How to Tune a Guitar

Knowing how to tune a guitar is the first thing a guitarist has to learn. Playing a guitar that is out of tune is a horrible thing, but... you have nothing to worry about. Here's everything you 'll need to correctly tune your guitar. So, let's start:
The standard guitar tuning is: E, A, D, G, B, e. (From the thickest to the thinnest).

Practically, in order to change the pitch of a guitar string, you have to change it's tension. Tightening the string, gives it higher pitch, loosening it, lowers the pitch. You'll need a reference note from a piano, tuning fork or other instrument. Well, all right, don't hit the streets now in search of a tuning fork, because I have provided you with this (A) reference note here:

A reference note-5th string:

Guitar tuning method 1

how to tune a guitar Just tune the 5th A string to the A reference note above. If your string has lower pitch, tighten it, if it has higher pitch, first loosen it quite enough and then tighten it to make it correspond to the reference note. Once you have a good A, go ahead to tune the 6th string:
Press down on the 6th string at the 5th fret. Strike the 6th string, 5th fret and an open 5th string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 5th string must be adjusted. Once you have your 6th string tuned, go ahead to tune the 4th string:
Press down on the 5th string at the 5th fret. Strike the 5th string, 5th fret and an open 4th string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 4th string must be adjusted. Once you have your 4th string tuned, go ahead to tune the 3rd string:
Press down on the 4th string at the 5th fret. Strike the 4th string, 5th fret and an open 4th string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 4th string must be adjusted. Once you have your 4th string tuned, go ahead to tune the 3rd string:
Press down on the 4th string at the 5th fret. Strike the 4th string, 5th fret and an open 3rd string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 3rd string must be adjusted. Once you have your 3rd string tuned, go ahead to tune the 2nd string:
Press down on the 3rd string at the 4th fret. Strike the 2nd string, 4th fret and an open 2nd string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 2nd string must be adjusted. Once you have your 2nd string tuned, go ahead to tune the 1st string:
Press down on the 2nd string at the 5th fret. Strike the 2nd string, 5th fret and an open 1st string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 5th string must be adjusted. Once you have your 1st string tuned, well, you've got it made!

Guitar tuning method 2

This is how to tune a guitar using harmonics. You can get a harmonic by touching lightly the string exactly above a fret (it works on certain frets only) and strike it (slightly) at the same time. You wont hear a regular sound, only a harmonic of it. This works better with an electric guitar connected to an amplifier. Here's how to tune the guitar with harmonics:
Tune the 5th string using the A reference note.
Tune the 6th string:
Place one finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string, and your other finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string. (The above paragraph tells you how to get harmonics.) Strike both of them at the same time. They should have the same sound. You'll hear a constant sound if they are in tune. If out of tune, you'll hear a sound with some kind of tremolo effect. In that case, adjust the 6th string so as to have a match.
Tune the 4th string:
Place one finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string, and your other finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string. Strike both of them at the same time. If out of tune, adjust the 4th string.
Tune the 3rd string:
Place one finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string, and your other finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string. Strike both of them at the same time. If out of tune, adjust the 3rd string.
Tune the 2nd string:
Just press down on the 3rd string at the 4th fret. Strike the 3rd string, 4th fret and an open 3rd string. Compare their pitch. Both strings should be exactly the same. If not, the 2nd string must be adjusted.
Tune the 1st string:
Place one finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string, and your other finger on the 7th fret of the 1st string. Strike both of them at the same time. If out of tune, adjust the 1st string.

Guitar tuning method 3

Use an electronic guitar tuner like those you can find in our Korg guitar tuners page. Check out our Boss guitar tuners too.

TIP:In case your guitar goes out of tune immediately after one full cycle of tuning, run the whole cycle again, tune the strings 1st to 6th, until pitch stabilizes. You'll probably observe this with new, unused guitar strings.
Happy guitar playing!