Tuning a guitar at home. Unusual way of setting
If you picked up a guitar for the first time and have not had an ear for music since birth, then most likely you will not be able to tune the guitar right away without the help of someone or something, even knowing the rules. All this will come with time, but for now about the setup methods...
First, let me note that there are many different guitar tunings, for example: Open G (DGDGHD), Open D (DADF#AD) and others. We specialize in standard system EADGHE. These letters represent the notes that sound when you touch the open strings of the guitar. E (mi) - sixth string (thickest); A (la) - fifth string; D (re) - fourth string; G (sol) - third string; H (si) - second string; E (mi) - the first string (the thinnest).
Guitar tuner
The simplest and most universal way, which does not require any knowledge or hearing effort, is to use guitar tuner- as a separate device or as a computer program. You pull the string, and the automation tells you whether you need to release it or, conversely, tighten it. In addition to being the simplest, it is also the most accurate tuning method. The computer program requires a sound card and a microphone.
If restoring the strings or replacing them does not solve the problem, then the instrument must be shown to a guitar specialist: if you have not left the guitar in pouring rain, have not bathed it in a lake, or dried it in the hot sun, then most likely he will be able to help.
In this article we will look at how to set up six string guitar to standard order:
- First string - E (E)
- Second string - B (H)
- Third string - G (G)
- Fourth string - D (D)
- Fifth string - A (A)
- Sixth string - E (E)
Try using our online guitar tuning service, where you can tune your guitar without a microphone and without connecting the guitar itself to your computer. This service is very popular among visitors to our site.
For precise tuning, it is better to use a tuner, software or hardware - it doesn’t matter. A hardware tuner is a small device that determines the frequency of a sound and indicates the note that corresponds to it, as well as the deviation of the sound from the note. A software tuner is essentially the same thing, only the sound is analyzed by a computer program. To use the software tuner, you need to connect your guitar to your computer, and if you have an acoustic guitar, use a microphone. There are also programs that do not analyze the sound (which means you don’t need to connect the guitar to the computer), but simply reproduce the sound of the desired frequency for each string. We will look at programs for tuning a guitar in another article.
Tuning a guitar begins with tuning the first (thinest string).
The first string, held at the fifth fret (note A), should produce a sound with a vibration frequency of 440 hertz. To obtain a sample of such a sound, you can use a tuning fork or other musical instrument (the main thing is that it is tuned) and tune the string by ear.
If none of the above is at hand, then you can resort to the help of MGTS. Horn in handset has a vibration frequency of 400-425 hertz, and the first string clamped at the fourth fret is 415 hertz, which means that the first string at the fourth fret should sound approximately the same as a telephone dial tone. Of course, this is just an approximate setting.
Over time, you may remember how the note A should sound and be able to tune your guitar without using a sound sample.
So, compare the sound of the note A and the sound of the string clamped at the fifth fret. When the string is tuned correctly, the sound should seem to merge (this is unison). If the sounds are clearly different from each other, then try plucking the first string at the fourth or sixth fret. If you hold the string at the fourth fret and the sounds become more similar, then the string is tuned higher and you need to loosen the string. If the same result occurs when the string is clamped at the sixth fret, the string needs to be tightened. Achieve maximum similarity of sounds.
The second string is tuned relative to the first: when clamped at the fifth fret, it should sound in unison with the open first string.
The third string is tuned a little differently. Clamped at the fourth fret it should sound the same as the second open fret.
Now you need to check how the guitar is tuned, because when tuning a guitar, errors can accumulate when the strings sound similar, but not in unison. The sixth and first open strings should sound in unison with the fourth, clamped on the second fret, and the third on the ninth. The fifth, held on the second fret - in unison with open second and fourth in the ninth. The fifth on the tenth fret is like an open third.
With fine tuning, if you extract sound from the second string, clamped at the fifth fret, then the open first string will also begin to vibrate - a resonance will appear. This way you can check the tuning of all the guitar strings and adjust the guitar if necessary.
Pinch any chord and strike the strings - a properly tuned guitar sounds beautiful, even and cohesive.
Hi all! Today in the tips I decided to write a post on how to tune a 6 string guitar.
