How To Tune A Guitar

By Joshua Jenkins
How to tune a guitar

Do you play the guitar? Or are you wanting to learn how to play the guitar? If so you need to be able to tune one. There are a number of ways to tune a guitar and it is important that you utilize the best method for you. If you are playing in a band you need to be in tune with the other instruments, otherwise you will sound really bad. Playing by yourself can be really easy because there are no other instruments to be out of tune with, however if you ensure you are correctly tuned you will benefit from this knowledge when you come to play accompanied. You should always tune the first string first, that is, the one that is closest to the top or to your head. This string is called the E string. The E string is the base note for all of the other strings and so it is important to have it in tune. Some guitarists tune their guitars to other notes but for now I am going to explain how to tune a guitar to E.

Some people can tell a perfect E by ear. This means that they are able to sing or hum an E and then tune the guitar to it. For myself and a lot of other people this isn't possible, and so if you are like me you will need some assistance. There are a lot of ways to get a perfect E. The easiest way is to get the E from a piano, you may be lucky enough to have a piano in your home, but if not don't worry. Go to the piano and find the E key. Play the E key and put your foot on the pedal so that it holds it. As you hear the E note play the top string of the guitar, if it doesn't sound in tune it will be flat or sharp. All guitars are different but a standard six-string acoustic guitar will have knobs on the top, these are the tuning knobs. Learning how to tune your guitar is easy because the tuning knobs are so easy to learn how to use. Twist the knobs as you hear the E on the piano, does it sound like it is too sharp (too high) or flat (too low). If your guitar is stung properly you will turn the knob clockwise and it will sharpen (or tighten) the string. Turn the knob counter-clockwise and it should do the opposite, that is flattening (or loosening) the string. Once you have figured out which way to turn the knob you can listen for the perfect match to the piano, thus tuning the string. You have just learned how to tune a guitar with a piano. Once you have E perfect put your finger on the fifth fret and play the note as well as the A string (the string below the E) that should be perfect harmony, and you can adjust the knob of the guitar to match it. Do this for all of the strings except when you get to the B string. The B string should be tuned by putting your finger on the 4th fret of the G string, this is harmony as well. You have just learned how to tune your strings through the piano.

If you don't have a piano you can use a harmonica, or a tuning whistle to tune your guitar, it is the same principle only a different method. There are also electronic tuners, these should be relatively cheap. It means you only have to pluck the string and see if it is in tune. Learning how to tune a guitar is really straightforward. It is a matter of trial and error, don't give up.

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