If you have not yet developed the proper ear for tuning all the strings of a guitar yourself, then it will be useful for you to learn several ways to easily tune the entire musical scale. Start by using the tuner and gradually move on to independent lessons.

How to tune a six-string guitar using a tuner

This is the simplest and quick way. The purpose of the tuner is to reproduce the proper sounds and indicate the notes that you play yourself. Take your tuner in your hands and bring it to your guitar. Extract the sound from the first open string, that is, without pinch it. The note E with the designation E should appear on the tuner. If the arrow is not level, but deviates to the right, then you need to loosen the tension; if it deviates to the left, tighten it.

Check out the note symbols for all six strings in normal Spanish guitar tuning:

• First string: E ​​(E)
• Second string: B (H)
• Third string: G (G)
• Fourth string: D (D)
• Fifth string: A (A)
• Sixth string: E ​​(E)

You will easily hear the difference between the sixth and first strings, since this is the note “E” of different octaves.
If you do not have your own tuner, then you can use online programs, which replace it no worse than some tuner models.

Go to the website https://tuneronline.ru and scroll down the page. You'll see six audio tracks- These are recordings of the sound of precisely tuned strings. Play one after another and try to replicate that sound on your guitar. Twist the pegs as you see fit. It is better to tune your guitar this way, as you develop your ear for music.

If this method is still too complicated for you, then try another type of tuner on the same site. It is located a little higher in the dark window, the principle of its operation is as follows:

• Hold your guitar up to your microphone and play an open string sound.
• The tuner will show you the note that string is currently tuned to.
• Twist the tuning pegs to increase or decrease the tension to achieve the desired sound.

Once you have a good grasp of the audio track tuning method, try moving on to a more advanced method.

How to tune a six-string guitar by ear

This method is for people who already know how a particular note sounds, and they remember it quite quickly. First, you need to tune the first string yourself. If it is too early for you to do this by ear, then use a tuning fork.

• Press the first string at the fifth fret - this is the note "A".
• Now hit the tuning fork once with your fingernail and tune your guitar on the first string to exactly that sound.

Now tune the remaining strings:

• Press the second string at the fifth fret and achieve a sound in unison with the first open one.
• The third string needs to be clamped at the fourth fret and adjusted to the second open one.
• The fourth, fifth and sixth strings are tuned at the fifth fret. They should sound in unison with the open previous string.

A fairly simple algorithm that is easy to remember. The main thing is not to be lazy, because initially this setup will take a lot of time. Over time, your hearing will improve and you will be able to tune six string guitar without the help of any objects.

How to tune a guitar for a beginner?

You have decided to devote some of your precious time to an activity like music. Commendable. Music is an absolutely unique matter, woven from the thoughts of the musician and the wave vibrations of the sound of the instrument. Playing any musical instrument, a person is immersed in a world of bright colors and images, emerging from which he falls in love with this word forever. The word "music". In this article we will talk about playing the guitar, and we will start with the first stage - tuning the instrument.

Any instrument should sound coherent and good. Correct tuning allows the musician to merge even more fully with the harmony and rhythm coming out of his hands through the strings of the guitar.

Let's assume you are a beginner. You probably already know a couple of chords that you really want to hear performed yourself. But you need to start by setting up your instrument. So, how to tune a guitar for a beginner?

Guitar tuning

Any musician or performer, whether a beginner or a master, tunes a guitar according to one pattern. The only difference between a beginner and a professional is the ability to hear and determine the desired tone of sound. The procedure for manually tuning a guitar is as follows:

