Beginners How To Tune (Lesson #0002)

Where to Start

There are a few different ways you can tune. You can either tune your guitar by :

• Comparing one string to another. (As shown in this method)
• Using an electronic tuner.
• Tuning to another instrument. (Piano, another guitar, keyboard, etc)
• By using natural harmonics on the guitar.
• By listening to the sound of any major chord. (This method takes a little experience)
• Comparing octaves over the strings.

Each one of these methods uses the beating effect (as shown on the following pages) to tune by. If you don't understand this then tuning will be difficult.

When you tune the strings on your guitar, you're tuning one string to another. You will tune your 5th string by the sound of the 6th string, once your 5th string is tuned you will then tune your 4th string to the sound of you 5th string. Then tune your 3rd by your 4th, 2nd by your 3rd and 1st by your 2nd.

How To Tune One String To Another

There are three variables that make a string sound different,

• Length
  
• Tension
  
• Thickness

When you tune, you are changing the tension of a string to matching the pitch of one string to another. In this method of tuning you are finding the same sounding note on the thicker string and comparing it to an open note on the thinner string below.

So now you should understand that: