Learning how to tune a guitar is one of the first challenges a beginner has to face when starting to play. Regardless of how many times you try, an out-of-tune guitar won’t ever sound “right”. In this blog, we will cover the importance of tuning a guitar, tips and tricks, and more.
Why is it Important to Tune Your Guitar?
Imagine the moment you’re playing your favourite song on the guitar and hitting all the chords, but it ends up sounding a bit off. This is probably because your guitar isn’t in tune. It is essential to tune your guitar as the slightest off-pitch string will make your song sound unpleasant.
When you have a well-tuned guitar, you can be sure that every chord you strum sounds clean and precise. Even if you’re practising alone, playing with a band, or performing live, tuning is a must to ensure your guitar sounds great. Tuning your guitar regularly will also help you develop a better ear for pitch, which is an important skill for all musicians.
Understanding the Standard Guitar Tuning
In standard guitar tuning, each string is set to a certain note.
- 6th string (thickest): E
- 5th string: A
- 4th string: D
- 3rd string: G
- 2nd string: B
- 1st string (thinnest): E
This tune is commonly known as E, A, D, G, B, E from the lowest to the highest string. It is the most popular tuning for guitars, and learners are taught this at the beginning of their course.
What are Tuning Methods?
There are many ways in which you can tune your guitar depending on your skills or the tools you have.
- Electronic Tuner
This is one of the easiest and most accurate ways to tune a guitar. Electronic tuners are small devices that measure the pitch of each string and tell you whether it is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). Many modern tuners attach to the headstock of your guitar and monitor the vibrations of its strings. Some even have built-in microphones so you can tune acoustically.
To use this tuner, you must:
- Play a string.
- Check the tuner’s screen to see if the note is sharp or flat.
- Adjust the tuning peg for that string until the tuner shows the correct note.
- Tuning Apps
On the internet, you can find plenty of guitar tuning apps available for all devices. These work similarly to electronic tuners and are also free of cost. All you need to do is select an app, play a string and the app will tell you how close you are to the correct pitch.
- Harmonics Tuning
This method is more complex and uses natural harmonic overtones of the strings. You can adjust the strings by softly touching them at set spots (such as the 5th or 7th fret) and plucking them to compare their harmonics to get them in tune.
- Tuning by Ear
Tuning by ear, also known as relative tuning, only happens when you have a good ear for pitches. Here, you don’t need any external tools; the method is quite easy but only with consistent practice.
- Tune your 6th string (low E) to a reference pitch, which can be from a piano, a different instrument, or an already-tuned guitar.
- Once the 6th string is in tune, press downward on the 5th fret of the 6th string (note A) and set the 5th string (A) till it matches.
- Continue this process for the other strings as well:
5th fret of the 5th string = 4th string (D)
5th fret of the 4th string = 3rd string (G)
4th fret of the 3rd string = 2nd string (B)
5th fret of the 2nd string = 1st string (high E)
- Metronome
A metronome is another great way to tune and get a hold of ‘timing’. Even though it is used for monitoring time, using a metronome while you tune and play will help you make precise adjustments. Maintaining an even rhythm while tuning will train your ear to detect any mistakes in pitch, which can make playing effortless and smoother over time.
Tips For Maintaining Your Guitar Tuning
Keeping your guitar in tune isn’t just about adjusting it before you play, you also need to continuously maintain it. Here’s how:
- Change Your Strings Regularly: Do not play with damaged or worn-out strings. If your guitar is regularly out of tune, it may be time for new strings.
- Stretch New Strings: After fitting new strings, gently pull them upward. This will help keep their tune better.
- Tune Regularly: Tune your guitar often, even if it looks in tune—especially after moving it and performing for a long time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Tuning
When you are learning how to tune a guitar, there are common mistakes that beginners make.
- Not Tuning From Low to High: It is simpler to tune from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st) string. This balances the tension.
- Over-Tightening Strings: Don’t turn the tuning pegs too much or too quickly since this may damage the strings.
- Ignoring Intonation: Your guitar may sound in tune when played open, but out of tune higher up the fretboard. This mostly happens because of incorrect intonation, which can be done by a professional.
- Not Tuning Before Playing: Tune your guitar before playing it every time. The smallest changes in the temperature or string tension variation can cause your guitar to go out of tune.
Conclusion
Tuning your guitar is an important part of learning how to play the guitar. No matter which way you choose to learn how to tune a guitar, enrolling in online guitar classes will help you play better and make your whole learning process more enjoyable.
We understand that learning guitar tuning is important to play it the right way, and so we, at Artium Academy will guide you through our online guitar classes and make the process of learning easier. In our online music classes, we teach you the fundamentals of playing the guitar and guide you till you can perform live and achieve all your musical goals.
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