• Look at the neck of the guitar - you will see six strings there. You should start tuning with the lowest string, which is also considered the first. This is the most thin string and its sound corresponds to the note E (E) of the first octave.
• Use your finger or pick to pluck the first string. Unless you accidentally interrupt the sound, you will hear the note E. How do we check if it actually sounds the right note? Everyday method: call somewhere where they won’t answer the phone or ask someone not to answer. The beeps you hear correspond to the note E. Now that you have memorized the sound, you can tighten or loosen the string in order to get the note E.
• In order to adjust the tone of the strings, guitar pegs are used. They are located on the head of the guitar. If your guitar is made in such a way that you see three pegs on each side of the head, then you have in your hands classical guitar. The first string is the peg closest to the fingerboard. The strings are connected to pegs, so you can trace that connection and find the right peg to tune the instrument.
• So. The pin has been found. Now pluck the string. And while the note is sounding, try turning the peg in different directions. You will probably notice that your actions change the pitch of the sound. Your task is to build the first string so that it sounds like the note E. Except regular phone you can use a special device. It's called a tuning fork. The tuning fork produces the note of each string. By ear you can line up each string.
• Let's assume that you have achieved the desired sound of the first string. And you hear the beautiful, light and airy note of E. From this string you can build the entire guitar. How to tune your guitar next. Let's do it as follows.
• Pluck the "open" first string. Open string means that you do not pinch the string on any of the guitar frets.
• Now pinch the second string (this is the next thickest and in order after the first) at the fifth fret. The construction technology is as follows. The open first string and the second string clamped at the fifth fret should sound exactly the same. Now, using the second string peg, you need to achieve the correct sound. We achieved it. Let's move on to the third string.
• The third string, clamped at the fourth fret, should sound the same as the open second. Set up.
• The fourth string, clamped at the fifth fret, should sound the same as the open third.
• The fifth string, clamped at the fifth fret, should sound the same as the open fourth.
• Finally, the 6th string held at the 5th fret should sound the same as the 5th string open.
• Now you need to check the system. Play any chord you know. If it sounds clean and without falsehood, then the guitar is built correctly.

This is a manual setting method. You can also use a tuner. You need to buy it. How to tune a guitar for a beginner using a tuner? The instructions clearly explain the principles of its operation and how to build a guitar with its help.

Tuning by ear includes tuning with a tuning fork, whether real or electronic, and tuning for another guitar, tuning from the first string. Tuning by ear requires certain auditory skills, there is no other way. Tuners hear the sound and tune the guitar string in unison (more on this later).
The adjustment using technology is very precise. Such devices were popular in the last century, expensive, very heavy and bulky. Now you can make precise adjustments with any computer and microphone.

Tuning your guitar using AP Tuner 3

All readers of MirSovetov can try this method, even if you know how to tune by ear. If there is more or less quality microphone, you can achieve precise instrument tuning that is difficult to achieve manually.
First, download free program from its official website: www.aptuner.com
The launch will occur after clicking “use tuner without registering”, which means “use the tuner without registration”.
Here appearance customizer:

1. Panel with hints for setting up six string guitar: E4, B3, G3, D3, A2, E2 – this is the designation of open strings: Mi (first string), Si, Sol, Re, A, Mi (sixth string). “Open string” is the sound of a string without any pressure on the fingerboard.
2. What note is being played now? For example, to tune the third string, use the tips in step 1. Turn the third string peg to the right/left until G3 is written.
3. This is the tuning accuracy scale. Our goal is to get as close as possible to 0 Cents so that the level of deviations is minimal.
4. The volume level should cross the horizontal line dividing the scale in two. Adjust your microphone gain if the sound is not sufficient. You can move the instrument closer to the microphone.

Bottom line: to tune a six-string acoustic guitar using the AP Tuner program, string 1 must be E4, second string B3, third string G3, fourth string D3, fifth string A2, sixth string E2.
For the program to work, any microphone must be turned on. The quality of the program depends on the microphone volume level. The volume is adjusted in the Control Panel: “Hardware and Sound” – “Management” sound devices", on the "Recording" tab, right-click "Microphone Properties" and go to the "Levels" tab.
As additional functions programs: the ability to identify notes, chords of any instruments and your voice. Ability to draw graphs of the frequency of sound vibrations.

