Guitar Tuning Lesson

Hey, guys! Today's lesson is going to be all about how to tune the guitar.

Importance of Tuning

It's really, really important to get into the habit of regularly tuning the guitar, pretty much every time you pick it up to play. We want to make sure that it's "bang on" tune!

Vulnerable Parts

The tuning pegs on the top are one of the most vulnerable parts of the guitar. They're really sensitive to:

• Getting knocked as you put it in the car
• Changes in temperature

So even if you think, "Yeah, last time I played it, it was in tune," it may not still remain in tune. It's crucial that we regularly check it.

Know Your Strings

If you're new to the guitar, it's essential to know the names of each of the strings. The way in which you are usually directed to a note on the guitar is by the name of the string.

Standard Pitch of Open Strings

Let's go through the standard pitches of the open strings on the guitar:

1. E - The thickest string (lowest pitch)
2. A
3. D
4. G
5. B
6. E - The top string

A very quick reference point: If your top and bottom strings sound like they're the same note (they are in different octaves), then that's a rough indication that those two notes are in tune.

Helpful Mnemonics

To remember the notes of the strings, here are a couple of popular methods:

• "Elephants and Donkeys Grow Big Ears"
• "Eddy 8 Dynamite Goodbye Eddy"

Make sure this information is known absolutely off by heart without even thinking about it!

Learning to Fret Chords

When fretting a chord, you're directed to where to place your fingers by saying something like, "Right, we're going to place our specific finger on the third fret of the B string." Knowing the string names will significantly speed up your learning process.

Tuning Methods

If your guitar is out of tune or you're unsure, the easiest method is to use an electronic tuner.

Types of Tuners

1. Headstock tuner - like the one I have here.
2. Guitar pedals - that you plug into.
3. Smartphone apps - many free options available.

Key Settings on Tuners

• Look for a number around 440 ? this is called the reference pitch.
• Make sure it says A = 440 to tune your instrument to standard tuning.

Some tuners come with different modes for various instruments, so ensure it's on the guitar setting or a chromatic setting.

Tuning Technique

When tuning with an electronic tuner:

• Pluck one string at a time. Avoid plucking the next string while the previous string is still ringing, as it confuses the tuner.
• Mutate the last string before moving on to the next one.

Demonstration

Now, let's go through the strings again. For example, when tuning the E string:

• If I pluck it, and the pitch settles, it should be in the middle of the tuner.
• Detuning it slightly may show D sharp, which means I need to tune it back up to E.

Continue tuning the other strings in the same way:

• A string
• D string
• G string (may be ever so slightly sharp)
• B string
• Thin E string

Tuning by Ear

If you don't have an electronic tuner, you can still tune the guitar by ear.

Reference Point

Make sure the low E is as close to an E as possible by ear. Once you're happy with that, you can tune the guitar to itself using one of two common methods.

Method 1: Fifth Fret Technique

1. For the bottom E string, fret the 5th fret and pick. It should match the open A string.
2. Repeat for the A string (5th fret = open D string).
3. For the D string (5th fret = open G string).
4. For the G string, fret the 4th fret and match it to the open B string.
5. Finally, for the B string, fret the 5th fret and match it to the open E string.

Method 2: Natural Harmonics

If you're more advanced, you can use natural harmonics. This involves hovering above the metal of the fret rather than pushing the string onto the fretboard.

• Match the 5th fret harmonic on the bottom E string with the 7th fret harmonic on the A string.
• Repeat with the A and D strings, D and G strings. For G, use the 4th fret harmonic matching with the B string's 5th fret harmonic.
• Finally, match the 5th fret harmonic on the B string with the 7th fret harmonic on the E string.

Altered Tunings

What are Altered Tunings?

An altered tuning is any tuning where one or more strings differ from standard tuning. One of the most common is drop D.

Drop D

To achieve drop D, lower the E string to a D:

• Use your electronic tuner or match it by ear with the existing D string.
• You can verify this with harmonics: the 12th fret on the original D string matches the 5th fret on your new D string.

Conclusion

I hope this has helped you gain some confidence in how to tune the guitar, one of the most essential lessons. On the accompanying PDF, you'll find details on other common alternate tunings, such as:

• E flat tuning: Each string lowered by a semitone.
• Dadgad tuning: D A D G A D, a popular folk tuning.

Practice getting your guitar "bang on" tune, either using an electronic tuner or your ears, and then we can get onto some playing!

See you next time!