Lessons

Other Ways to Tuning a Guitar

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The easiest way to tune your guitar is by relative tuning. I think most people use this method and the one I use the most. Relative tuning is comparing the sound and pitch of adjacent strings. The string with the higher pitch is tuned to match the sound of the lower string. In this method, there is the assumption that the lower string is tuned properly. If you use this method, you will have to tune the sixth string with a tuning fork or piano. More details on this will be provided later.

The process starts with the tuning of the sixth string (use the tune-o-matic). When the sixth string has been tuned, you need to press the sixth string at the fifth fret and pick the string. Next, tune the fifth string so that it matches that sound. The sound of the fifth string should match the sixth string’s, fifth fret. If you find that the sound does not match, turn the tuning peg for that fifth string and change the pitch. Don’t do anything to the sixth string.

If the sound of the string is too low, tighten the string. If the sound of the string is too low, loosen the string. Be sure that the fifth string is tuned in comparison to the sixth string because the fifth string has to be properly tuned in order to tune the fourth string. After that, the fourth string needs to be in tune in order to tune the third string and it continues from there. If there is a tuning mistake on any of the strings, the sound of the whole instrument will be thrown off. (I know it seems confusing but I couldn’t figure and easier way to explain it!J)

Using a Piano

If you have a piano at your disposal and you are familiar with the notes, you can tune your instrument by matching the sound of the strings with the matching notes on the piano.

To begin, find the E note of the piano and then play the sixth string or E note on your guitar. Turn the tuning peg so that the sixth string on your guitar sounds like the E on the keyboard. Do this with all the stings on the guitar.

An electronic keyboard can help tune your guitar as well. Keyboards give you clear, precise, and loud pitch that makes it easy to tune your instrument. This method of tuning is a great choice for beginning acoustic guitar player who has access to a keyboard or for guitar players who will be working with someone who plays the keyboard.

Using a Pitch Pipe

You can also tune your guitar by using pitch pipes. I still have a pitch pipe laying around that I use. I did it this way for many years until I found ways to tune a guitar online. You should be able to find these at your local music store. These pitch pipes will give you the pitches of all strings. All you need to do is match the sound of each string to the proper pipe. Pitch pipes do not cost a lot and even very young guitar players can use them. They are small and easy to carry.

Some more advanced guitar players would not be satisfied with pitch pipes because they do not have a clear pitch like an electronic tuner, tuning fork or piano.

Using a Tuning Fork

I’ve never done this myself but have seen others do it. Using a tuning fork is a popular way to tune a guitar and other instruments. A tuning fork is a two prong device that has a stem and is shaped like a U. They are usually made of steel. The tuning fork gives off a certain pitch when it is struck against a surface, causing it to vibrate. The sound that comes from the tuning fork depends on the length the two prongs are.

The standard tuning fork used has the pitch of an A note. Tuning forks that emit this sound can be found easily. Tuning forks with the sound of the E note can be found easily as well and they are very useful for guitars. Tuning forks are cheap and easy to bring along with you.

When using a tuning fork, hold the fork by the stem so that the prongs can vibrate freely. Strike the prongs hard enough so that they begin to vibrate. Be sure not to strike them on anything that will dent. It is best to strike the fork against your knee. Not too hard of course! After that and without touching the prongs, place the stem lightly on the guitar body. Now tune the string to match the sound that comes from the guitar.

In order to use a tuning fork properly you will need to practice. It may be hard for a beginning acoustic guitar player and a guitar player with experience will not want to carry around different tuning forks.

The preferred method of tuning a guitar is intervals. The advantage of tuning this way is that the guitar ends up having a pleasant sound that is in tune. Intervals involve tuning strings in conjunction to other strings. This is very easy when you have practiced this method for a little while.

To tune by interval, begin with the sixth string and have something such as a tuning fork or pitch pipe handy. To find the A note, press down the sixth string at the fifth fret, then tune the A string. Next tune the D or fourth string to the D and the fifth string at the fifth fret. Repeat this process with the G, B, and E strings. To check your tuning, play the E and B chords and listen carefully. Make any adjustments you need to.

Tuning by Harmonics

Next we have harmonics. Advanced guitarists prefer using harmonics when it comes to tuning their instrument. Harmonics can be hard to learn, but it is my preferred method be it very accurate tuning.

Instead of holding a string down, below the fret, you touch the string very lightly at the fret. This is not the best tuning methods for beginners but it is mentioned here to give you a complete overview of guitar tuning.

There are many other ways to tune a guitar. Slack key tuning is tuning some strings lower than other types of tuning. The result is a major chord when all strings are played. A tuning method used in rock and classical guitar is D tuning. This involves tuning the D string instead of the E string. No matter what type of tuning you use, it is best to tune your guitar frequently. Strings get out of tune over time especially if you play your guitar a lot and practice a lot.

Tuning a Guitar

It is very important to tune a guitar. You need to tune your guitar on a regular basis if you want it to sound good and make practice enjoyable. At first tuning a guitar will be difficult but this will change over time. You can also simply learn to do it yourself. Tuning a guitar just takes practice and patience.

Tuning a guitar involves adjusting the strings so that they play the right note. You loosen or tighten the strings by using the tuning pegs. If you tighten the pegs on the headstock, this will make the pitch of the string higher, while making the pegs loose will make the pitch lower.

Beginning guitar players may want to purchase an inexpensive electric “guitar tuner”. This is a great choice for beginning acoustic guitar players. Electronic tuners can pick up the sound of a string and let you know through a display that the note is either too low (flat) or too high (sharp). A beginning guitar player will have difficulty telling when a string is not in tune by just listening so buying an electric tuner can assist in making tuning faster and more precise.

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If you cannot afford or do not want to buy an electric tuner, there are a variety of ways to tune your acoustic guitar online.

If this is the case we will tune your acoustic guitar with use of the Tune-o-Matic shown above.

First, click the e – all the way to the right on the tune-o-matic. Then pluck the high E-string (first string). Try to match the sound of your acoustic guitar E-string to the sound of the E-string on the tune-o-matic.

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The e on the tune-o-matic will continue to play until you stop it. Strum your high e-string until they sound the same. Listen to it as much as you need to. Follow your instincts. If you think you have matched the sound you will probably be correct. If the strings are put on your guitar correctly, the pitch will go up when the tuning peg is turned away from you, and lower when the peg is turned towards you.

When the first string is in tune – listen to the sound of the second string on the tune-o-matic, and repeat the same procedure until all six strings are in tune.

Note: Tuning a guitar is not as hard as you might think, but it will take some practice. So if it takes a while to tune the guitar the first couple of times, do not get frustrated; it will become easier in the future.