Tuning by ear

The most used and practical method.
It's no secret that all musical instruments are tuned from the note "A". The tuning fork makes a clear sound “A” (and this is its only purpose). On the first string (from the bottom) of the guitar, the fifth fret is clamped and tuning is carried out. The guitarist's task is to achieve a sound identical to that of a tuning fork.
Nowadays, not everyone has a tuning fork; moreover, it is not needed.
To tune your guitar, just download a tuner program or find an online guitar tuner.
E (E) – first string (from the bottom).
B, G, D, A, E – Si, Sol, Re, La, Mi – second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Typically, a tuner includes six sounds from the six open strings of a guitar. The tuner's task is to ensure that the sound produced by the tuner and the guitar sounds in unison, i.e. were identical. Here you need hearing.
At self-configuration guitars need to be guided by the fact that they should sound in unison:

• the first string with the second, clamped at the fifth fret;
• the second string with the third, clamped on the fourth fret;
• the third string with the fourth, clamped at the fifth fret;
• fourth string with fifth string clamped at the fifth fret;
• fifth string with sixth string clamped at the fifth fret;
• the fifth string with the third, clamped on the second fret;
• the first string from the sixth and some others.

These are the so-called octaves. There are seven notes in music, and if the third string on the second fret is the note “A”, then the fifth string is also the note “A”, only of the next octave.
You can tune an instrument by ear in different ways, in different circumstances. Let's look at them:

1. You can tune the six strings in unison with the tuner on your computer.
2. You can tune the six strings in unison with another guitar (this is necessary for playing together), only this way you can play together.
3. You can tune a guitar without a tuning fork, without a tuner, and without another guitar.

The third method will be useful to World Tips readers on vacation. The first string will have to be tuned arbitrarily. Or do you remember exactly what it sounded like? How about? Doesn't matter! The main thing is that the remaining strings (from the first) are tuned correctly.
So, we have the sound of the first string, quite high, quite sonorous. Look for a fret on the second string where the first and second strings sound in unison! If this fret is >5, turn the peg of the second string to the left (if the sound of the second string should be equal to the sound of the third, on the fourth fret. The sound of the third string should be equal to the sound of the fourth, on the fifth fret. And so on, gradually rising one string higher, we tune the guitar To remember: the string of the next string, clamped at the fifth fret, must be tuned to the sound of the string located below (with the exception of the third string - we clamp it at the fourth fret).

That's it. From useful tips I would like to add that tuning a guitar is a matter of both hearing and experience. The first time, try tuning the instrument in silence, alone and alone.
With a little practice, training your hand and ears, you will be able to tune guitars in noisy groups near the river without any problems.

The 1st string is tuned like this:

The 1st (thinnest) open string is tuned to the note “E” of the First octave.
This can be done using any tuning fork, for example, on this site, or by using the note “E” of the First Octave of the corresponding key of a piano, grand piano or synthesizer. A home piano may not be tuned accurately, so it is best to tune according to electronic instrument or a tuning fork.

Frequency of the note “E” of the First octave is 329.63 Hz - 1st open string.
Layout of piano keys by octaves and notes.

The 2nd string is tuned like this:

1. Press the 2nd string at the 5th fret.
2. We alternately extract the sound of the 1st open string and the 2nd string pressed on the 5th fret.
3. By turning the peg handle of the 2nd string, we tighten or loosen it until the strings begin to sound the same, in unison.

The 3rd string is tuned like this:

1. Press the 3rd string at the 4th fret.
2. We alternately extract the sound of the 2nd open string and the 3rd string pressed on the 4th fret.
3. By turning the peg handle of the 3rd string, we tighten or loosen it until the strings begin to sound the same, in unison.

The 4th string is tuned like this:

1. Press the 4th string at the 5th fret.
2. We alternately extract the sound of the 3rd open string and the 4th string pressed at the 5th fret.
3. By turning the peg handle of the 4th string, we tighten or loosen it until the strings begin to sound the same, in unison.

