How to Tune a Fender Electric Guitar
Fender is a manufacturer of world-class electric guitars, made of high-quality craftsmanship and known for their clean, distinctive sound. It's no wonder world-famous guitar legends such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix are known for playing Fender instruments. But even the best guitar legend would sound pretty bad if his guitar was not in tune. Any guitarist should tune his Fender electric guitar before playing music with it.
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Instructions
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Use a fresh set of strings. Tuning a guitar that has an old set of strings can be compared with filling an old, worn-out car tire with air. It won't help it work much better. Old strings become rusty and sound flat. New strings will make a guitar sound brighter and it will be easier to tune.
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Guitar tuners can help you tune your guitar. Tune a guitar using a device called a guitar tuner. This small hand-held gadget doesn't physically tune the guitar for you, but it lets you see what note you are playing. The thickest string is called the bottom string and is usually an "E" note. Set the tuner to "E" and pluck the string. The tuner will show you if you need to tune higher (increase the pitch) or lower (decrease the pitch). Adjust the pitch of the string by turning the tuning pegs at the top of the guitar's neck until the tuner is green or at zero. Repeat this process with each remaining string. They are "A," "D," "G," "B" and "E." This last string is called a "high E." It is the thinnest string.
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Tune using a tone match tuner. These tuners play the note each guitar string should be. So if you set it to "E," you will hear the "E" note. Play your low "E" string on the guitar (the thickest string) and tune it to the tone the tuner is playing by turning the tuning pegs at the top of the guitar neck. Repeat this process with the remaining five strings.
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Avoid depening on a machine by learning to tune by ear. Tune your guitar by ear. Pick a reference point on the guitar. This is usually the low "E" (thickest string). The low "E" can be matched to the "E" note on a piano or another instrument. Move your finger to the 5th fret and hold it down on the string (frets are the boxes along the guitar's neck). Pluck the string. This is an "A" note. Tune the next string to match this note. Repeat this process until you get to the "B" string (second-thinnest string). To tune the "B" string hold your finger over the 4th fret and press down on the "G" string. Tune the "B" string to match it. The final string is the high "E." Hold your finger over the 5th fret and press down on the "B" string. Tune the final string to match this tone.
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Tips & Warnings
When you need a reference point to tune, pick up the phone. The dial tone on most U.S. land-line telephone systems is an "F." Just tune to that.
Depending on a guitar tuner alone may be asking for trouble in case it breaks or the battery dies. Always learn to tune by ear.
References
- Photo Credit guitar tuning head image by PeteG from Fotolia.com tuning pegs image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com Guitar tuning image by cdbdi from Fotolia.com
