Tuning your guitar is a fundamental skill that every beginner musician should learn. When your guitar is in tune you’ll be able to play chords, riffs, melodies and solos accurately.  When your guitar is out of tune everything will sound terrible, and ‘off’.

Learning guitar has layers of challenges.  One thing that can make it harder is feeling powerless to put your guitar in tune by yourself or feeling like everything sounds rubbish, when it might be as simple as putting your G string back in tune.

Let’s make sure that your guitar sounds ‘right’…

A simple guide to help you get started:

Why is Tuning Important?

• Accuracy: A well-tuned guitar produces clear and accurate notes, making it easier to learn songs and play in tune with others or playing along to a recording.
• Enjoyment: Playing an out-of-tune guitar can be frustrating and can hinder your enjoyment of the instrument as well as not knowing whether you’re actually playing the right frets or shapes.
• Foundation: Tuning is the foundation of good guitar playing. Mastering it will set you up for success as you progress.
• Ear Training: Training your ears to know what your strings sound like when they’re in tune, or how to get them in tune when they’re out is priceless. Having reference points in your listening is something you can build on to excel to more complex areas of ear training such as recognising chords and intervals. All very significant in the arena of playing music.

 

You will need to know the names of your strings in order to tune your guitar:

 

Basic Tuning Methods

There are several ways to tune a guitar. Here are two common methods:

1. Using a Tuner 

Using a tuner is the best method for beginners.

A guitar tuner is a small electronic device that displays the pitch of the note you are playing. Simply pick a string and the tuner will indicate whether the string is in tune or needs adjustment. Make sure you only strike one string at once. If the string needs adjusting you will turn the relevant tuning peg clockwise or anticlockwise to either sharpen (raise) or flatten (lower) the note.

Tuners come in different types:

• Apps -You will find many free guitar tuning apps for iOS or android. These are very easy to follow.
• Clip On – This is a physical tuner that clips onto the headstock of your guitar.
• Stomp box – These are foot pedals that you plug your guitar into using a jack lead (you will need an electric or electro-acoustic guitar to use these).
• Some guitars have tuners built in.

2. Tuning by Ear
If you don’t have a tuner, you can tune your guitar by ear. This can take time to get your ears used to hearing the note so may not be the quickest for a beginner. With a bit of practise you will develop the skill to do this.

Here’s a basic method:

Start with the low E string: Tune it to a reference pitch

Do this by playing an E on another instrument eg another guitar, piano, electronic sound etc.  Try to match the sound you hear by playing the open E string on your guitar and ascertaining whether they are playing the same note. If they aren’t you will turn the E string tuning peg on your guitar to change the pitch of the string until it matches the reference pitch on the other instrument. You can start getting used to this by working out if one is lower or higher than the other. This gives you a bit of direction in which way you need to turn your tuning peg.

This method takes practise.

Once you have your E string in tune: Tune the other strings

Use the fifth fret rule to tune the remaining strings – to tune the A string, fret the fifth fret of the low E string and strike it.  This note it plays is an A.  You will need to match your open A string to this pitch. next, move to the D string, fret the fifth fret of the A string and make sure the open D plays the same pitch as the fifth fret of the A.  Move to the G string, fret the fifth fret of the D and make sure the open G string plays the same pitch as the fifth fret of the D string.  Move to the B string, we now have to play the fourth fret of the G string to play a B pitch. Match the open B string to the fourth fret of the G. Finally play the fifth fret of the B string and match the open high e to this fret.

Tips for Tuning

Practice regularly: The more you tune your guitar, the easier it will become.
Check your tuning frequently: Even if you’ve just tuned, your guitar may go out of tune over time, especially if you’re playing it vigorously.
Consider using a clip-on tuner: Clip-on tuners are easy to use and can be attached to your headstock, making it convenient to tune while playing.
Don’t be afraid to experiment: If you’re struggling to tune by ear, try different techniques or listen to recordings of the notes you’re trying to match.

By following these tips and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to tune your guitar like a pro in no time. Remember, tuning is an essential skill that will help you become a better guitarist.