How to Tune a Guitar With Harmonics

Tuning a guitar electronically is certainly an easy route to take. But, more often than not, you may find yourself in a position where you need to use your ear to tune your instrument. Learning how to use harmonics to tune your guitar can ensure a perfect tune each time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tuning Fork

1. Using a tuning fork, tune the A string. Strike the tuning fork on your knee and hold it close to your ear so you can easily hear the tone. Pluck the A string and adjust the tuning key until the tone matches.

2. Rest your left pinky finger on the fifth fret of the low E string and pluck the string with your right hand. You should hear a high-pitched tone, the harmonic.

3. Lift your pinky off as soon as the tone is achieved, allowing it to ring out.

4. Place your pinky on the seventh fret of the A string as gently as you did on the low E string. Pluck the string allowing the harmonic to ring out again.

5. Adjust the tuning of the low E string so that the tone matches up with the tone of the A string. Play the harmonics as quick as possible to maintain accuracy.

6. Play the harmonic on the fifth fret of the A string and the seventh fret of the D string. Adjust the D string to the tone of the A string since this was already tuned with the tuning fork.

7. Repeat for each string except for when tuning the B string. In this case, use the harmonic on the seventh fret of the low E string and the open B string. Again, use the tone of the harmonic to adjust the tuning.

Tips & Warnings

• Move quickly. You need both notes to ring out in order to properly tune the guitar.
• Be gentle when playing the harmonic. You want your finger to be just barely laying on the string as you pluck it.