Lesson 5- How To Tune Your Guitar
Note: Tuning the guitar to the correct pitch is probably going to be the most difficult to perform when first learning the guitar. You literally have to train your ear to hear the notes. This is almost impossible for beginners. Just know this. Tuning your guitar will be an ongoing journey. Don’t get to hard on yourself if you can’t get it.
Basic Relative Tuning
This type of tuning consists of using lower strings and pushing down on the 5th fret and plucking the string below it and tightening or loosing the string to match the top strings pitch. However, we must assume that the low E string or 6th string is tuned to the right pitch. If not? You could end up breaking your high E string from over tightening it too much.
Looking at the diagram to the right we will start by tuning the 5th string (A)(assuming the 6th String is tuned correctly).
- Place your index finger on the 6th string, 5th fret and pluck the 6th string.
- Pluck the 5th string while you let the 6th string ring through
- Tighten or loosen the 5th string until it matches the pitch of the 6th string
- Move your index finger to the 5th string, 5th fret and pluck the 5th string.
- Pluck the 4th string while you let the 5th string ring through
- Tighten or loosen the 4th string until it matches the pitch of the 5th string
- Move your index finger to the 4th string, 5th fret and pluck the 4th string.
- Pluck the 3rd string while you let the 4th string ring through
- Tighten or loosen the 3rd string until it matches the pitch of the 4th string
- Move your index finger to the 3rd string, 4th fret (note being on the 4th fret) and pluck the 3rd string
- Pluck the 2nd string while you let the 3rd string ring through
- Tighten or loosen the 2nd string until it matches the pitch of the 3rd string
- Move your index finger to the 2nd string, 5th fret (back at the 5th fret) and pluck the 2nd string
- Pluck the 1st string while you let the 2nd string ring through
- Tighten or loosen the 1st string until it matches the pitch of the 2nd string.
If this process was done correctly… Your guitar should be in tune. I always try playing a D chord. If the D chord sounds good? You probably are in tune. Note: The B or 2nd string always seems to be the toughest string to get in tune. Practice at it and you should be able to tune your guitar without an electric tuner in no time.
How To Use A Digital Tuner
Hi Katie,
Absolutely! The actual frets are the metal inlays in the guitar fret board. However, when you’re placing & pressing your fingers on the fret… You’re actually placing and pressing down right behind the fret. On most guitars you will find white dots inlayed into the fret board. These are called reference dots. They’re just a map so to speak that helps you guide yourself around the neck so you know where you are. So, there are usually dots on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th & 2 dots on the 12th fret (this represents and octave or the same note plucking the string open just at its octave or higher pitch).
To answer your question: Start at head of the guitar where the tuning pegs are and just count the “boxes” in order 1, 2, 3, 4,…….. Until you get to the 12th fret.
Here’s a reference to help you with the notes also. Notes On The Guitar
can you explain the “frets” im going to use the electric tuner but i figured i should know about “frets” how to count them and so on, thanks!
Hey EvC!
Your guitar is going to go out of tune a lot. Especially if you have new strings, or, just like you said…. The pegs get bumped. So, on your journey of learning to play guitar you’re going to be tuning your guitar often. I can tell you this…. It’s quite frustrating in the beginning. You will have to TRAIN your ear to hear the notes. This takes time. I always tell students to get a digital guitar tuner to avoid a lot of frustration so they can concentrate more on learning the chords and muscle memory. Leave the tuning to a digital tuner. You can find them cheap. You’ll naturally hear the notes over time. Hope this helps!?
This sort of helped… I play another string instrument and my parents and teachers always told me to never touch the tuners/pegs so im really scared to tune my guitar and it’s always a bit off. do you think it’s going to be a problem??
Yes. You are correct. The 6th strings needs to be in tune. However, if you tune all the strings to the 6th string and it is out of tune? The guitar will still sound in tune. But, you risk breaking a string (usually the high E or 1st string) if the 6th string (Low E) is tuned sharp (#). You need to have your 6th string tuned. Here’s an online tuner to help. Does this make sense?
ive wanted to play guitar for quite a while now. Someone recently purchased a guitar for me since they knew i had great interest in it. My question is doesnt the 6th string on the 5th fret have to be tuned already to use that as a base to tune the other strings? if your 6th string itsnt tuned and in the “Basic Relative Tuning” we are really trying to get the 5th to be like the 4th and the 4th to be like the 5th wont it all be wrong . i guess im just not understanding.
Hi Shelby,
I can’t stess enough to absolute beginners that they’re probably not going to pick up tuning the guitar for some time. It is extremely important that you purchase a digital guitar tuner when you’re first learning guitar. If you don’t? Well, you risk quitting since it will just sound aweful to have an out of tune guitar.
Tuning guitar by ear can sometimes take years. Don’t try to be perfect. You won’t be able to. Purchase a cheap guitar tuner. You can get them for $20 or so.
ughhhhhhhhhh i cant do this
Heba, I wish there was something I could say to make it easier? But, in all honesty…. You really won’t be able to tune a guitar perfectly without a digital guitar tuner as a beginner. It takes a lot of practice to hear the proper pitch. Just use a digital tuner and refer back to this page. One day it will just be easier.
:’( I’m seriously lost….