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Guitar Master
PT

Lesson 4 / 30 5 min

Tuning your guitar

Standard tuning (E A D G B E), using a tuner, and tuning by ear with the 5th-fret method.

An out-of-tune guitar sounds wrong no matter how well you play. Tune every time you pick up your guitar — it only takes a minute.

Standard tuning

From the 6th (thickest) string to the 1st (thinnest):

String654321
NoteEADGBE
Frequency82.4 Hz110 Hz146.8 Hz196 Hz246.9 Hz329.6 Hz

Using a tuner

The easiest way is an electronic tuner. Open our online tuner, allow the microphone and:

  1. Play one open string and let it ring.
  2. The tuner shows the note it hears and a needle.
  3. If the needle is left (flat, too low), tighten the string. If it's right (sharp, too high), loosen it.
  4. Stop when the needle is in the center and the display turns green.

Tune up, not down

If you go past the note, loosen the string below it and come back up. The string's tension settles better this way and it stays in tune longer.

Don't over-tighten

Turn the pegs slowly and check the pitch as you go. Make sure you are turning the peg of the string you are actually playing — it's a common way to break strings!

Tuning by ear: the 5th-fret method

No tuner? You can tune the guitar to itself. Assume the low E string is correct, then:

  • Press the 5th fret of the 6th string — this is an A. Tune the open 5th string to match it.
  • Press the 5th fret of the 5th string (D) — tune the open 4th string.
  • Press the 5th fret of the 4th string (G) — tune the open 3rd string.
  • Press the 4th fret of the 3rd string (B) — tune the open 2nd string. This one is different!
  • Press the 5th fret of the 2nd string (E) — tune the open 1st string.
EBGDAE1234567E4F4F#4G4Ab4A4Bb4B4B3C4C#4D4Eb4E4F4F#4G3Ab3A3Bb3B3C4C#4D4D3Eb3E3F3F#3G3Ab3A3A2Bb2B2C3C#3D3Eb3E3E2F2F#2G2Ab2A2Bb2B2AADDGGBBEE
Each fretted note matches the next open string. Note the 4th fret on the G string.

When two notes are almost — but not quite — the same, you will hear a "wobble" (called beating). Turn the peg slowly until the wobble disappears.

Other tunings

Many rock and metal songs use other tunings, like Drop D or half a step down. Our tuner supports them, and we cover them in the alternate tunings lesson. For now, stick with standard tuning.