HOW TO TUNE THE GUITAR?

Guitar tuning - how to properly tune the guitar using a tuner, ear, or other musical instrument.

BEFORE WE START TUNING

Why the guitar doesn't tune?

If the guitar is out of tune, it does not necessarily mean we have the strings badly tuned. The cause may also be a bent neck, a too big catch, raised frets or another fault! If your guitar has any of these glitches, it may not match when playing, no matter how precisely the strings are tuned.

WITH A TUNER

Electronic tuner

electronic tuner

This tuning is probably the only way we can tune the guitar, whether our hearing is anyhow developed. Another advantage is the possibility of tuning even in the presence of greater noise. All this, assuming we have a charged battery and we can handle the tuner. So we are very dependent on the battery, and the other extra thing we have to carry with us. If we forget the tuner at home or just stop working, we probably will not be guitarist.

These tuners have built-in other features such as metronome, tuning to different frequencies, or tuning of other instruments (bass).

What to watch out for when tuning:
  1. Consider whether the battery no longer needs to be replaced.
  2. Make sure you have tuning for the guitar turned on.
  3. Verify the frequency you want to tune. Standard tuning is at 440Hz. If you decide for another frequency, be aware that your instrument may not resonate at this frequency. The vast majority of guitars are built at just 440Hz. In addition, if you play together with other instruments, it can be assumed that they will be tuned to 440Hz, especially those that have fixed tuning (piano, wind instruments, ...). The tuning frequency of most tuners is shown on the display directly during tuning (see picture below).
  4. Place the tuner as close as possible to the resonant hole. (Only applies if you do not have a type of tuner that attaches to the head of the guitar.)
  5. Make sure that the string you are stretching is really the one you want to tune (sometimes you feel that you are stretching, for example, the D string, while rotating G).
  6. Note that if you debug the H string, the tuner will show the letter B if the notation system is set to English/US tuning. Check that your notation style is set properly.

I'm not too much a fan of electronic tuners, because they do little to heal when using them. When tuning the string according to the tone we listen to, we train music memory and then we are closer to tuning ourselves without any aid. Which is the ideal situation.

Blow tuning

blowing tuning

Works on the principle of a small "harmonica", each whistle representing a single string tone. The disadvantage may be the need for hearing and, in case of ill-treatment, the possibility of tongue inflation.

Using metal tuner

acoustic tuner

It has a great advantage due to its accuracy, simplicity, durability and size. We hold the ladder behind our feet, shake the throw of something, then put the end of the foot on the front of the guitar and we should sound the tone A at the frequency of 440Hz, which is on the guitar of e1 strung on the 5th field. Then we follow the tuning rules according to one string.

WITHOUT TUNER

Only with the help of your own hearing

As I wrote above - being able to tune the guitar alone, with the help of your own hearing, is ideal. But keep in mind that it's not just about tuning the strings to match each other, but also to hit the exact frequency of the tone, without which we can't afford to play with other instruments (especially those with fixed tuning). If the guitar is subdued or overcrowded, it does not have to do well with strings, and in addition, when exaggerated overcoat threatens to tear bridge and twist their throats.

image/svg+xml Created with Snap

Using another instrument's tone

It is also an effective way, but the helping instrument may not always be well tuned too.

Tuning the guitar according to one tuned string

To tune the guitar we just need to have a little hearing and properly tuned at least one string (the most practical is about e1 or e6.) To do this we use a metal or blow tuner or another instrument.

There are many ways to proceed. The most common are:

1) Using the 5th Field Rule

There is logic:

Example: We have a tuned e1 (lower) string.

We will debug the string B - this strings pressed on the 5th array must sound the same as the empty e1 (as there is the same tone). We fine her until it sounds the same. For a better understanding, show the tones on the guitar fretboard.

We attach string G - here is the only exception - the tone h is on the 4th field, so we press the string on the 4th field and proceed the same as in the previous case.

Dash the strings D, A, E6 - press again on the fifth field and fine-tune to the previously tuned string.

2) Using flags