TUNING YOUR GUITAR: PART 1

If you want to play with a band, or play along to your favorite song then you need to make sure your guitar is in tune. The process of tuning your guitar is simple in concept yet difficult in execution since it relies on the player's ability to judge the difference between two pitches. There are three methods for tuning the electric guitar:

• Unison Tuning
• Natural Harmonics Tuning
• Using an electric tuner (or pitch pipe)

You'll probably want to tune your guitar to standard pitch (which is the most common tuning for the guitar).
E - The thickest, lowest string, also called the 6th stringA - also called the 5th string
D - also called the 4th string
G - also called the 3rd string
B - also called the 2nd stringE - The thinnest, highest string,also called the 1st string
I'll explain the significance of the letter names in a later post so you'll just have to trust me for now.

Unison Tuning

1: Tuning the low E stringStart with the 6th string E (lowest string), unless you have perfect pitch you will need a reference tone the first thing you will need is... you guessed it, a reference tone. You can use a pitch pipe or another instrument to get your reference tone provided that it is the correct pitch of E. If you don't have anything at home you can use try searching for an online tuner.

2: Tuning the A string
Once you have finished tuning your E string place your index finger at the fifth fret on the low E string and play the note which will be A. Let the note ring by keeping your finger on the fifth fret and play the string below it. If your guitar is out of tune the notes will sound different, you want to raise or lower the pitch of the note by adjusting the tuner for the A string. If A string is out of tune the two notes will oscillate (called "beat tones"), continue adjusting the A string tuner until the notes stop oscillating.

3: Tuning the D string
Once you have finished tuning your A string you can tune the D using the same technique you did for the A string place your index finger on the 5th fret of the A string and tune the D string to it.

4: Tuning the G string
Use the same technique to tune the G string, place your index finger on the 5th fret of the D string and tune the G string to it.








5: Tuning the B string
The B string is a bit different, place your index finger on the 4th fret of the G string and tune the B string to it.








6: Tuning the high E string
The High E string uses the same technique that as all the other strings besides the B string. place your index finger on the 5th fret of the B string and tune the E string to it.







If you have just put new strings on your guitar you will need to stretch them and recheck the tuning until they stay in tune.
It will take some practice (and patience) as you get used to tuning your guitar, keep working at it and you'll start to get the hang of it.