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tune a guitar

Whether you tune a guitar by ear, with a tuning fork or an electronic tuner, being in tune is essential to music.The agreed upon standard that each musicians tunes their instrument to is also called concert pitch in western

music. This is one note at a standard frequency (A440 in this case) that every musician uses as their reference

point. This is what all electronic tuners are based on and all tuning forks.

While it is imperative to know how to tune a guitar by using only your ear, it is more accurate and also more convenient to use an electronic tuner. All you have to do to tune a guitar is to follow a needle display or a series of lights. You can even plug in an electric guitar; turn down the volume and tune a guitar while you are performing or between songs. Every guitar player should have at least one dependable tuner at all times. Remember extra batteries, it could save your performance. guitar tuner

Using a tuning fork is very interesting to hear and useful to know but you must do it where you can hear the body of the guitar resonate. You strike the tuning fork and while letting it vibrate freely, place it one end down and hold it on the face of your guitar, then tune your string to the note you hear.

Perhaps it is a little hard to picture, but ask your teacher or any classical guitar player to show you how it is done. It is also just a little magical to hear your guitar resonate in this way.

If you want to tune a guitar to another persons instrument so that you can play together, you will not need the proper reference note just tune each guitar to the other. Most guitarists start to tune a guitar on the bottom or 6th string and work their way upwards towards the 1st string.
   Fret the 6th string at the 5th fret and this is exactly what the 5th or A string should sound like. Tune the next string, A to this note.
   Fret the 5th string at the 5th fret and this is what the 4th or D string should sound like.
   Follow this procedure for all of the strings with the exception of the G or 3rd string which you fret at the 4th string to tune the B or 2nd string.

I should mention that you can find online guitar tuners easily if you do an internet search that are free and convenient if your computer is on when you want to tune your guitar. There are also on-stage tuners that allow you to see the tuner in dark conditions and tune easily, even while playing.

Remember also that all of these methods to tune a guitar are only precise to a degree. For instance; on a guitar if you are playing in the key of E, you would want to have your G or 3rd string just a little flat as it is the 3rd of the chord. This holds true in other keys as well. Sometimes it is required to adjust even the perfect tuning derived from the tuner.

There are also ways to further refine your tuning on a guitar by using harmonics. Try playing any string on your guitar and then just touch the 12th fret. You have just played a harmonic. If you use the harmonics at the 12th and 7th frets you will see what other options are available to tune your instrument.