How to Tune the Guitar

 

Method 01: Using a mobile Tuner App

 

For this post, the Guitar Tuna app (iOS and Android, free) will be used for illustration.

 

How to use:

 

1. Open the app and position your phone microphone near the guitar.

 

2. Pluck the 1st string (high E) and check the app.

 

3. If the string is in-tune, you should see a tick in the bubble at the top of the screen.

 

 

4. Otherwise, the words “too low!!” or “too high!!” will be shown.

 

 

5. Tighten (for too low) or (for too high) loosen the tuning key for the string until you get the tick.

 

Repeat Steps 2-5 for the rest of the strings for their respective notes.

 

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Method 02: 5th Fret Method (Relative Tuning)

 

Using the 5th fret method, we can tune the strings relative to one another.

 

The basis of this method is that the note of an open string is the same as that of the 5th fret of the string before it.

For the method to work, you must first ensure that one of the strings is tuned correctly either using the tuner app, tuning fork or piano etc and then use that string as the reference.

 

For example, I would make the 6th string (low E) the reference.

 

• Play the 5th fret of the 6th (E) string and then play the open 5th (A) string. Their pitches should sound the same.

 

Otherwise, tighten or loosen the 5th string to change the pitch until they sound the same.

 

• Repeat for the rest of the strings.

 

Exception: When tuning the 2nd string, use the 4th fret of the 3rd (G) string instead.