How to tune a guitar

You need to tune your guitar to make it sound good. Here is a good start with simple instructions, an online tuner and videos that explain the guitar tuning basics. You need to tune your guitar to make it sound good, it is as easy as that. Here is the most common method to tuning acoustic and electric guitars without the need of any other instrument or equipment.

The notes on a guitar are as follows, from the thickest to thinnest. E, A, D, G, B, E. The thickest string, the first E, which is also the lowest sounding, is known as the 6th string, A is the 5th and so on. The thinnest is the first.

Standard Guitar Tuning, step by step

Follow these simple steps and your guitar will be in tune in no time. You can use a piano to get the first note or any other instrument. You can also use the online guitar tuner on this page, but the most important thing when playing in band is that all instruments should be in tune with each other. This means that if one of the instruments are slightly out of tune, your guitar should be as well.

1, The E String

Start by tuning the bottom E. Well it is called the bottom E, but it is actually on top of the guitar neck, it is the thickest string. It might be in tune anyway as it is the thickest and is the least likely to detune itself. To get the right sound use the online guitar tuner below or any other instrument near you. If you have a piano, you can tune it to the 1st E below middle C. If you have no device or instrument at hand when tuning, just try to get as close as possible. It is more important that all strings are tuned together than it is to have the bottom E string completely in tune.

2, The A String

By placing your finger on the fifth fret on the bottom E string you will now get an A note when picking. Pick this string the and the open A string under it. Adjust the fifth tuning peg until both strings sounds the same. When done, you have two strings in tune and only four to go.

3, The D String

Now repeat this on the forth string. Place your finger on the fifth fret on the A string and pick. You will now hear a D. Use this tone to get the D string on your guitar in tune.

4, The G String

Again repeat, this time on the third string. Place your finger on the fifth fret on the D string and pick. You will now hear a G. Use this tone to get the G string on your guitar in tune.

5, The B String

Note that when tuning the B string you use the forth fret and not the fifth as on all other strings. Place your finger on the forth fret on the G string and pick to make a B note. Now tune the B string.

6, Tuning the E String

We are nearly finished. Place the finger on the fifth fret on the B string. This time you will hear an E note. Tune the last E string to that sound. Finished, it is now time to rock!

That’s how to tune a guitar, the easy part, and the hard part is to be a brilliant guitar player. There are other alternative ways to tune it, but we will come back to that later. You are now ready to play, why not start with the guitar tablatures found on this site?

Guitar tuning video lessons

Here are some videos that will show you how to tune as well.