Guitar Tuning Explained

To be able to tune your guitar is one of the most basic abilities any guitar player needs. Even if you use a tuner, you should know how to tune by using only your ears. Regardless of how you tune, make sure you are in tune.

Guitarists generally tune the bottom string first. Then fret the fifth fret on the bottom string and this is what you tune the next string to. Do the same on the fifth string and the fourth and second strings. The third string you fret at the fourth fret, unlike the other strings. If you know how to tune your guitar by ear, then you can tune to another persons instrument and you two can play together. If you have more than 2 instruments tune one to another and then add instruments one at a time.

An electronic guitar tuner allows everyone to be in tune with each other. The A440 frequency is the agreed upon standard in western music and is called concert pitch. The electronic guitar tuner makes this whole process quicker and more convenient. Using a tuner is so much easier than tuning by ear. The tuner also allows you to tune in complete silence if you have an electric guitar.

The tuner may have LED lights to help guide you in a dark environment as a concert stage and it may have a needle display to tune with. The acoustic guitar can also be tuned with the built in microphone on most guitar tuners.Most guitarists will tune by using a tuner and then adjust by ear. Tuning a guitar has been made very simple with the advent of the guitar tuner.

You will often see guitar players using harmonics to tune their guitar. If you are unfamiliar with harmonics, touch a vibrating string at the twelfth fret and you will hear a harmonic. Using a tuning fork may sometimes be your only option, especially in classical circles, so be aware of this approach also. The ease of tuning today has opened the guitar world to many players that may have given up long before. If you are unsure how to use any of the methods described here, ask your teacher to show you.