The 5th string is tuned like this:

1. Press the 5th string at the 5th fret.
2. We alternately extract the sound of the 4th open string and the 5th string pressed at the 5th fret.
3. By turning the peg handle of the 5th string, we tighten or loosen it until the strings begin to sound the same. Read more about how the notes are arranged on the guitar neck in octaves

The classic six-string tuning is shown at the top of the page.

From this article you will learn how to properly tune a six-string guitar and what methods of tuning guitars exist. Each method presented below has its pros and cons, the final choice is yours. Remember, no matter which method you choose, tuning your guitar starts with the first thinnest string.

Based on this, most often beginners use tuners that show the correct sound of guitar strings in frequency. More experienced ones tune the first string of the guitar by ear, and from the 1st they go through the rest to the 6th. But first things first...

Six-string guitar tuning

Standard tuning for 6 strings guitars E-A-D-g-b-e looks like this:

Alternative tuning:

• Half a tone lower: D#G#C#F#A#D#
• One whole tone lower: D-G-C-f-a-d
• Drop-D: D-A-d-g-b-e (hard rock)
• Drop-C: C-G-c-f-a-d
• D5: D-A-d-d-d-d

What else do you need to know?

How to tune a guitar by ear using the fifth fret method?

The main task when using this method is to tune the first string of the guitar (the thinnest) E (E). To do this, you can use the sound file published above or use it on our website. After you have listened to the note (E), you need to compare it with the extracted sound on the first open string and, if necessary, rotate the pegs to make these sounds sound in unison. All further actions depend on how accurately the first string is tuned.

After adjusting the 1st string of the guitar, you should clamp the 2nd at the 5th fret, it should match the sound of the open 1st.
3rd on the 4th fret - with the 2nd open.
4th on the 5th fret - with the 3rd open.
5th on the 5th fret - with the 4th open.
6th on the 5th fret - with the 5th open.

Tuning a guitar using a guitar tuner

The easiest way to tune a guitar is to use a tuner, which is ideal for beginners as it doesn't require any aural skills. With the help of a tuner, you can equally easily tune an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar.

You simply play the sound on an open string and see what the tuner shows. Usually it shows in the form of indicators or graphically on the display exactly how to adjust the strings of the guitar (you need to tighten the pegs or, on the contrary, loosen them). It is important to pay attention to whether the sound extracted from the open string corresponds to what it should be depending on the chosen tuning of the guitar. Otherwise, it may turn out that you tuned the 2nd string as 3, etc. There are many models and manufacturers of tuners, but they all have similar capabilities and functions.

Guitar tuning by harmonics

This is one of the most difficult ways to tune a guitar, but it allows you to achieve maximum accuracy and hear the slightest differences in sound. For this reason, it is mainly used only by professional guitarists.

Flajolet - technique of playing on musical instrument, in which an overtone sound is extracted, it can most easily be extracted at the fifth, seventh and twelfth frets of the guitar. To extract a harmonic on a guitar, you need to touch the sixth string above the fifth fret with your fingertip. Then we extract the sound right hand and immediately remove the finger of your left hand from the string. Then you need to immediately remove the harmonic over the seventh fret of the fifth string. The extracted overtone sounds must match and sound in unison. It is important to note 2 details:

1. The string should be pressed above the saddle, not on the fret itself.
2. You must remove the finger of your left hand in time, otherwise the sound will be muffled or, on the contrary, you will get the sound on an open string.

The first string is tuned using a reference sound or tuner, and then you compare the harmonics taken on the following frets: For pairs of strings 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, you need to compare the sound of the harmonic taken above the seventh fret fret (1 sound) and the fifth fret fret (2nd sound). For a pair of strings 2-3, the tuning procedure is different. So the harmonic on the second string is taken above the fifth saddle of the fret, and on the third string above the 4th saddle.

Video lesson for clarity

Conclusion: The choice is yours. It is worth remembering that not all methods can provide the ideal sound of the instrument in accordance with the selected tuning. However, if you are a non-professional guitar player, any method described above will suit you and this will not affect your playing, and only people with an ear for music will be able to hear small deviations in tonality.