Learning to play the guitar is a wonderful and valuable skill, but to get the best sound from your instrument, it is important to know how to tune it correctly. In this online guide, we will show you how to tune a guitar in 4 easy steps in an easy and precise way, just as we do in our guitar lessons in Seville.
Before tuning your guitar...
It is important to keep in mind that there are different types of tunings for the guitar, such as standard tuning or drop D tuning, among others. However, in this guide, we will focus on the standard tuningwhich is the most commonly used.
Step 1: Identify the ropes
The guitar has six strings: the finest string is the myand the thicker one is also a mybut a lower one. This is the first thing we teach in our music lessons in Seville: it is important to identify each of the strings before starting to tune, as each one must be tuned to a specific note. From the first string (the thinnest) to the sixth (the thickest), the notes are:
E (e) - B (B) - G (G) - D (D) - A (A) - E (E)
Step 2: Use a tuner
There are different types of tuners, such as mechanical tuners, electronic tuners, and cell phone app tuners, and they can work by sound (separate from the instrument) or by vibration (they include a pick to attach to the guitar head). Either will work, but it is important to make sure you are set up for standard tuning. Each case requires a different tuner, and in our online guitar lessons we will recommend the perfect tuner for you.
Step 3: Tune each string
Place the tuner near the guitar and touch the string gently. The tuner will show whether the string is in tune or not, and if it is not, you will have to turn the tuning peg until the string is in tune. If it is low, you will have to tighten the string, which is usually achieved by turning the tuning pegs clockwise. If it is high, you will have to do it the other way around.
It is important to remember that as we tune each string, the other strings may be affected, so we recommend doing a final quick check once you have gone through them all one by one.
Step 4: Practice, practice, and practice.
The best way to improve your guitar tuning is through practice. As you play, pay attention to the sound of each string and learn to recognize when it is in tune and when it is out of tune. The ability to tune better and better and in less time will be trained, but in our guitar lessons in Seville we will learn something even more important: to train your musical ear!
With these simple steps, you will be able to tune your guitar easily and accurately. Also, if you want to improve any aspect of your technique and repertoire, we invite you to discover our guitar lessons in Seville, or our online guitar lessons if you prefer to learn directly from home.
