When you're learning to play guitar, you must start by tuning your guitar. You'll never sound "right" if it's out of tune. Use this guide to learn how to tune your guitar with and without a tuner, identify the correct string notes, and keep your instrument sounding great for longer. Practice becomes much more fun and rewarding when tuning becomes a breeze.

Basics of Tuning Your Guitar

Tuning a guitar involves adjusting the tuning pegs (machine heads) on the headstock. Turning these pegs changes the pitch of the strings: tightening the strings raises the pitch while loosening them lowers it.

When to Tune Your Guitar

It's normal for your guitar to drop its tune between plays, so you'll need to tune it every time you play. If a chord sounds off even when you're sure you're playing it right, it's time to check your tuning.

If you have a nylon string guitar, these strings tend to drop their tuning quickly. You might find yourself tuning more frequently, especially when the strings are new.

Finding Guitar String Notes: EADGBE

A standard guitar has six strings. From low to high, the notes are E, A, D, G, B, and E. This is known as the standard tuning. To remember these, you can use phrases like "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie", or "Every Awesome Dog Gets Bones Everytime." The first (thinnest) string is the high E, and the sixth (thickest) is the low E.

How to Tune Your Guitar

Electronic tuners have made tuning easy. But you can also tune by ear using a reference note from another instrument. Let's look at both methods:

Using a Chromatic or Pitch Tuner

Clip-on electric tuners make tuning quick and easy. Clipped to the headstock of your guitar, they detect the vibrations from the strings, showing whether the pitch is too low (flat), too high (sharp), allowing you to adjust until just right. They work for acoustic and electric guitars and are affordable, accurate, and easy to use. Some electric/acoustic guitars and practice amps even have built-in tuners, a handy feature to look out for if you're in the market for one of these.

Tuning Without a Tuner

If you ever find yourself without a tuner, there are still options. Many mobile apps use the microphone to identify the note. Like the clip-on tuner, they guide you as you adjust them until the note is correct. They're less accurate than chromatic tuners, but they do the job!

You can also tune using a reference pitch from another instrument, like a piano or a guitar, which you know is in tune. Once you get one string in tune, you can tune the rest by playing a fretted note on a lower string and matching the open string.

This method is trickier because you'll need to tune one of your guitar strings to the reference pitch "by ear". This process requires listening to the reference pitch, playing the corresponding note on your guitar, and comparing the two pitches. Adjust your guitar string until the pitches match. After you've tuned one string, you can tune the rest by playing a fretted note on a lower string and adjusting the open string to match it. It is something to work towards because it makes you look like a pro!

Time to Practice

Regular tuning and practice go hand in hand. With regular practice, tuning will become second nature. Whether you use a tuner or tune by ear, keeping your guitar in tune will make your practice sessions more fun and productive. Understanding the string tuning order and the relationship between guitar strings and notes will enhance your playing experience.