Knowing how to get your guitar strings in tune with the use of an electric tuner is a good skill to have. Whether you’re at a music shop playing a guitar on display, at a friends house strumming their guitar or you’re just too darn lazy to go get your tuner, this skill will come in handy.

If you have a little knowledge about the notes on each string of your guitar then this lesson will make a little more sense to you. If you’re not familiar with the notes on each string don’t worry, you can still memorize the patterns I’m going to show you but I’d suggest taking some time to learn the notes up to the 5th fret on each string so you also understand the musical theory behind this.

Let’s get tuning.

There’s a pattern that occurs on the guitar neck that allows you to tune your strings by finding the same note as a particular string on the string above. This pattern usually occurs on the 5th fret of your guitar, except on the G string.

When tuning your B string (the 2nd string from the bottom) you must match it’s pitch to the 4th fret on the G string, not the 5th fret.

Things To Watch out For

One pit fall that can happen when using this method to tune your guitar is that the string you’re using to tune from may not be in tune itself. How can you check this? Always check two strings, not just one. So if you’re trying to tune your D string to the 5th fret of the A string, also compare the A strings pitch to the 5th Fret of the low E string.

One other point to note, what if you are trying to get your Low E string in tune? There’s no more strings above it is there? You have two choices you can either tune it to the open high E string, they’re the same pitch just one octave difference between them, or use the 5th fret of the B string which will also be one octave higher then the low E.

Below is a video where I explain this tuning concept in more detail. I also tune my guitar out of whack and show you how to use this technique to get it back in tune. After watching the video I suggest you grab your own guitar and give this new skill a try. Practicing it each time you pick up your guitar will make it second nature for you as your get better.

Like to learn more beginner tips and guitar lessons? Have you ever considered trying a learn to play guitar dvd to teach guitar to yourself? DVD guitar lessons are the private lessons for the 21st century. With online support they are the closet thing to having an instructor at home with you you’re going to find any where.

When changing your strings, leave enough slack to esnure 3-5 turns around the tuning head. Do no not use too many turns or wraps as this leads to tuning instability and constant string stretching. Make sure you gently but firmly stretch the strings when they are new. While connected to your tuner keep pulling and stretching the string and re-tune as necessary. Remember that nylon strings will always take a great deal of stretching to remain in tune.

There are many interesting products which can assist in tuning stability and make changing strings easy. Two good ones are the Spertzel or Grover locking machine heads. They don't need turns or wraps at all since they lock the string into the machine head.

A good idea on electric guitars with tremelo bridges such Floyd Rose types and also on Gibson style ‘tune o matic’ bridges is to change the strings one at a time. This stops the tremolo from going out of adjustment and ruing the whole set up.

Always keep your new strings as clean as possible by wiping them down after each playing and using string life products such as Fast Fret or Finger Ease before and after each playing session. It makes a HUGE difference on the life of your strings and length of a good string tone. You can greatly extend string life by also using strings brands such as Elixir strings, which add about 8 times to the life of strings. However, they are about 3 times more expensive than normal strings.

A essential tool to have is an all in one string crank or winder or string cutter and bridge pin remover such as those made by Planet Waves or similar.