For any guitarist, whether just starting out or refining their skills, ensuring your instrument is perfectly in tune is paramount. Especially when you’re eager to play your favorite guitar chords, accurate tuning is the bedrock upon which great music is built. Standard guitar tuning, often represented as EADGBe, is the most common and versatile tuning, ideally set to the pitch standard of A440 (440 Hz frequency). This means that from the thickest to thinnest string, the notes should resonate as E, A, D, G, B, and e. This article will guide you through the essentials of Guitar Chords Tuning, explaining not just how to achieve it, but also why this particular tuning is so fundamental and beneficial for playing chords.
What is Standard Guitar Tuning (EADGBe)?
Standard tuning, denoted as EADGBe, refers to the pitch of each of the six strings on a guitar. Reading from the thickest string (lowest in pitch) to the thinnest string (highest in pitch), these notes are E, A, D, G, B, and e. When using an electronic tuner, the reference frequency is typically 440 Hz, which is the universally accepted standard for the note A above middle C.
This tuning system is considered “standard” because it’s the most widely adopted tuning across various genres of music and guitar playing styles. It’s the foundation upon which most guitar instruction, chord diagrams, and song transcriptions are based. The beauty of EADGBe tuning lies in its inherent suitability for playing a wide range of guitar chords, making it exceptionally practical for beginners and seasoned players alike. You’ll find that many common and essential guitar chords are easily accessible and sound their best in standard tuning.
How to Tune Your Guitar: Step-by-Step Methods
Knowing the correct notes is just the first step; the next crucial part is learning how to actually tune your guitar. Fortunately, there are several reliable methods to ensure your guitar chords ring out true.
Using an Electronic Tuner: The Beginner-Friendly Approach
For beginners, or anyone seeking a quick and precise method, an electronic tuner is an invaluable tool. Modern electronic tuners come in various forms, from clip-on devices that attach directly to your guitar’s headstock to built-in tuners found in some acoustic-electric guitars. These tuners are remarkably user-friendly.
To use an electronic tuner:
- Activate the tuner: Turn on your electronic tuner and, if it’s a clip-on type, attach it to the headstock of your guitar.
- Play each string individually: Start with the thickest string (the 6th string, E). Pluck the string and let it ring clearly.
- Observe the tuner display: The tuner will register the pitch of the string you played. It will indicate whether the string is flat (too low), sharp (too high), or in tune.
- Adjust the tuning pegs: Locate the tuning peg corresponding to the string you are tuning.
- To raise the pitch (make it sharper), turn the tuning peg away from you (counterclockwise).
- To lower the pitch (make it flatter), turn the tuning peg towards you (clockwise).
- Tune to the correct note: Adjust the tuning peg until the tuner indicates that the string is precisely at the correct note (E for the 6th string, A for the 5th, and so on, following EADGBe). Most tuners will have a visual indicator (like a needle centering or lights aligning) to show when the string is in tune.
- Repeat for all strings: Tune each string in order, from the 6th string to the 1st string, following the EADGBe sequence.
When using a tuner, especially one with frequency settings, ensure it is set to 440Hz for standard pitch. If your tuner display shows a note like D# when you’re aiming for E on the thickest string, you need to tighten the string by turning the peg away from you to raise the pitch towards E.
Tuning by Ear: Developing Your Aural Skills
Tuning by ear is a more traditional method that relies on your ability to recognize and match pitches. While it may seem daunting initially, it’s a valuable skill that enhances your musical ear and understanding of intervals. A common technique is the 5th fret method.
- Start with the 5th string (A): Tune your 5th string (A) to a reference pitch if available (like a tuning fork, piano, or a well-tuned string if only one is out of tune).
- Fret the 5th fret of the 6th string: Press down the 6th string (E) at the 5th fret. This fretted note should be the same pitch as the open 5th string (A).
- Adjust the 6th string: Pluck the 5th string and then the 6th string (fretted at the 5th fret) alternately. Listen carefully and adjust the tuning peg of the 6th string until the two notes sound identical.
- Repeat the process: Continue this process for the remaining strings, using the newly tuned string as a reference:
- 5th fret of the 5th string (A) matches open 4th string (D).
- 5th fret of the 4th string (D) matches open 3rd string (G).
