When you’re learning to play guitar, one of the most important skills is knowing how to tune it.
When your guitar is in tune, your music sounds better, and you get better at hearing notes. Let’s go through the steps to tune your guitar. We’ll start with standard tuning and then explore some different tunings you might like.
Standard tuning is what most guitar players use when they start. In standard tuning, the strings are tuned to these notes, starting from the lowest (thickest) string to the highest (thinnest) string:
You can use an electronic tuner, a tuning app on your phone, or even a pitch pipe. If you have a piano or keyboard nearby, that works too!
Start with the 6th string. Pluck it and check what note your tuner shows. If it’s not an E, turn the tuning peg until it matches. Turn it slowly and keep checking.
Next, tune the 5th string. Use the 6th string as a guide. Press the 5th fret on the 6th string—that's an A note. Make the 5th string match that sound.
Now, tune the 4th string. Press the 5th fret on the 5th string (which is now tuned to A). This is the D note. Adjust the 4th string to match this sound.
For the G string, press the 4th fret on the 4th string to find your note and adjust it to match.
Tune the B string by pressing the 5th fret on the 3rd string (which is now tuned to G). Make any needed adjustments.
Lastly, tune the high e string. Press the 5th fret on the 2nd string (now tuned to B) to find the pitch.
Once you can tune your guitar in standard tuning, you can try some fun alternative tunings. Some examples are Drop D (D A D G B e), Open G (D G D G B D), or C6 tuning (C E G A C E). Each of these gives your guitar a different sound and lets you play in new ways.
Tuning your guitar is very important for making great music. By doing these steps, you’ll keep your guitar sounding good and improve your music skills. So grab your tuner, start tuning, and remember: a well-tuned guitar is a happy guitar! Happy playing!
When you’re learning to play guitar, one of the most important skills is knowing how to tune it.
When your guitar is in tune, your music sounds better, and you get better at hearing notes. Let’s go through the steps to tune your guitar. We’ll start with standard tuning and then explore some different tunings you might like.
Standard tuning is what most guitar players use when they start. In standard tuning, the strings are tuned to these notes, starting from the lowest (thickest) string to the highest (thinnest) string:
You can use an electronic tuner, a tuning app on your phone, or even a pitch pipe. If you have a piano or keyboard nearby, that works too!
Start with the 6th string. Pluck it and check what note your tuner shows. If it’s not an E, turn the tuning peg until it matches. Turn it slowly and keep checking.
Next, tune the 5th string. Use the 6th string as a guide. Press the 5th fret on the 6th string—that's an A note. Make the 5th string match that sound.
Now, tune the 4th string. Press the 5th fret on the 5th string (which is now tuned to A). This is the D note. Adjust the 4th string to match this sound.
For the G string, press the 4th fret on the 4th string to find your note and adjust it to match.
Tune the B string by pressing the 5th fret on the 3rd string (which is now tuned to G). Make any needed adjustments.
Lastly, tune the high e string. Press the 5th fret on the 2nd string (now tuned to B) to find the pitch.
Once you can tune your guitar in standard tuning, you can try some fun alternative tunings. Some examples are Drop D (D A D G B e), Open G (D G D G B D), or C6 tuning (C E G A C E). Each of these gives your guitar a different sound and lets you play in new ways.
Tuning your guitar is very important for making great music. By doing these steps, you’ll keep your guitar sounding good and improve your music skills. So grab your tuner, start tuning, and remember: a well-tuned guitar is a happy guitar! Happy playing!