If you want to become a guitar magician, your instrument must first be tuned properly. While there are digital tuners that allow you to tune effortlessly, an experienced musician can do it in other ways as well. By using reference notes or the harmonics of the guitar itself, it is possible to tune it without using other instruments. You need to have your ear trained, but with a little practice you will be able to tune with ease.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Using a Tuner
Step 1. Use a digital tuner
This is the fastest and fastest option; digital tuners are usually small, battery-powered devices equipped with microphones that can "hear" the notes you play. Turn it on, then play an empty "E". An indicator light will let you know when the string is tuned to the right note. Loosen or tighten the string until the correct note is played, then proceed with the other strings.
If you have an electric guitar, you can plug the cable directly into the device instead of using the tuner microphone
Step 2. Try an app
There are so many available (for any type of smartphone), and they can be a fantastic option to keep things simple or to use when you don't have a tuner available. These apps are based on the same principle as digital tuners: they also use the microphone built into the phone.
Play an empty "E" and spin the string until the app indicator shows the correct pitch. Repeat the process with the other strings
Step 3. Add a tuner to your pedals
If you use pedal effects with your electric guitar, there are models that work just like pedal pads. Instead of altering the sound of the guitar when you turn them on, they have the function of a tuner. Many of these models allow you to tune silently, which is a great feature, especially if you're playing live. Playing an open string, the tuner has a series of indicator lights that show when the note you play is the correct one.
Many multi-effects include a built-in tuner
Step 4. Get a tuner to attach to the headstock
This type of tuner attaches directly to the headstock of the guitar and you can leave it there while you play. Instead of picking up sound through the microphone, it can detect notes through the vibrations of the guitar's body. Play the strings to tune and the tuner will notify you when the note is correct.
Step 5. Open an internet browser and use an online tuner
If you have a computer near you, you can easily find an online tuner by doing a simple search. Many of the sites you will find will allow you to select a string and play the reference note so that you can tune your guitar.
- This method does not use a microphone. You will only have to rely on your ear to make sure that the note you play on the instrument is the same as the reference one, by acting on the key relative to the string you are going to tune.
- If you don't have access to an online tuner, you can consider getting a tuning fork or backing vocalist. Both are valid options to have a reference note to start from and then proceed accordingly.
Part 2 of 4: Tune the Guitar Using the Instrument Itself
Step 1. Practice listening to two notes of the same pitch
Unlike the piano or other instruments that can play every single note in a "unique" way, on the guitar you can get the same note, at the same pitch, on different positions of the keyboard. This means that you can tune it simply by exploiting this feature. Then practice playing and listening to these notes together, like the one you get by playing the fifth fret of the fourth string and the third open string.
- On a tuned guitar, these two notes are identical.
- If the notes are not perfectly equal they will produce a sort of vibration, the intensity of which varies according to the "distance" between the two sounds.
- Use this swing as a reference to tune one of the two strings, turning the key one way or the other until it disappears.
Step 2. Tune the sixth through third strings
Start by assuming that the sixth string (low E) is correct. Play the note at the fifth fret and the fifth open string. The two notes should be identical. If they are not, turn the key of the fifth string in one direction or another until you get the same sound.
- Repeat this pattern by playing the fifth fret of the fifth string and the fourth open string and so on for the other strings up to the third. Turn the respective keys as needed.
- The sixth through third strings will then be tuned using themselves as a reference.
Step 3. Finish by tuning the second and first strings
To tune the second string (B) the process changes slightly. Play the fourth fret of the third string and the second open string and turn the respective key to tune the two notes. Finally, play the fifth fret of the second string to tune the first, according to the scheme seen above.
Step 4. Memorize this process
Think of the "55545" pattern to easily remember the frets to press versus the open strings to tune the guitar. Once you have learned how to tune your guitar with this method, you can choose to start with the first string or the sixth string, depending on how best you do it.
Part 3 of 4: Tuning the Guitar Using Harmonics
Step 1. Practice playing the harmonics
You can get the same notes by playing the harmonics on different strings and proceed to tune the guitar using them as a reference. The advantage of this technique is that once the harmonic is played, the vibration of the sound continues without the need to press any keys, which leaves you free to tune as it resounds.
- Guitar harmonics are high notes that are produced by gently touching the strings (without actually pressing) at certain points on the fretboard.
- Furthermore, this technique is relatively quiet.
Step 2. Tune the sixth to third strings
Also in this case it is assumed that the note of the sixth open string is the correct one. Play the harmonic on the fifth fret of the sixth string and the harmonic on the seventh fret of the fifth string. Listen to the sound produced and adjust the keys to make sure that the two notes produced are the same.
- Repeat this pattern by playing the harmonic on the fifth fret of the fifth string and the harmonic on the seventh fret of the fourth string.
- Then play the harmonic on the fifth fret of the fourth string and the one on the seventh fret of the third.
- Adjust the fourth and third strings if necessary.
Step 3. Play the harmonic on the seventh fret of the sixth string
Then play the second open string. The two notes should be identical if the guitar is in tune. If they aren't, pull or loosen the second string until you get the same note on both strings.
Step 4. Finally, move on to the first string
Play the harmonic on the fifth fret of the second string and the harmonic on the seventh fret of the first string. Adjust the latter so that the notes are identical (if they weren't already).
Alternatively, play the harmonic on the seventh fret of the fifth string (or on the fifth fret of the sixth string) and the first open string. Choose the method that is most comfortable for you
Part 4 of 4: Reviewing the Basics of Tuning
Step 1. Remember the standard tuning
In international standard tuning, open string notes are called EBGDAE. Each letter corresponds to a string, from the first (thinnest, highest sound) to the sixth (thickest, lowest sound).
- In Italy the notes of the open strings, in the same order, are respectively: Mi, Si, Sol, Re, La, Mi.
- Depending on how comfortable it is, you might consider pairing either system with some sort of tongue twister or acronym to memorize them.
Step 2. Modify the pitch of the note of each string by acting on its keys
Generally, turning the key counterclockwise stretches the string, thereby raising the pitch of the note.
You just have to turn the key a little at a time, so that it is easier to get to the right notes
Step 3. Double-check the guitar once it's tuned
Once you've tuned all the strings, using any of the methods we've seen so far, play a few notes and chords to make sure it's all right. Sometimes it may happen that some notes are not perfect, because the guitar resets itself according to the change in pressure to which it is subjected by straining the strings or simply because the fretboard is not properly calibrated (or perhaps the accuracy of the tuner you have used is not 100%). Should such a thing happen to you, check the strings again and adjust them accordingly.
Step 4. Make sure the guitar is perfectly tuned to the standard if you are to play with other people
Tuning your guitar without using a standard note reference is only fine if you play alone or when you want to practice. The standard notes for tuning the guitar are, starting from the first (thinnest): Mi, Si, Sol, Re, A and Mi.