- 4th fret of the 3rd string (G) matches open 2nd string (B) – Note the 4th fret here.
- 5th fret of the 2nd string (B) matches open 1st string (e).
While mastering tuning by ear takes practice, resources like online videos that demonstrate the sounds of correctly tuned strings can be incredibly helpful. Listening carefully and comparing sounds is key to developing this skill.
Tuning with a Keyboard or Piano: Visual and Aural Reference
Using a keyboard or piano provides both a visual and aural reference for tuning your guitar. Each note on the piano corresponds to a specific pitch, and you can use these to tune your guitar strings.
The image above illustrates the relationship between guitar strings and piano keys. The numbers indicate the octave on the keyboard. To tune using a keyboard:
- Locate the reference notes: Find the notes E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and e4 on the keyboard. These correspond to the open strings of your guitar from thickest to thinnest.
- Play the reference note: Play E2 on the keyboard, then play your 6th string (E) on the guitar.
- Tune the guitar string: Adjust the tuning peg of the 6th string until it matches the pitch of E2 on the keyboard.
- Repeat for all strings: Do this for each string, using the corresponding keyboard note as your reference.
This method is excellent for visually associating notes and pitches, and it can be particularly helpful if you have some familiarity with piano or keyboard notes.
The Advantages of Standard Tuning for Chord Playing
The EADGBe standard tuning wasn’t arbitrarily chosen; it’s been refined over time because it offers significant advantages, especially for playing chords. Its practicality stems from several key features:
- Ease of Common Chords: Standard tuning makes playing fundamental open chords like C, D, E, G, and A remarkably easy. These chords are the building blocks of countless songs across various genres. The fingerings are relatively straightforward in standard tuning, allowing beginners to quickly start playing simple songs.
- Octave Range and Intervals: The tuning provides a comfortable two-octave range between the lowest (6th string E) and highest (1st string e). The intervals between most consecutive open strings are perfect fourths (E-A, A-D, D-G, B-e), with one major third interval between G and B. This combination of intervals is highly conducive to creating rich and full-sounding chords across the fretboard.
- Practicality and Familiarity: Because standard tuning is so widespread, the vast majority of guitar resources, lessons, chord charts, and tablature are designed for it. Learning in standard tuning ensures you can access and utilize the wealth of available learning materials.
You might notice the two ‘e’ notes in EADGBe are written differently – ‘E’ for the thickest string and ‘e’ for the thinnest. This is to differentiate their octaves. The 6th string ‘E’ is in the 2nd octave, while the 1st string ‘e’ is two octaves higher in the 4th octave. This octave spacing contributes to the balanced and versatile sound of standard tuning, making it ideal for both rhythm and lead guitar playing and, crucially, for forming a wide variety of guitar chords.
Exploring Alternative Tunings
While standard tuning reigns supreme for its versatility, the world of guitar extends beyond EADGBe. Historically, the six-string guitar evolved in the late 18th century, and standard tuning became established in the early 19th century. Since then, many alternative tunings have emerged, each offering unique sonic textures and playing possibilities.
Popular alternative tunings like Open D and Open G tuning are used extensively in genres like blues, folk, and rock. These tunings, and others, often facilitate slide guitar playing and offer different chord voicings and sonic colors that can inspire creativity. Tuning down, either by a half step or a whole step, is another common variation, often used to achieve a darker, heavier tone or to accommodate a singer’s vocal range.
While exploring alternative tunings can be exciting and expand your musical horizons, mastering standard tuning first provides a strong foundation. It’s the key to unlocking the vast majority of guitar music and techniques and provides the essential groundwork for understanding more specialized tunings later on.
Conclusion
Accurate guitar tuning is not just a preliminary step; it’s an ongoing practice that ensures your instrument sounds its best, especially when playing chords. Standard EADGBe tuning is the cornerstone of guitar playing, offering a balance of playability and versatility that has made it the dominant choice for generations of guitarists. By mastering the methods of tuning—whether with an electronic tuner, by ear, or using a keyboard—and understanding the inherent advantages of standard tuning for chord playing, you set yourself on the path to musical expression and enjoyment on the guitar. Embrace standard tuning as your starting point, and as you progress, you can then explore the diverse and colorful world of alternative guitar tunings.
