How To Tune A Guitar In Standard Tuning

Every guitarist needs to learn how to tune a guitar. It's an easy skill to acquire, but it requires some patience.

Tuning The A And E Strings

First, you'll need to use a tuner or another instrument to tune your guitar's low E string, which is the first string on the guitar from the top and the lowest string in pitch. Place your finger on the fifth fret of the low E string after it has been tuned and pluck the string. This is the A note, which you'll use to tune the next string down on your guitar.

Play the A on your E string first, then pluck the open A string. Listen to the difference between the two notes. If the A string is too high, turn the tuner to relieve the tension on the string. Bring it down until it's lower in pitch than the other note, then slowly tune back up.

When two notes are very close in pitch, you'll be able to hear a small vibration that will speed up as the notes come closer together. Your string is in tune when the vibration seems to disappear entirely.

Tuning The Other Strings

Tune the next two strings in this manner, hitting the fifth fret to get the note for the next-lowest string, until you're ready to tune the B string to the G string. Hit the fourth fret on the G string to get a B note to tune the B string. You don't hit the fifth note on the G string, because that would be a C, but every other string on the guitar is tune to the fifth fret on the string above it. Commit this to memory, as your guitar won't sound very good if you tune to the wrong notes.

When your guitar is in tune, an open chord should sound full and pleasing to the ear. If you hear a bad note, go back and re-tune--don't practice or hit the stage until your instrument's ready for the job.

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