Tuning a Guitar | Comfort | Guitar Parts

Learning how to tune a guitar can be a simple process; yet can be challenging for beginners. We recommend that every beginner acquire & learn to use a tuner (chromatic tuner preferred, so we can tune strings to anything we decide - or a tuning of a particular song). Standard tuning [EADGBE] is the world's most common tuning.

Having the guitar in tune creates a positive experience. An out of tune guitar can sometimes make us think we might be doing something wrong.

Using a tuner is an option, but batteries die, & our ear should be able to get the guitar in tune. Since there are many tuning methods, we try all of them, & decide which one works best for us & our guitar.

Depending on the guitar & the environment, one method might work better than another. For whatever method chosen, it will be necessary to make a couple of passes through the strings (do the process more than once).

When we turn pegs, the tension of one string affects the tension of another. Plus, the neck will 'warp' a bit with each change (this is called relief).

For a normal guitar, there are thousands of potential tunings. Standard Tuning is the most popular & has been around for over 200 years. It is also a brilliant example of great decision making by our guitar playing ancestors.

Having multiple ways to tune can benefit us. There are situations where one works better than another.

Using a Tuner

A tuner is a device that gauges the frequency (the pitch - high/low) of the strings.

It 'listens' to the strings, & provides a visual reference for us to tune one string one at a time. This is the 'easiest' tuning method.

Even if we utilize a tuner, we practice other methods of tuning using our ear. Sometimes recordings can be 'out of tune' with a tuner, or those batteries run out, or we might forget to bring it, so having other ways to tune is important.

One the key points here is that the strings have to be in the range of the tone we are targeting. Reference tones help with this. Also make sure that the tuner is displaying the correct tone name that we are plucking [EADGBE], & that a flat or sharp symbol isn't being displayed (for chromatic tuners).

5-0 (4-0) Comparative Method

This method uses open strings to compare fretted tones.

1. Tune the low E string (or the open A string - string 5) to a reference pitch, such as a piano, pitch pipe, tuning fork, or metronome tone (most metronomes have an A reference tone).

2. Once we have one of these strings in tune, we tune the other to the in-tune one. Example: if we tuned the low E to a reference tone, fret the 5th fret on the low E, then pluck the open A string, & compare it using the ear. Then turn the tuning peg for the A string and make the tone sound 'exactly' as the fretted A (the 5th fret on the 6th string). They should sound the same. We use our ear to level the tones out [make listening judgements].

3. Continue the same process for the other strings (going in order), noting that the 3 to 2 strings are 4-0, rather than 5-0.

In Tab

Once the 6th string (Low E) is in relative tune, fret the 5 fret (A) on that string & compare it to the open A, tune as needed (make the open tone sound the same as the fretted tone). They should sound the same. Continue the same process for the other strings, noting that the 3 to 2 strings are 4-0, rather than 5-0.

Harmonics Method

Another comparative method is using harmonics. Harmonics are chime or bell like sounds which can be created on the guitar by lightly touching a single point on a string & plucking. The strongest harmonics are at fret 12 (the middle of the string). Other strong harmonics are 4, 5, 7, & 9, yet some guitars (depending on guitar quality & string freshness) can struggle to produce clear & strong harmonics at 4, 5, & 9. The 7's & 12's are typically always strong.

First, we learn to play a harmonic: lightly touch (do not press to make fret contact) the string at a particular fret location (in this case 4's, 5's, & 7's) - then pluck. When we release the fretting hand just after plucking, the harmonic will resonate (vibrate) longer and louder. We can leave the finger on however, it will just dampen the sound, & make it decay faster.

Octaves

Tuning the guitar can also be done using octaves. An octave is a frequency doubling (same note twice higher) or halving (same note below - half as fast). Octaves are an incredibly effective way to learn all of the notes on the guitar.

Shown here is a sequence of octave shapes. Once we have tuned the low E to a reference pitch (or just to what it is at the moment), then follow this sequence, listening for a 'leveling' of the tones against each other. They should sound the same (same tone, twice higher or lower). With any type of tuning, we may have to make multiple passes.

Use a Tone from a Recording

Most music generates a key-tone (the tone that is 'home'). The song itself 'tells' the ear to what pitch the strings should be tuned.

We can also listen for open strings or chord voicings that we know & tune any note that we recognize.

Once at least one string is in tune, use the 5-0 method or harmonics or octaves to tune the remaining strings.

Use a Chord

We select a chord that we are familiar with, like E Major (a good choice).

We pluck each note slowly low to high (drag finger or pick through the strings, rather than strumming -- pick each tone).

Listen to the resonance & interaction of the tones. Make adjustments as necessary to get the resonance to sound correct for the chord. We make it sound the way we know that it should sound.