Guitar tuning is something every guitarist must learn. At first, this will seem like an impossible task. However, with practice and patience you will develop this skill. The two most common guitar tuning methods are the fifth fret method and the harmonics method. This article describes the fifth fret method as explained by our Do Re Mi Studios guitar tutors at our Sutherland Shire guitar lessons .
Below is a diagram of the guitar neck viewed head upwards. The vertical lines are the strings. These start from E or 6th string on the left (the thickest string) to E or 1st string on the right (the thinnest string).
So let’s now go through the steps to tune your guitar to each of the pitches above.
6th String – E (Thickest string)
The first thing you will need is to tune the 6th string to the note E. Use a piano or another tuned instrument as your reference.
Adjust the guitar tuning peg so that when the string is plucked it sounds the same as the E note. The easiest way to tune any string is to tighten it slowly so that you always tune upwards in pitch towards the correct pitch. If you accidentally over tighten the string, the pitch will be sharp. That means the string is higher in pitch than the note you are aiming for (Note E). If this happens, loosen the string enough to let you tune to note E from a lower (flat) pitch by tightening the string again.
Once you have tuned the 6th string to the note E you can use it as the basis for tuning the other strings.
5th String – A
When the 6th string is pressed on the 5th fret, it gives the note A. Your goal now is to tune the 5th string to that same pitch. Place your index finger on the 6th string 5th fret. Play the 6th string followed immediately by playing the 5th string open (without pressing any fret). Tighten the 5th string until it produces the same sound.
4th String – D
Now that you have tuned the 5th string, place your index finger on the 5th string 5th fret. This is note D. Play the 5th string followed immediately by the 4th string open. Tighten the 4th string until it produces the same sound.
3rd String – G
Repeat the same procedure to tune the 3rd string. That is, place your index finger on the 4th string 5th fret. This is note G. Play the 4th string followed immediately by the 3rd string open. Tighten the 3rd string until it produces the same sound.
2nd String – B
The next step is a bit different. Place your index finger on the 3rd string 4th fret. This is note B. Play the 4th string followed immediately by the 2nd string open. Tighten the 2nd string until it produces the same sound.
1st String – E (Thinnest string)
Repeat the same procedure you used to tune the 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd string. That is, place your index finger on the 2nd string 5th fret. This is note E. Play the 5th string followed immediately by the 1st string open. Tighten the 1st string until it produces the same sound.
