How to tune your guitar correctly

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Every beginner musician is faced with the question: "How to tune an acoustic guitar?" First you need to decide what you will play? It can be fingers, mediator, slide. You need to make the tuning with the same instrument that you will play, since each of them affects the strings with different strengths.

The sound quality of the melody played by the musician depends on how well the guitar is tuned. Therefore, everyone, even a novice musician, should be able to tune their instrument. Learn how to properly tune your guitar below.

First of all, you need to be able to tune it by ear. With this method, tuning can be completed in 5-10 minutes, even if you have just stringed.

The most popular among beginners is the classic way. It is quite simple and visual. For the correct sound, it is enough to fine-tune one string - the first, using any mechanism at hand. In order to understand how to properly tune a guitar, you need to know the standard tuning of the instrument.

Note	String	Meaning
E	1	mi octave second
B	2	si of the first octave
G	3	sol of the first octave
D	4	first octave re
A	5	for small octave
E	6	mi octave big

An already tuned instrument, such as a piano, can be used to tune the first string. The note of the first octave - mi (E) is taken as a standard. Also suitable:

• program on smartphone or PC;
• tuning fork is the most accurate way;
• phone dial tone corresponds to note E.

It is necessary that the string sound in unison with the standard. Setting up the rest is not difficult. The sequence is as follows:

- The 2nd string is tuned based on the first. It is clamped at the fifth fret and adjusted so that it matches the sound of the first open string.

- 3rd - clamped on the fourth fret and adjusted to match the open second string.

- 4th - clamped on the fifth fret, the sound should match the third free one.

- 5th - clamped onfifth fret, tuned to match the open fourth.

- 6th - (the thickest, top), is pressed on the fifth fret and adjusted to coincide with the fifth open. It sounds similar to the first with a difference of two octaves.

After tuning the guitar by ear is over, it's best to go over the strings again, make adjustments, because when one of them is pulled, the other could weaken. Done right, your instrument will be tuned to near perfection.

How to tune a guitar with harmonics?

This is a more accurate and correct way to tune, because sometimes it's not enough just to tune the instrument to the frets. A harmonic is a method of touching the string with the finger of the left hand in the middle of the fret and extracting the sound with the right hand, while simultaneously removing the finger from the string.

Sequence:

- 1st string is tuned in the same way as in the classical way with a different instrument;

- 6th string - with the help of a harmonic on the fifth fret, it is adjusted to coincide with the open first;

- 5th string - tuned with a harmonic on the seventh fret and should sound like the first open string;

- 4th string - using a harmonic on the seventh fret, the sound should match the harmonic on the fifth fret of the fifth string;

- 3rd string - with the harmonic on the seventh fret corresponds to the harmonic of the fourth string on the fifth fret;

- 2nd string - with the help of the harmonic on the fifth fret, it is adjusted until it matches the harmonic of the first string,taken on the seventh fret.

Here are a few ways to tune your guitar properly. You can also use modern methods, such as tuning online or using a tuner. However, knowing how to tune the instrument by ear will always be with you and will help when there is nothing but a guitar at hand.