Outlined below are the following tuning methods:
(click to advance to a particular section)

• tuning your guitar to our CD's & Videos
• using an electronic tuner
• tuning to another instrument
• tuning the guitar to itself
• using a tuning fork
• using pitch pipes

and to finish this section we provide some

• tuning practice

You can tune up to this Flash Guitar!
Just click here on the letters of each string

Tuning your guitar to our CD's & Videos

At the beginning of the CD's, the six open strings of the only you will get to see the action!

You should tune each string of your guitar to each of these notes. These notes are the same pitch as an electronic tuner so if you have tuned to an electronic tuner your guitar will be in tune with the CD.

The first note played is the open 6th string (E note). If the open 6th string on your guitar sounds the same as the note on the recording, your string is in tune. Proceed to the next string. If the note on the recording sounds higher, it means your 6th string (E note) is flat. This will raise the pitch of your string. Play your 6th string again and compare it with the recording. Keep doing this until your 6th string E note) sounds the same as the recording. Usually you will not have to turn the tuning key very far. If the note on the recording sounds lower, it means your 6th string is sharp. Turn the tuning key slowly in a clockwise direction. This will lower the pitch of your string. Play your 6th string again and compare it with the recording. Keep doing this until your 6th string (E note) is the same as the recording.

Follow this procedure for the other strings. To check if your guitar is in tune, strum a G chord. Most students find it easier to tune up to a note, so you may wish to de-tune your string to slightly below the recording, and tune up from there.

Using an Electronic Tuner

The easiest and most accurate way to tune your guitar is by using an electronic tuner.

An electronic tuner allows you to tune each string individually to the tuner, by indicating whether the notes are sharp (too high) or flat (too low). There are several types of electronic guitar tuners but most are relatively inexpensive and simple to operate.

If you have an electric guitar you can plug it directly in to the tuner. If you have an acoustic guitar the tuner will have an in-built microphone.

Tuning using other methods is difficult for beginning guitarists, and it takes many months to master, so we recommend you purchase an electronic tuner, particularly if you do not have a guitar teacher or a friend who can tune it for you. Also if your guitar is way out of tune you can always take it to your local music store so they can tune it for you!

Once a guitar has been tuned correctly it should only need minor adjustments before each practice session.

Tuning to another instrument

If you are playing along with another instrument, it is essential that your guitar be in tune with that instrument.

Tune the open strings of your guitar to the corresponding notes of the accompanying instrument. E.g. to tune to a piano, tune the open 6th string to the E note on the piano. Then tune your guitar to itself from this note using the method described in the next section, or tune each string of your guitar to the respective notes on the piano.

Tuning the guitar to itself

This is a method of tuning all guitarists must know. This is because when tuning to concert pitch you may only be given one note (usually the open 5th string A) so you have to know how to tune the other strings to this note. Having said that, this method can be quite difficult for beginners, so an electronic tuner is recommended whilst you are starting out! As you progress, and with the help of an experienced teacher or friend you will be able to master this technique!

1. Place a left hand finger on the 6th string (thickest string) at the fifth fret, and play the string.

2. Play the open 5th string (an A note).If this note sounds the same as the note you played on the 6th string at the fifth fret, the A note is in tune.

3. If the open A string sounds higher, it means that it is sharp. Turn the tuning key slowly in aclockwise direction. This will lower the pitch of the string. Play the two strings again and compare the notes. Keep doing this until the openA string sounds the same as the E string at the fifth fret.

4. If the open A string sounds lower, it means that it is flat. Turn the tuning key slowly in a counter-clockwise direction. This will raise the pitch of the string. Play the two strings again and compare the notes. Keep doing this until the open A string sounds the same as the E string at the fifth fret.

5. Tune the open 4th string (a D note), to the note on the fifth' fret of the 5th string, using the method outlined above.

6. Tune all the other strings in the same way, except for the open 2nd string (a B note), which is tuned to the note produced on the fourth fret of the 3rd string.

To check the tuning, strum an open G chord.

Using a Tuning Fork

A tuning fork produces a note (usually the 5th string A note), which you tune one string to.
Then you tune the other strings to that string.

Using Pitch Pipes

Pitch pipes produce notes that correspond to each of the six open strings.

Tuning Practice

One of the easiest ways to practice tuning is to actually start with the guitar in tune and then de-tune the string. When you do this, always take the string down in pitch (i.e. loosen it) as it is easier to tune 'up' to a given note rather than 'down' to it. As an example slightly de-tune the 4th string (D). If you play a chord now, the guitar will sound out of tune, even though only one string has been altered so remember that if your guitar is out of tune it may only be one string at fault. Following the correct method, you must tune the open 4th string against the D note at the fifth fret of the 5th string. Play the note loudly, and listen carefully to the sound produced. This will help you maintain the correct pitch in your mind when tuning the next string. low that you have listened carefully to the note that you want, the D string must be tuned to it. Play the D string, and turn its tuning key at the same time, and you will hear the pitch of the string will become higher as the tuning key tightens the string.

It is important to follow this procedure, so that you hear the sound of the string at all times, as it tightens. You should also constantly refer back to the correct sound that is required (i.e. the D note on the fifth fret of the 5th string).