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The Guitar Net Tutorial  -How to Tune Your Guitar
 One of the first things you must learn as a beginner, is how to tune your guitar. 
This page will give instruction on how to tune your guitar. 
 
 
Directions for Tuning
Unless you have perfect pitch, you will need something to tune your guitar to.  If you have a piano or electric keyboard at home, you can tune it to that.  If you do not have one of these instruments, or an electric tuner, don't worry.  I have created a tuner that will allow you to tune your guitar using this web page.(not yet created)  On the frame to the left, go to the button labeled "tuner."  That will bring you to a page which will play notes in the appropriate pitches. 
        Okay, now in order to tune, you must know what the names of the strings are.  From lowest to highest in pitch, they are : E A D G B E.  The letters represent the note that each string plays when it is played openOpen is when you play a string without pressing it down anywhere on the fret board.  When you hold the guitar, the E string that plays the lowest note is closest to your head.  You may also notice it is the thickest string.  The next string down is the A string, then D, G, and so on.  The diagram below shows this. 
                Low notes-thick strings 
String Names 
                High notes-thin strings 
Here are some more Diagrams to help show this: 
Righty Guitar:                                                                Lefty Guitar: 
Tuning-righty Tuning-lefty 
        If you have a piano or keyboard, if you don't already, you will need to learn the notes on it.  The way to find the note you are looking for is by looking at the black keys.  The keys are grouped in alternating sets of 2 and 3.  The diagram below shows the notes on the keys.  The letters label the corresponding white keys.  Each black key is the sharp(shown as a # in musical notation) of the white key to the left of it.  It is also considered a flat (shown as a b in musical notation) of the key to the right of it.  So for example, the note marked with an "x", would be a G#(G sharp).  It could also be called Ab(A flat). 
Notes on a Piano 
        The notes go from A all the way to G, and then they start over again.  When the notes start over, it starts a new octave.  There can me many E notes on a piano, but all lie in a different octave. 
        Ok, now you are ready to tune up.  This is a very simple task, and you should do it regularly.  Now you will usually want to tune up your A or low E string first.  Sometimes with certain guitars, and certain strings, doing the E first is not good because after tuning all the other strings, the change in pressure may knock it out of tune.  You will get the feel for that over time.  Play the string you want to tune, and play the note you are tuning to on your piano or the tuner on this page.  If you have a piano, try to find the correct octave, it is usually one of the lower ones.  If you're not sure, compare it to the note on the tuner page to see.  Now you may see that the pitches are slightly different on your guitar than on your piano.  If it is the same, you don't need to tune it now, but you should read on so when you do need to tune, you will know how.  On the head of the guitar, there are tuning pegs, shown here: 
Electric Guitar:                              Acoustic Guitar: 
Tuning Peg-electric Tuning Peg-acoustic 
To raise the pitch of the note, turn the knob counter clockwise(right).  Turn it clockwise to lower the pitch.  This is usually correct, but it is possible to wind it on the other way.  You can play the string and then change it so you can hear it.  Also, some guitars have 3 pegs on one side and 3 on the other side of the head.  The ones lower to the floor will probably turn the other way, but check your guitar to find out.  Adjust the first string to the note, so they match.  Now you will need to do the next string.  You can tune it to the note on the piano again, but an easier way is tune the rest of the guitar to the string you just tuned.  Hold the string down on the fifth fret.  Find the fifth fret(the little thing, metal usually, that crosses the fret board.)  Hold your finger down just behind it, not on it.  This allows a good clean sound.  Play it, and adjust the next string to that.  Do this to the rest of the strings, and you're done! 

 
 
 
  
 
Having trouble with something?  Go to the forum and post a question.  We will be checking the forum regularly for new posts and will be more  than happy to help.