Tuning A Guitar
There Are Many Disputes As To How To Best Tune Your Guitar. The Electronic Tuners Are Great - Until The Battery Dies!
Tuning a guitar has been a subject of much controversy over my many years of guitar playing. Just which way is best? There are several ways to accurately tune a acoustic guitar, classical or electric guitar, and I will let you pick your personal best, as a lot depends on how well-tuned your ear is toward relative pitch.
Ever had anyone ask you "hey bud can you tuna guitar". After reading this article you will be able to answer that with a yes.
Tuning a Guitar with a Tuning Fork - 440A
The first method for tuning a guitar is by the use of a . Get a 440A tuning fork. This will give you a "perfect" A on the fifth fret of the first or high "E" string. Forget about pitch pipes as they get crud in them and are not very reliable.
No matter if you later use an electronic tuner, you will still want a tuning fork in your case for backup. If you are putting on new string be sure you arm yourself with a string clipper and a good . Ok, got the first string tuned up?
Next we will tune each string to the high "E"
1. Finger an "E" on the second string, fifth fret and compare to the open "E" first string. Tune the second string to exactly match.
2. Finger a "G" on the first string, third fret. Tune the open "G" third string to match exactly.
3. Finger a middle "E" on the fourth string, 2nd fret. Tune this to match the open "E" first string exactly. (Try not to let the one octave difference throw you off at this point).
4. Finger an "A" on the first string, 5th fret. Tune the 5th string to match this exactly. ( Now this is a two octave difference and will be a bit harder to detect - you can do it though.)
5. Finally tune the open "E", 6th string to an open "E" first string. (Again a two octave difference).
Notice anything in common in this method of tuning? Yes, all the strings are tuned to the first string. A more common method of tuning a guitar is explained below, but there is an accumulation error in that method. You will see what I mean after you try to tune your guitar that way and will almost give up in frustration.
This method for tuning a guitar also utilizes a relative pitch method, buy comparing two strings to one another.
1. Get your "E" string tuned up as in the preceding method, with the tuning fork.
2. On the second string, finger an "E" on the 5th fret. Tune it exactly to the first string.
3. On the third string, finger a "B" on the 4th fret. Tune it exactly to the open second string.
4. On the fourth string, finger a "G" on the 5th fret. Tune it exactly to the open third string.
5. On the fifth string, finger a "D" on the 5th fret. Tune it exactly to the open fourth string.
6. On the sixth string, finger an "A" on the 5th fret. Tune it exactly to the open fifth string.
Repeat as necessary. Now do you see what I mean by accumulation error in this method? If each string is just a tiny bit off the error accumulates and becomes too great by the time you reach the sixth string.Want to learn more about Guitar Playing? Sign up for our Free Bi-Weekly Newsletter, and we'll deliver guitar playing tips and information about guitar gear, and repairs you can make yourself to your inbox every other a week.
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Tuning A Guitar w/ the Korg CA-40 Electronic Tuner
Tuning a Guitar With an iPhone!
Need another excuse to buy one of the ultra-cool iPhone's? Yep you guessed it. There are several tuning a guitar tuner app's for the iPhone. One of these is called ModGuitars.com Tuner. Really cool! I'm going to buy this one for mine.
>Lastly, lets go over a few general Tuning A Guitar Tips
Always make sure your strings are fresh. You can't get old strings in tune, not matter what electronic tuning marvels you have at your disposal.
If you have new strings, have tuned everything perfectly and find playing in the upper registers (higher frets), sounds "off-tune", you likely have an intonation problem. Read my article on checking intonation and how to adjust it.
When you start the process of tuning your guitar and after you give a tuning fork a good rap, place the base of the metal between your front teeth. If your head is wooden or hollow, like mine is, you will hear the tone long and loud while you tune that first "A".
