HOW TO TUNE A GUITAR – Make it sound better!
Tuning your guitar is a simple skill. For beginners, you can follow this simple clear step-by-step guide on how to tune a guitar. If you do not know how to play guitar yet, you can also learn from scratch here.
Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to tune your guitar.
What is tuning a guitar?
It is as simple as making it sound better. We do this using the tuning keys on the head of the guitar.
Adjusting the pitch of guitar strings
To adjust the pitch of a guitar string, rotate the corresponding tuning key on the guitar head while plucking until you get it sounding the way you want it.
Turning the tuning key away from you will make the pitch higher while turning it towards you will lower its pitch.
1.Method one using standard tuning
This is quite good for you if you aren’t fully comfortable with the guitar yet.
Guitar strings are named as E, A, D, G, B, E in ascending order. This gives you the tuning notes.
Look at the below illustration to have a better grip on what you should have on your guitar string.
This is the outline of strings as they are on a guitar
The first and last strings are 2octaves apart. Now each note corresponds with the sound each string should produce when you play them open without a hand on any of the frets.
If the sounds correspond you can now play any chord comfortably without going off.
2.Method two-using a chromatic tuner
Learn how to use a chromatic tuner to tune your guitar
These are tuners that “listen to” what you are playing on the guitar and display the note you are playing to show if it is sharp or flat. This will let you find a right pitch more easily.
You can invest in this simple tuner to have your tuning become easier.
3.Method three-using a tuning fork
This one makes you have a “challenge” away. You strike the tuning fork then pluck the guitar string to find the proper sound.
4.Method four-Tune without a tuner
This one will work out properly if you got good experience on the string.
- Hold down the sixth string on the fifth fret-That’s an A on the E string
- Adjust the A string until the sound matches that of the E string on the fifth fret
- Tune your D string and each other subsequent string with reference to the last sound except for the B string
- To tune string B, hold string G down on the fourth fret just maintaining the correct interval.
5. method five-open G tuning
- This is as simple as tuning your guitar to chord G so that when you strum it open with no hand on the frets, you are already playing chord G.After that tune to D-G-D-B-D.
- method five – Match the pitch with a keyboard
Alternatively, you can tune your guitar with a keyboard that is if you do not have a tuner in place.
You can tune the piano first to give you the correct pitch so that you can now tune your guitar to the pitch on the keyboard.
6.Method six-Drop D tuning
- First, tune your guitar to standard tuning
- Tune it down a full step from E to D.
It is that simple!
Final word
After learning how to play the guitar you need to know how to tune it as you’ve just done and just have it in position every time you are to play it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) – How to tune your guitar
- What do I need to adjust my guitar?
- A. You need a tuner or your keyboard or an app to tune your guitar.
- Q.How often do I tune my guitar
- A. This depends on how often you play your guitar.
- Important links on how to play the guitar
