How to
Tune a Guitar
to Standard Tuning
with a Chromatic Electronic Tuner
Step 1: Tune the sixth (thickest) string to E
👁⇢🅴
👌 ☌
E╓───────────╖
B╟───────────╢
G╟•─────────•╢
D╟•─────────•╢
A╟───────────╢
E╙──0─0─0─0──╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the E string.
- Pluck the sixth string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the sixth string is plucked.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (tune the next string) |
Step 2: Tune the fifth string to A
👁⇢🅰
👌 ☌
E╓───────────╖
B╟───────────╢
G╟•─────────•╢
D╟•─────────•╢
A╟──0─0─0─0──╢
E╙───────────╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the A string.
- Pluck the fifth string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the fifth string is plucked.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (play a chord) |
Step 3: Tune the fourth string to D
👁⇢🅳
👌 ☌
E╓───────────╖
B╟───────────╢
G╟•─────────•╢
D╟•─0─0─0─0─•╢
A╟───────────╢
E╙───────────╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the D string.
- Pluck the fourth string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the fourth string is plucked.
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (play a chord) |
Step 4: Tune the third string to G
👁⇢🅶
👌 ☌
E╓───────────╖
B╟───────────╢
G╟•─0─0─0─0─•╢
D╟•─────────•╢
A╟───────────╢
E╙───────────╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the G string.
- Pluck the third string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the third string is plucked.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (play a chord) |
Step 5: Tune the second string to B
👁⇢🅱
👌 ☌
E╓───────────╖
B╟──0─0─0─0──╢
G╟•─────────•╢
D╟•─────────•╢
A╟───────────╢
E╙───────────╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the B string.
- Pluck the second string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the second string is plucked.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (play a chord) |
Step 6: Tune the first (thinnest) string to E
👁⇢🅴
👌 ☌
E╓──0─0─0─0──╖
B╟───────────╢
G╟•─────────•╢
D╟•─────────•╢
A╟───────────╢
E╙───────────╜
- Confirm the tuner is set to the E string.
- Pluck the first string repeatedily while observing the electronic tuner.
Ensure only the first string is plucked.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Tuner indicates string is flat ... | Tighten. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is sharp ... | Loosen. Repeat previous step. |
| Tuner indicates string is in tune ... | Go to next step (play a chord) |
Step 7: Play a chord to confirm the guitar is in tune
- Play the E major chord.
-
| IF... | THEN... |
|---|
| Chord sounds off ... | Try to identify the string(s) by playing arpeggio.
Retune those strings by repeating applicable steps.
Otherwise repeat all previous steps. |
| Chord sounds good ... | The guitar is in tune.
Enjoy. |