Acoustic Guitar Tuning
Whether you are playing a show or just practicing, you should tune your acoustic guitar every time you play. Playing an out of tune guitar is not fun. Beginners can become frustrated with learning because they do not understand the importance of acoustic guitar tuning. The few extra minutes it takes to tune your guitar is always worth it.
It’s best to use an electronic tuner for acoustic guitar tuning. Sit down with the electronic tuner on a nearby table or stool. Turn it on and strum the first string. The tuner will sense which string is being tuned using its built in microphone. The indicator will show you how close you are to the correct pitch. It will also show you whether you are sharp or flat. Turn the tuning key and tweak the string until your tuner shows that you’re in tune.
Always remember to tune up. This means going from loose to tight until the string is in tune. If you go too tightly and then loosen the string slightly to put it in tune, this is referred to as tuning down. It is always best to loosen the string and then retighten it to put it into tune. Tuning up keeps the string in tune in a much better fashion and the results are more precise.
If you don’t purchase an electronic tuner, you still need to have a reference for pitch when playing acoustic guitar. You can use another guitar, a piano, tuning fork or an MP3 that you are certain is already in tune. Acoustic guitar tuning with an electronic tuner will consistently provide reliable tuning. But if you choose to tune the traditional way then use an electronic tuner to test your results. This is a great way to learn to develop your ear.
Begin acoustic guitar tuning with the sixth string (low E), which should be tuned to match the reference pitch. After you?ve done that, the other strings must be tuned to that note. Simply work on them one by one. There?s a scientific explanation for this procedure, but you don?t have to learn it anymore than you have to learn to build an engine in order to drive an automobile.
Here’s how to do your acoustic guitar tuning: 1. Strum (in tune) the sixth string on the fifth fret. Tune the open fifth string to that exact note. 2. Strum the fifth string on the fifth fret. Tune the open fourth string to the same note. 3. Tune the fourth string on the fifth fret. Tune the open third to the same note. 4. Follow closely; this is different than the above. Play the third string on the fourth fret and tune the open second string to this note. 5. Play the second string on the fifth fret and tune your open first string to this note.
Don’t be afraid to keep trying, but if it’s your first time doing acoustic guitar tuning, you may want to have someone show you the correct way to do it. Check with the store where you bought your guitar, they’ll be more than happy to show you. Acoustic guitar tuning may be the most important thing that a beginning guitarist must learn. Like any other tasks, it requires some time and practice to master acoustic guitar tuning. It is therefore highly recommended that all beginners have an electric tuner as a reference. Buying an electric tuner is really worth it since it is considered the easiest approach and gives the most accurate results.