How to tune a guitar

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:tuneguitar
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How to tune a guitar

Introduction

Is that Stairway to Heaven into riff sounding a bit off? You've been trying to master Eruption, but it sounds more like a cat stuck in a lawnmower? Chances are your axe (aka guitar) is out of tune. Follow the steps below and you'll be tearing it up like Esteban in no time!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need

  • A guitar
  • A guitar tuner, piano or a good ear

Steps

1

Step One

The first thing you'll probably need to know is that a guitar has 6 strings which when tuned properly should be tuned as follows E-A-D-B-G-E starting with the lowest (thickest) string.
2

Step Two

If you can manage to get the low E string in tune, you can tune the rest of the guitar off of that string. Use your tuner, piano or good ear to find the low E.
3

Step Three

Once your low E string is in tune, hold your finger (whichever one is comfortable) on the low E string on the 5th fret (if you don't know what a fret is, you have bigger fish to fry than how to tune your guitar). Alternate strumming the low E string and the next string down (the A string) and tune the open A string (using the correleating tuning key on the headstock) until it sounds the same as the low E string held at the 5th fret.
4

Step Four

Repeat step 3 for each of the strings in succession (i.e. hold the A string at the 5th fret to tune the D string, hold the D string at the 5th fret to tune the B string and so on).
5

Step Five

The music gods throw you a curve ball when it comes to tuning the G string. Rather than holding the B string at the 5th fret, hold it at the 4th fret. This only applies to the G string (insert humerous underwear joke here), so be sure to hold the G string back at the 5th fret in order to tune the high E string (the thinest string).

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • This will take some practice to get proficient at, but over time your ear will eventually train so that it can recognize what the individual strings should sound like.
  • Repeated practice may cause blisters and or neighbors knocking on your door (they won't be bringing you pie, or offering you a record deal (unless you live next to David Geffen)).
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How to Tune a Guitar

Introduction

It seems as though one of the most fundamental aspects of playing the guitar is also its biggest mystery--properly tuning the strings. Most veteran guitarists can tune by ear, but if you're a beginner, you might want to use a portable hand-held model. Many of these battery-operated gadgets have a microphone built into their design so that an acoustic guitar can be tuned without the need for an electronic connection. The following tips will get you in pitch-perfect tune in minutes.

Note: For my example on how to tune your guitar to the standard tuning of E A D G B E, I will be using an acoustic guitar and a portable tuner with a built-in microphone.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need

  • Guitar
  • Guitar pick
  • Batteries
  • Electronic guitar tuner

Steps

1

Step One

Turn the tuner to the "on" position. Face the guitar in close proximity of the tuner and play the first note (low E).
2

Step Two

Check to ensure the tuner is receiving the signal. Turn the tuning peg on the guitar higher or lower in order to alter the pitch of the instrument.
3

Step Three

Without touching any of the strings on your fretboard, cleanly, but gently pluck the top E string with your guitar pick.
4

Step Four

Click to enlarge

The Boss TU2 digital tuner

If using a digital tuner, the guitar string will be in tune when the LED of the digital display is indicated by a green light. It will indicate whether the note is either flat or sharp by a red light. If the light moves beyond the center of the intended note (E in this case), it is considered sharp and needs to be tuned down to get to the center. If it doesn't quite reach the center, then it will need to be tuned up.
5

Step Five

Click to enlarge

The Boss TU12HW analog tuner

When using an analog tuner, the same method is applied, only you will be dealing with a meter (needle) instead of the cool LED. The center or "in-tune" area of the meter is at "0."
6

Step Six

Repeat this process for all subsequent strings, remembering to follow note E with A,D,G,B,E and going from top to bottom; lowest to highest.

Tips & Warnings

  • It is important to note that the guitar is not an even-tempered instrument and will never be in perfect tune. It is designed around imperfect math that does not allow it to maintain perfect intonation.
  • It is common, when restringing the guitar with new strings, that it will go out of tune. The strings are new and still stretching. Don't be discouraged. Instead, try to gently pull tension on each individual string to aid in accelerating the 'stretching' process.
  • The only difference between tuning an acoustic and electric guitar is that you need a guitar cable to interconnect between an electric guitar and the tuner.
  • Most chromatic tuners come in two versions. They either have a digital (LED) or analog display (meter with needle).
  • If the neck of your guitar is even slightly warped, you're going to have a hard tuning your strings.
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