Tuning the guitar is absolutely vital before you play the guitar. A guitar played out of tune does not sound good!
Tuning the Guitar
Guitars can be tuned to standard or open tuning. We will cover both of them in this training session.
There are a number of ways to tune a guitar, they include; by ear, with a pitch fork, another instrument, a guitar tuner, or harmonics.
Tuning your Guitar Method 1
Method 1 - Tuning a Guitar to another instrument
Listen to a note that sounds the same as the 6th string played open (E note) for a few seconds then play your 6th string and compare the two notes. If your string is higher than the sounded note then loosen your machine head to lower the pitch until the two notes sound the same. If your note is lower then turn your machine head slowly to tighten the string until they sound the same.
Please note that you must make sure that the pitch of your 6th string is not higher than the sounded note. If you are not sure then turn the machine head to loosen the string and lower the pitch and then try again.
Repeat this process until you have tuned all of the strings.
Tuning your Guitar Method 2
Method 2 - Tuning a Guitar using the frets
This method is harder than method 1 but more accurate & popular amongst accomplished guitarists.
Tuning String #6 to E
Tune this string to another instrument or a pitch that is E.
Tuning String #5 to A
Tune the 6th string.
Then hold your 1st finger on the 6th string just behind the 5th fret, then play the 6th string (let it sound for a few seconds; this should sound an A note.
Now play the 5th string open (no finger) tune the 5th string until it sounds the same as the 6th string 5th fret.
Your 5th string open will sound as A & your 6th string open will sound as E
Tuning String #4 to D
Tune strings 6 & 5.
Then hold your 1st finger on the 5th string just behind the 5th fret, then play the 5th string (let it sound for a few seconds; this should sound a D note.
Now play the 4th string open (no finger) tune the 4th string until it sounds the same as the 5th string 5th fret.
Your 4th string open will sound as D
Your 5th string open will sound as A
Your 6th string open will sound as E
Tuning String #3 to G
Tune strings 6, 5 & 4.
Then hold your 1st finger on the 4th string just behind the 5th fret, then play the 4th string (let it sound for a few seconds; this should sound a G note.
Now play the 3rd string open (no finger) tune the 3rd string until it sounds the same as the 4th string 5th fret.
Your 3rd string open will sound as G
Your 4th string open will sound as D
Your 5th string open will sound as A
Your 6th string open will sound as E
Tuning String #2 to B
Tune strings 6, 5, 4 & 3.
Then hold your 1st finger on the 3rd string just behind the 4th fret, then play the 3rd string (let it sound for a few seconds; this should sound a B note.
Now play the 2nd string open (no finger) tune the 2nd string until it sounds the same as the 3rd string 4th fret.
Your 2nd string open will sound as B
Your 3rd string open will sound as G
Your 4th string open will sound as D
Your 5th string open will sound as A
Your 6th string open will sound as E
Tuning String #1 to E
Tune strings 6, 5, 4, 3 & 2.
Then hold your 1st finger on the 2nd string just behind the 5th fret, then play the 2nd string (let it sound for a few seconds; this should sound an E note.
Now play the 1st string open (no finger) tune the 1st string until it sounds the same as the 2nd string 5th fret.
Your 1st string open will sound as E
Your 2nd string open will sound as B
Your 3rd string open will sound as G
Your 4th string open will sound as D
Your 5th string open will sound as A
Your 6th string open will sound as E
Open Guitar Tuning
Any guitar can be open tuned. This is done so that a chord can be played without using fingers, popular open tuning include tuning a guitar to D Major or G major chord
Open Guitar Tuning G Major
Open G Tuning
The idea here is to tune your guitar so that it sounds a G Major chord when all of the strings are played open.
The notes used to form a G major Chord are: G, B, D
So each of you 6 guitar strings must be tuned to one of those notes.
6th String
The 6th string is normally an E note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as a D note. Check the 6th string with the 4th string they should both sound as D note
5th String
The 5th string is normally an A note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as a G note. Check the 5th string with the 3rd string they should both sound as G note
1st String
Lastly the 1st string is normally an E note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as a D note. Check the 1st string with the 4th string they should both sound as D notes
So there your have it your guitar is not tuned to an open G chord.
Here are the notes that you should have tuned to:
1st string D
2nd string B
3rd string G
4th string D
5th string G
6th string D
Open Guitar Tuning D Major
Open D Tuning
The idea here is to tune your guitar so that it sounds a D Major chord when all of the strings are played open.
The notes used to form a D major Chord are: D, F#, A
So each of you 6 guitar stringS must be tuned to one of those notes.
6th String
The 6th string is normally an E note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as a D note. Check the 6th string with the 4th string they should both sound as D note.
3rd String
The 3rd string is normally a G note, so tune that string down a a semitone (the equivalent of 1 fret) to sound as an F# note. Check the tuning with the 4th fret on the 4th string.
2nd String
The 2nd string is normally a B note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as an A note. Check the tuning with the 5th string open.
1st String
Lastly the 1st string is normally an E note, so tune that string down a tone (the equivalent of 2 frets) to sound as a D note. Check the 1st string with the 4th string they should both sound as D note
So there you have it, your guitar is now tuned to an open D chord.
Here are the notes that you should have tuned to:
1st string D
2nd string A
3rd string F#
4th string D
5th string A
6th string D
That’s it learn it, follow it, practice it, every day.
Written & Taught by Paul Gronow of Music Maker Guitar Lessons, Barry, South Wales, UK
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Essential Guitar Theory
