How to Tune a Guitar

A musical tone or note is created when a string on a guitar is bent or pulled up or down. When a string is pulled down it becomes lower in pitch and when it is pushed up it gets higher. The standard acoustic guitar tuning used for most popular songs is E, A, D, F# (or G), B. This enables a variety of chords and scales to be played on the instrument and although many guitarists experiment with other tunings it is generally recommended that beginners use standard EADGBe tuning.

The most common way to tune a guitar is using an electronic tuner, but this can be difficult for beginners. An alternative method is to compare the tones produced by the strings with a reference tone, such as that from a piano or an online tuning reference. By adjusting the tuning pegs until the tone matches you can create an accurate tuning.

To create an open E tuning, start by plucking the 5th string (A) and adjusting the tuning peg away from you to raise its pitch. Repeat this process for the 4th string (D) and then move on to the 3rd string (G), tuning it up a half step to E. Once all six strings are tuned to open E, you can play a wide range of major chords. This tuning is often used for slide guitar as it allows you to easily bar a finger across multiple frets and form full-sounding major chords.

The open E tuning is also a favorite amongst blues guitarists because it gives the strings a bright and jangly sound. Famously Keith Richards used a jangling open E tuning to great effect in the Rolling Stones’ classic songs such as “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Gimme Shelter”. Country music, too, frequently makes use of an open E tuning. Whether it’s the grit of George Strait or the more modern pop/rock influenced sound of Taylor Swift, there is almost always an E chord in a country song.

For beginners, it is suggested that they continue to use the standard EADGBe tuning until they have learned a basic chord progression and have mastered a few minor pentatonic scales. Then, if they are comfortable doing so, they can begin to experiment with other tunings. There are many benefits to doing this, such as having a wider range of chords available and being able to hear more of the individual notes in each string. The more a guitarist is able to hear each of the strings individually, the more they will be able to create their own unique style and musical compositions. For this reason, many guitarists keep multiple sets of strings in different tunings to cater to the specific needs of each song they are playing. This is particularly common when playing live and can help to avoid the hassle of changing strings mid-song. It is also possible to use a capo to drop a song’s key by one or two semitones without retuning the whole guitar.