How Do You Tune a Whole Step Down on a Korg GT-3 Tuner?

A detuned guitar produces more menacing tones.

Korg's GT-3 is a pocket-sized chromatic guitar and bass tuner that sells for about a third of the cost of more popular stomp-box models. But unlike those more sensitive and exact tuners, the GT-3 picks up only on the notes of standard tuning. That can make detuning a bit of a bear, but a quick trick can have you chugging those low notes in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Capo
• 1/4-inch instrument cable

Instructions

1. Place a capo just behind the second fret. Position it as straight as possible, and as close to the fret as you can without muting the strings.

2. Plug your guitar into the tuner, if you have an electric guitar. If you have an acoustic guitar, no cable is necessary; the GT-3 has a microphone. Tune in a quiet room, away from music and television.

3. Pluck an open low E string.

4. Turn the tuning peg clockwise until the string light reads "6E" and the frequency gauge (the arced row of lights above the GT-3 logo) lights up in the middle.

5. Repeat with the remaining five strings. The fifth string should tune to A, the fourth to D, the third to G, the second to B and the first string to E.

6. Remove the capo.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have a capo, tune each string by fingering it at the second fret. You'll need to use your pick hand to turn the tuning peg, as your other hand will be occupied fretting the string.

• Your guitar's intonation and setup may cause it to sound out of tune when you detune the strings. If you plan on playing in alternate tunings frequently, take your guitar to a luthier and have it set up specially for that tuning.

• You may need to fine-tune a few of the strings once you remove the capo. A guitar that is perfectly in tune when the capo is in place may go slightly out of tune when you remove it.

References

• Cyberfret.com: Using A Guitar Capo
• owtotuneaguitar.org: Tuning A Guitar Down A Full Step

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish