How to Tune a Guitar if You Have Never Tried Before

Learn to turn your guitar using an online guitar tuner.

There are many ways to tune a guitar. Some guitarists tune guitars using pianos, others use tuning forks, while others tune completely by ear. Using an electronic guitar tuner is a convenient option for beginner guitarists. Some electronic guitar tuners connect to electric guitars, while others pick up the sound of acoustic guitars using an internal microphone. Electronic guitar tuners are also available online. Learning how guitar strings, tuning pegs and guitar tuners work is the key to tuning a guitar as a beginner.

Instructions

1. Identify and learn the names of the six guitar strings. The thickest guitar string is the 6th string and is tuned to E, while the second thickest guitar string -- the 5th string -- is tuned to A. From thickest to thinnest the guitar strings are: 6th E, 5th A, 4th D, 3rd G, 2nd B and 1st E.

2. Locate the six tuning pegs (also called tuning machines) on the guitar head. Each of the six pegs is connected to one of the guitar strings. Examine the guitar head to determine which string is connected to which peg.

3. Experiment with the tuning pegs to make the pitch of each string higher or lower. When a tuning peg is turned clockwise, the tension of the string increases and the pitch of the string becomes higher. When the tuning peg is turned counterclockwise, the tension of the string decreases and the pitch becomes lower.

4. Open the online guitar tuner at the How to Tune a Guitar website (howtotuneaguitar.org). Play the E (6th) string on the guitar tuner by clicking "E." When the E tone is ringing out, play the E (6th) string on your guitar.

5. Listen to the ringing tone and adjust the pitch of the guitar string using the guitar peg. Experiment moving the guitar peg clockwise or counterclockwise until the pitch of the string matches the guitar tuner tone.

6. Move onto the 5th (A) string. Tune each string in turn until each string is in tune.

7. Play a chord to test the tuning. If the guitar is in tune, the guitar chord will sound pleasant to the ears. Even a beginner guitarist can detect an out-of-tune guitar chord.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice using guitar tuners often to train your ears and to become better at tuning guitars.

• Many hardware electronic guitar tuners -- such as guitar tuner pedals and rack-mounted tuners -- indicate when a guitar is perfectly in tune using LED lights, or other indicators. Invest in a good hardware tuner if you have trouble using online guitar tuners.

• Low quality or damaged guitars may be impossible to tune, and can come out of tune easily. If you are having trouble tuning your guitar, it may be that the guitar itself is faulty. Have you guitar assessed at a guitar store if you suspect it is defective.

References

• University of Florida; Guitar Playing for Beginners: Guitar Parts and Care; Brian G. Kelley; 2008
• The University of New South Wales; How Does a Guitar Work?; Joe Wolfe

Resources

• How to Tune a Guitar