How to Tune a B String on a Guitar

Beginning guitar players often encounter difficulties while tuning the B string of the guitar. This is because tuning techniques used for the other strings, such as fifth fret matching and harmonic tuning, don't apply to this string. Tuning the B string is a very simple process provided you remember to tune it slightly differently than you tune the other strings on the guitar.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Press down against the G string with the tip of your finger on the fourth fret. While holding a guitar, the G string is the third string from the bottom.

2. Pluck the G string. Your hand should still be fretting the G string as you do this.

3. Listen to the tone created by the fretted G string as you pluck the open B string. The two resulting tones should be identical in pitch.

4. Use the corresponding tuning peg to adjust the B string so its tone matches the tone of the fretted G string. You can find the tuning pegs on the headstock of your guitar, which is located on the far-left side for a right-handed guitar and the far-right side for a left-handed guitar.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to remove your fretting hand from the fretboard to adjust the B string tuning peg, remember to fret the G string on the fourth fret before plucking the G string again.
• Don't let your fretting finger touch any of the adjacent strings. If any of the strings sound percussive or unclear while you pluck them, adjust your finger positioning until the tone of the string is clear.