Learning to tune your guitar and understand the notes of each string is a foundational step for any aspiring guitarist. An out-of-tune guitar simply won’t sound right, no matter how well you play. This guide will walk you through the essentials of guitar tuning, helping you identify the notes of your guitar strings, tune effectively (with or without a tuner), and maintain your guitar’s tuning for longer. Consistent practice is key to progress, and a properly tuned guitar makes those practice sessions far more enjoyable and productive.
Understanding Guitar Tuning Basics
Guitar tuning is all about adjusting the tension of the strings to achieve the correct pitches. This adjustment is made using the tuning pegs located on the guitar’s headstock. Turning these pegs alters the string tension, raising or lowering the pitch. Tightening a string increases the pitch (making it sharper), while loosening it lowers the pitch (making it flatter).
How Often Should You Tune Your Guitar?
Ideally, you should tune your guitar every single time you pick it up to play. Guitars are sensitive instruments and are unlikely to stay perfectly in tune between playing sessions. Even the act of playing, especially techniques like string bending or extended playing periods, can cause a guitar to drift out of tune. It’s a good habit to periodically check your guitar tuning while you are playing. If a chord you know well sounds off, even if your finger placement is correct, it’s a strong indication that your guitar needs tuning.
Guitar tuning pegs on the headstock
Alt text: Close-up of guitar headstock showing tuning pegs, essential components for adjusting guitar strings what notes.
Methods for Tuning Your Guitar
Modern technology has made guitar tuning incredibly accessible and straightforward. Electronic tuners offer quick and accurate tuning, but you can also tune using a reference note – perhaps from a piano, another tuned guitar, a pitch pipe, or a tuning fork – and then tune the remaining strings by ear relative to that first string.
Tuning with a Chromatic or Pitch Tuner
Clip-on electronic tuners have revolutionized the tuning process. Unlike older electric tuners that required plugging in, these clip directly onto the guitar’s headstock. They detect string vibrations and clearly indicate whether a string is flat (too low), sharp (too high), or in tune. They are equally effective for both acoustic and electric guitars. These tuners are affordable, accurate, and a fantastic tool for easy guitar tuning. Many beginner guitar amplifiers also come equipped with built-in tuners for added convenience.
Tuning Your Guitar Without a Tuner
If you’re wondering how to tune a guitar without a tuner, you’re in good company. There are times when musicians need to tune without a dedicated tuner, whether spontaneously or while traveling.
Fortunately, a plethora of tuner apps are available for smartphones and tablets, many of which are free. These apps utilize your device’s microphone to detect the pitch of your guitar strings, offering a readily available tuning solution. As you adjust the tuning pegs, the app’s display provides visual feedback, showing you when the string reaches the correct pitch.
Alternatively, you can tune to a reference pitch from another instrument you know is in tune, such as a piano or another guitar.
This method is slightly more challenging as it requires you to tune your first guitar string to the reference pitch “by ear.” This involves listening carefully to the reference pitch, playing the corresponding note on your guitar, and comparing the two. Adjust your guitar string’s tuning peg until its pitch matches the reference. Once your first string is in tune, you can tune the rest of the guitar string notes by fretting a note on a lower-pitched string and then tuning the next open string to match that fretted note. We’ll explain this “by ear” method in more detail shortly.
Identifying Guitar String Names & Notes: EADgbe
A standard guitar has 6 strings. When held in playing position, and listed from thickest to thinnest, or lowest pitch to highest pitch, the guitar string notes are: E, A, D, G, B, and E.
Diagram showing guitar string notes EADgbe
Alt text: Diagram illustrating guitar strings what notes are, showing EADgbe from thickest to thinnest string, crucial for beginners.
To help remember these guitar string names, many guitarists use mnemonic devices, such as sayings or phrases. Popular examples include: “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie” or “Eat A Dead Goose Before Eating.” The 1st string is the thinnest string, also referred to as the high E string, and the 6th string is the thickest string, known as the low E string.
