How to Tune a Guitar to B

Tuning a guitar is a simple process, especially when using a guitar tuner. There are several ways you can tune your guitar. B tuning is the standard tuning for seven-string guitars. It is nearly identical to standard tuning; the only difference is that the first string starts with B, rather than E. Continue reading to learn how to tune a guitar to B.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Guitar tuner

1. Attach the guitar tuner to the guitar. If you use a tuner that clips onto the guitar, put it next to the tuning keys. Some tuners only require that it be nearby the guitar to get accurate readings.

2. Start tuning the thinnest string first. Tighten the tuning key while continuously plucking the string until the tuner reads B. Since your ears can sometimes pick up imperfections that the guitar tuner may not notice, you should use your ears to do the fine tuning. The pitch should be constant and not bounce around.

3. Move on to the second thinnest string and tune it to E. Strum the two strings together and listen carefully to make sure they are tuned properly. If the two strings are not in harmony then double-check that they are correctly tuned.

4. Repeat the steps for the remaining strings, working from thinnest to thickest. The entire order of the strings should be B-E-A-D-G-B-E when finished. If it was tuned properly, all of the strings should be in harmony when strummed together.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are tuning new strings, it may take several tuning sessions for it to stick. New strings have a tendency to stretch, thus causing the guitar to fall out of tune. Check the tuning each time you play the guitar.

References

• Guitar Tuning