Guitar Tuning Basics

Before you can play the guitar you must make sure that it is in tune. Guitar tuning can be done in several ways, either by using an electronic tuner, or simply tuning by ear. In order to tune by ear you must already have an ear for the notes, therefore, using an electronic tuner works great for beginner guitar players.

There are many different types of electronic tuners but the one that is used the most is a chromatic tuner as shown in the picture. This particular one has led lights and an electronic needle. The three led lights have a red light on the left, a green light in the middle, and another red light on the right.

It also has a small window to display the E, A, D, G, B, E strings on the guitar and the needle that you would want to be in the center which is normally a zero in the middle or 440, and the needle coincides with the led lights in which the red one on the left represents a flat and the red light on the right represents a sharp. The green light in the middle means that you have hit the right note you are tuning too.

Basically if you are tuning the low E, then the E will have a square box around it, and the needle will be on zero (in the middle) and the green light will be lit. Guitar tuning is very easy and simple with the chromatic tuner. Then you use the same process to tune the rest of the strings. You can also use most chromatic tuners to tune a bass guitar as well. This type of tuning is called standard tuning.

Most electronic tuners come with instructions but they all are easy to understand even if yours should be different from the one shown here. Standard tuning is tuning the E, A, D, G, B, E strings with the standard setting as described here.

5th Fret Tuning

Guitar tuning by using the 5th and 4th fret is a way that you can tune your guitar or bass guitar if you do not have a tuner. The first thing you want to do is tune the low E string which is actually the 6th string or the larger string. To use this method you do need to be able to hear the notes and compare the sound you hear.

Having a keyboard or a piano is good for tuning the 6th string. All you have to do is hit the low E key on the piano or keyboard and while the sound is lingering, strum the low E string on your guitar and the notes should sound equal. If you do not have a piano or keyboard then try to get as close as you can to how you think the low E should sound like.

Now fret the low E string on the 5th fret and pluck the low E string and the A string open and adjust the tuning key for the A string until you hear the same sound.

Next, press the A string on the 5th fret and pluck the A and D string and adjust the tuning key for the D string until you get the same pitch of the notes

Now press the D string on the 5th fret and pluck the D and G string and adjust the tuning key for the G string until you hear the same tone.

This time press the G string on the 4th fret and pluck the G and B string and adjust the key for the B string until you hear the same tone.

Finally, press the B string back on the 5th fret and pluck the B string and the high E string and adjust the key until you hear the same tone. Guitar tuning is fun isn't it?

There you have it; you have now tuned your guitar without a tuner and if you didn’t use a piano or keyboard, as long as you are close on the low E string the rest will be in tune close enough to play. Guitar tuning this way isn’t that hard and is a good way to tune your guitar if you don’t have a tuner.

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