Whether you are playing a show or just practicing, you should tune your acoustic guitar every time you play. Playing an out of tune guitar is not fun. Beginners can become frustrated with learning because they do not understand the importance of acoustic guitar tuning. The few extra minutes it takes to tune your guitar is always worth it.
Pluck the string you want to tune. If you use an electronic tuner, the tuner’s built-in microphone will pick up the sound. Look at the indicator. It could be a flashing light and/or a meter. It will tell you how close your are to the right pitch and whether you are sharp or flat. Adjust your acoustic guitar tuning accordingly by tuning the string’s tuning key.
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Taking your strings from looser to tighter will tune your guitar, also called tuning down. If the string is too tight, you will need to get it in tune by loosening the strings slightly and then tightening it again until it is in tune. Tuning up will give you a more true tone than tuning down.
You’ll need a way of getting the reference pitch even if you prefer to train yourself to do acoustic guitar tuning by ear. An already tuned second guitar, a piano, a tuning fork, and an in-tune MP3 will all work, but an electronic tuner is consistently more reliable. However, an excellent method for developing your ear is to attempt to tune the instrument by ear first and then check it out using the tuner.
Begin acoustic guitar tuning with the sixth string (low E), which should be tuned to match the reference pitch. After you’ve done that, the other strings must be tuned to that note. Simply work on them one by one. There’s a scientific explanation for this procedure, but you don’t have to learn it anymore than you have to learn to build an engine in order to drive an automobile.
Then proceed with your acoustic guitar tuning as follows:
1. After verifying the guitar is in tune, play it on the fifth fret. Use that as a basis to tune the open fifth string.
2. Using the fifth string as a guideline, play the fifth fret on that to tune your fourth string.
3. Use the fifth fret on the fourth string to tune the third.
4. Pay close attention here, because there’s a bit of a change. The third string should be played using the fourth fret to tune the open second string.
5. Changing it up again- return to playing the fifth fret, only using the second string this time, to tune the first string.
Before you try acoustic guitar tuning for the first time, have an experienced player show you the ropes. The best place to learn is probably the music shop where you bought your acoustic guitar. After a few tries, you’ll get the hang of it. You have to put time and effort into mastering the skill of acoustic guitar tuning. It’s a whole lot easier for someone just starting out to use an electronic tuner instead. Since they only cost about $20, they are well worth their price. What’s more, if you choose one that was manufactured especially for use with guitars, it can actually let you know which string you’re playing too.