Mnemonic phrase for guitar string names
Alt text: Image depicting the mnemonic “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie” as a memory aid for guitar string names and their order.
Beyond standard tuning, exploring alternate guitar tunings can open up new sonic possibilities and is something to consider as you progress.
Step-by-Step Guide to Tuning Each Guitar String Note
Let’s go through how to tune each string in standard tuning, using the “by ear” method of relative tuning.
Tuning Your Low E String (6th String)
If you have a reference pitch – perhaps an E note played on a piano or from a tuning fork – start by tuning your low E string (the thickest string) to match it. If you don’t have a reference pitch readily available, you can use the 7th fret of the A string (5th string) as your E note reference. Fret the A string at the 7th fret and pluck it; this will produce an E note.
Tuning the 6th String (Low E)
Play your reference E note and then play your open low E string. Listen carefully to both notes. If your open E string sounds lower than the reference E, turn the tuning peg for the E string to tighten it, raising the pitch. If it sounds higher, loosen the peg to lower the pitch. Continue making small adjustments and comparing the pitches until your open E string matches the reference E note.
Tuning the 5th String (A String)
Next, to tune your A string, play a guitar note at the 5th fret of your now-tuned E string. This fretted note is an A. Play this 5th fret E string note, and then play your open A string. Adjust the A string’s tuning peg until the open A string’s pitch matches the pitch of the 5th fret E string note.
Tuning the 4th String (D String)
To tune your D string, fret the A string at the 5th fret. This note is a D. Play this fretted note and then play your open D string. Adjust the tuning peg for the D string until the open D string matches the pitch of the 5th fret A string note.
Tuning the 3rd String (G String)
Tune your G string by fretting the D string at the 5th fret. This produces a G note. Compare this fretted note to your open G string and adjust the G string’s tuning peg until they match.
Tuning the 2nd String (B String)
The tuning pattern changes slightly for the B string. Instead of the 5th fret, you’ll use the 4th fret of the G string. Fret the G string at the 4th fret; this is a B note. Tune your open B string to match the pitch of this 4th fret G string note.
Tuning the 1st String (High E String)
Finally, tune your high E string by fretting the B string at the 5th fret. This fretted note is an E. Tune your open high E string until it matches the pitch of the 5th fret B string note.
Once you become comfortable with these relative tunings for each guitar string name, you’ll be ready to explore more advanced guitar skills like reading guitar tabs and playing your favorite songs!
School of Rock Summer Camps
Alt text: School of Rock summer camps banner, showcasing opportunities to learn guitar strings what notes and more in an immersive environment.
Guitar Summer Camps
Summer camps offered by institutions like School of Rock provide a fantastic environment to learn practical guitar skills, including tuning, alongside playing songs in a band setting. These camps often include workshops covering songwriting and even stage presence for guitarists, catering to students of all levels.
View Summer Camps!
Tips for Keeping Your Guitar in Tune Longer
After you’ve successfully completed your guitar tuning, there are several preventative measures you can take to help maintain the tuning for longer periods.
- Regularly Change Your Strings: When your guitar strings start to sound dull or consistently struggle to stay in tune, it’s time to replace them with a fresh set of strings.
- Stretch New Strings: When installing new strings, remember to stretch them properly. You can do this by playing the guitar after restringing or by gently pulling upwards on each string (exercise caution not to pull too forcefully, or you risk breaking them).
- Proper Guitar Care and Storage: Avoid exposing your guitar to significant changes in temperature or humidity, as these fluctuations can impact tuning stability. After each playing session, wipe down the strings with a soft cloth and store your guitar in its case or gig bag.
Whether you prefer the precision of an electronic tuner or the traditional approach of tuning “by ear,” following these guidelines will ensure your guitar is not only in tune but also stays in tune longer, making your playing experience more enjoyable and musically rewarding.
Considering a new guitar? Explore our Guitar Buying Guide!
