Pitchpipe” internal speaker that plays E, A, D, G and B tones for tuning reference. A visual meter informs the user which string they are attempting to tune, even if the guitar is severely out of tune. High-sensitivity Microphone for extremely precise, accurate tuning. Fast Meter & 3 LEDs.