How to Tune your guitar (12/18/2022)

Learning to play guitar is an exciting journey, and it all starts with the basics. One of the most important steps in playing guitar is tuning the instrument.  No matter how hard you try, you can’t make an out-of-tune guitar sound “right”, so before learning anything else, learning to tune is going to be step one! This can be a bit tricky for beginners, but don’t worry—with a little practice, you will get the hang of it! In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how to tune your guitar so you can start strumming away like a pro. 

First up: know the pitch for each string! 

The guitar has 6 strings. Listed from low to high, the guitar string notes are:  E, A, D, G, B, E. An easy mnemonic to help you remember: “Each Additional Day, Guitar Becomes Easier!”

Next: Find your Tuning pegs: 

The headstock of your guitar will have your tuning pegs . Turning the pegs will make your strings tighter or looser –  Tightening the strings makes the pitch go up; loosening the strings makes the pitch go down.

Time to Tune!

Most beginners find it easiest to tune with an electronic tuner. These inexpensive devices measure vibrations and help ensure that your strings are correctly tuned. Once you have a tuner handy, simply turn it on and clip it onto the headstock of your guitar so you can see the display. Then pluck one string at a time and adjust each tuning peg until the tuner reads that string as “in tune” or “accurate”. Repeat this process for each string until all six strings are in tune. 

Learning how to tune your guitar is essential for any musician wanting to play their favorite songs and should be done every time you get out your guitar to practice or play.  With a bit of practice and patience, anyone can learn how to tune their instrument. Over time, you may develop the ability to tune by ear, but don’t worry if this skill takes time to develop, even the pros make sure to have and electronic tuner in their cases to make sure that their gear is ready to go when it’s time to play!