| Is your guitar out of tune? There are many ways | | | | Harmonics are played by fretting lightly (barely |
| to fix that. Here are four methods to tune your | | | | touching) the space on the string immediately |
| guitar. | | | | above the fret (the metal bar). It should be a |
| | | | bright ringing sound. To tune with this method, |
| Use An Electronic Tuner | | | | you're using harmonics on the seventh and fifth |
| | | | frets. |
| This is the easiest way to tune a guitar. | | | | |
| Electronic tuners come in various styles and | | | | The fifth harmonic (the harmonic on the fifth |
| qualities. Some use a microphone to hear the | | | | fret) on the low E string is a higher E, and the |
| pitches, and some you can plug directly into (if | | | | seventh harmonic on the A string is the same E. |
| you have an electric guitar). They show the note | | | | So the fifth harmonic on E and the seventh on A |
| with either a needle indicating how close to the | | | | should be exactly the same. You can tune the |
| pitch you are, or a simple digital readout. It can be | | | | strings to match. |
| with a digital meter, or it can be a set of lights | | | | |
| with different colors to indicate when you're tuned | | | | e-------- |
| to the proper note. The best tuners can tune any | | | | B-------- |
| string to any note. Be cautious about buying a | | | | G-------- |
| cheap tuner, as it may not pick up the sound of | | | | D-------- |
| your guitar accurately. | | | | A---- |
| | | | E---- |
| Use Another Instrument | | | | |
| | | | Same with most of the rest of the strings: the |
| This method means you're tuning by ear to | | | | fifth on A matches the seventh on D, the fifth on |
| another instrument that can play the notes for | | | | D matches the seventh on G, and the fifth on B |
| you. This can be another guitar, a piano, a | | | | matches the seventh on the high E. The |
| handheld pitch pipe, or even your computer. To | | | | exception is again the G and B strings. The fifth |
| tune with this method, you have to play the | | | | harmonic on G is G, but the fifth on B is an F#. |
| proper note for each string, then tune the string | | | | There are different ways to handle this - you can |
| until it matches the pitch played. | | | | tune the fifth harmonic on the low E string to the |
| | | | open B string (they're the same pitch). You can |
| Tune The Guitar To Itself | | | | also just tune the B with the "normal" method, by |
| | | | playing the fourth fret normally on G to get your |
| To use this method, it's assumed you're doing | | | | B note. |
| standard tuning, and you're trying to tune your | | | | |
| strings to EADGBE (from low to high). If you use | | | | Additional Info |
| this method, it's a good idea to have at least one | | | | |
| of the strings in proper tune, although it's not | | | | Those are the four methods to tune your guitar. |
| necessary. If you don't have another instrument | | | | Here's some extra info you might find useful: |
| or an electronic tuner, you can tune your guitar | | | | |
| by playing the right note for the next string. | | | | Make sure to tune UP into your pitches. Drop the |
| | | | note low, then tune up into it. The reason you |
| This means that if you want to tune your A | | | | want to do this is because it keeps the tension on |
| string, you play the fifth fret on the low E string. | | | | the string when you tune up, so the string won't |
| | | | go out of tune as easily. If you tune down to the |
| e-------- | | | | note, playing the string will often pull the string |
| B-------- | | | | farther out, tuning it down more. Tuning up |
| G-------- | | | | makes sure your tension is tight enough that this |
| D-------- | | | | won't happen. |
| A---0---- | | | | Drop D Tuning. To get your guitar into drop D |
| E---5---- | | | | tuning, you simply need to tune your low E string |
| | | | to an open D. This is dropping it a full step. To |
| The fifth fret is an A note, and it should be | | | | tune it relative to the A string, you should match |
| exactly the same pitch as your open A string. | | | | the seventh fret with the open A string, instead |
| You do this for every other string. The fifth fret | | | | of the fifth fret. You can also play the twelfth |
| of the A string is a D, the fifth fret of the D | | | | fret and match it with the open D string, since |
| string is a G, the fourth fret of the G string is a | | | | they should be the same note. |
| B, and the fifth fret of the B string is an E. So | | | | |
| when you play the fifth fret of every string | | | | |
| (except for G), it should sound exactly the same | | | | Conclusion |
| as playing the next string open (without fretting | | | | |
| it). | | | | Keeping your guitar in pitch is a good idea to do |
| | | | every time you play. Make sure you keep good |
| Tune The Guitar To Itself (using harmonics) | | | | fresh strings on for the best results. If your guitar |
| | | | goes out of tune after playing it once, even after |
| You can also tune the guitar to itself in a similar | | | | tuning it - it's probably time for new strings. If it |
| way to the above method by using harmonics | | | | happens even with new strings - it might be time |
| instead of fretting the guitar. The big advantage | | | | for a new guitar. At any rate, playing guitar while |
| to this is that you can actually tune the guitar | | | | it's in tune is polite for you, your guitar, and |
| while two strings are ringing from harmonics, and | | | | anyone listening. Now that you know how to do it |
| still hear the pitches. If you do the "normal" | | | | properly, you don't ever have to play an out of |
| method above, you can only play both strings | | | | tune guitar again!Alan Marquez is a guitarist with |
| once, then you have to tune, stop, play them | | | | over 10 years of experience. He plays on a |
| again, and so forth. This method lets you tune at | | | | weekly basis and has taught guitar for over five |
| the same time you hear the strings ringing. | | | | years. |