Free Guitar Tuner

Standard Guitar Tuning

It's possible for a beginner to sound like a pro. However, his or her guitar must be in tune. In other words, each of his or her guitar's strings must sound like a seperate note. Generally, we tune the guitar strings to 5 different tones. These tones are E, A, D, G and B. We tune both the low (low bass sounding) E string and the high (high sounding) E string to the E note. We tune the notes in between (going left to right) to A, D, G, and B.

Of course we can use other instruments (usually a piano or keyboard) or an electronic online guitar tuner to tune a guitar. In that case we would tune each string to it's respective note on the other instrument. For example, we would tune the Low E and High E to the E note on the piano.

We would tune the D string to the D note on the piano. However, beginning players should know how to tune a guitar with only a guitar. Of course, the Low E string must be tuned to a tuner or another instrument. However, sometimes we can make a little mistake.

For example, if the guitar strings are accidently tuned to F, A sharp, D sharp, G sharp, and C then who can tell? It doesn't really matter unless your playing with another player. In that case both of you may be out of tune but might be in tune with each other. In that case again who cares? As a general rule try to tune the low E string (at least) to another instrument if one is available.

However, remember that tuning a guitar up in pitch can break strings. Nonetheless, tuning up to F, A sharp, D sharp, G sharp, and C probably won't break the strings.

Now let's try a guitar tuning example with only a guitar.

Guitar Tuning Steps

Step One

Tune the A string to the Low E string 5th fret.

Step Two

Tune the D string to the A string 5th fret.

Step Three

Tune the G string to the Low D string 5th fret.

Step Four

Tune the B string 1st fret to the G string 5th fret.

Step Five

Tune the High E string to the B string 5th fret.

Another Way to Tune

If you pluck the lower E string and maintain an harmonic over the 12th fret, (lightly hold your finger by the fret), by plucking both sides of the 12th fret until they both sound the same will tune your E string to a basic level. (From Anonymous Visitor)

Bass Guitar Tuning

You tune the first four strings of the 4 string bass guitar (the most common type) like the first four strings (from the left starting with the low E string) of the guitar. This is helpful to know if you also play bass guitar.

Other Tunings

Some guitarists like to tune the low E string to the D note or tune all the strings to different notes (different than E, A, D, G, B, E). Many interesting chords can be made with alternate tuning (tuning all the strings to different notes). Sometimes we can play chords that would be impossible to make with regular (standard) tuning. On the left menu check out alternate tuning once you have passed the beginner level. Right now you should master the basic guitar chord chart and guitar power chords chart. These charts are helpful topics for beginner guitar lessons.