Every day, when I sit down with my guitar, the first thing I do is tune it. Over the years of playing the instrument, it has become an automatic action - like buckling up while driving or brushing your teeth in the morning. And now any deviation from the tuning of any string hurts my ears, and my hands naturally reach out to twist the pegs - to restore order. I remember when I first started playing the guitar, I often neglected this action, my soul was eager to play, pick up and learn what the tuning was. I can’t understand how my ears could stand this – listening to an out-of-tune guitar playing for hours. Later, the tutor instilled in me this habit of checking the tuning of the guitar first.
And in general, I think it’s useful to listen to the guitar when tuning. Feeling the vibrations of the sound of the strings, feeling the unison of the sound, you merge with the guitar - become one. Okay enough poetry, let's get down to business: how to tune a 6 string guitar!
What do we need to set up? Firstly, a guitar, no matter whether it’s an acoustic, classical or electric guitar (read here). You can use nylon or metal strings, preferably new ones. About how to install strings on different kinds guitars you can read here: how to string a guitar. A tuning fork (preferably “E”), or a digital or software tuner will also come in handy, or if you don’t have a computer or a tuning fork, you can get by with a telephone beep (the sound frequency when off-hook is 440 Hz, similar in sound to the note “A”) . Thus, we need a standard of some note. If you have an electric guitar amp or effects processor, then most likely there is a built-in tuner for tuning! Let's go in order.
But first, I’ll advise you an excellent free course on ear development, which will be useful to any guitarist:
1. Standard tuning guitars
Let's look at the most famous setup method. I think the picture shows everything clearly.
Let's say we have a tuning fork "E", which corresponds to the sound of the first open string E4. We tune the first open string using our tuning fork! Further:
The 2nd string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound in unison with the 1st open,
The 3rd string, clamped at the 4th fret, should sound in unison with the 2nd open,
The 4th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound in unison with the 3rd open,
The 5th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound in unison with the 4th open,
The 6th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound in unison with the 5th open.
Schematically it looks like this - numbering the frets from top to bottom. The black dots are the frets that we are clamping.
This is probably the simplest and most likely well-known way to configure any six string guitar. When I started playing guitar, I used this tuning method for a very long time and the question of how to tune a 6-string guitar did not arise.
2. Tuning by harmonics
Today I use this method, and for me the setup is quite fast. To do this, you need to be able to play natural harmonics on the 12th fret - these are probably the most sonorous harmonics of all those available on the guitar. I wrote a little about harmonics here: .
Let's assume that the first string has already been tuned to the tuning fork "E". Further:
2nd string: harmonic on the 12th fret, should sound in unison with the 1st string clamped on the 7th fret,
3rd string: harmonic on the 12th fret, should sound in unison with the 2nd string clamped on the 8th fret,
The 4th string, harmonic at the 12th fret, should sound in unison with the 3rd string clamped at the 7th fret,
The 5th string, harmonic at the 12th fret, should sound in unison with the 4th string clamped at the 7th fret,
The 6th string, harmonic at the 12th fret, should sound in unison with the 5th string clamped at the 7th fret.
At first glance it is quite difficult, but this is only at the beginning. Why do I use this particular method? Firstly, the harmonic plays for quite a long time, which allows you to tune in faster. Secondly, it is very convenient for an electric guitar equipped with a machine - it helps. Although on acoustic guitars I also use this method! Let me present it schematically: the frets that we clamp when tuning.
By the way, I take the “G” note as a reference note - the open third string (or a harmonic on the 12th fret of the 3rd string), since I have exactly this note for tuning on the amplifier. Next I tune the 2nd and 1st strings, and then I go up and tune the 4th, 5th, 6th strings. Naturally using the harmonic method. I think everything is clear here, let's move on.
3. How to tune a guitar using a tuner
Previously, we looked at relative tuning—relative to one reference note. But you can tune your guitar absolutely precisely. There are many software tuners with which you can tune your guitar even without a developed ear for music. The operating principle of these programs is as follows. These tuners record all six open string sounds in audio files. We connect the electric guitar to the input (line-in) of the sound card. Select the string required for tuning in the tuner. Making a sound on a guitar on the required string!
As a result, on the tuner we visually observe a deviation from the tuning of the required string. In the picture I presented a tuner of a famous program Guitar Pro 6. Here, if the arrow points to the center of the scale, it means the string is tuned. There are many other software products of this type, I basically don’t use them - I rely on my hearing. However, perhaps this will be useful to someone.
4. Non-standard system guitars
There are a huge variety of these rebuilds. Probably, a guitar forgotten by everyone, which has been gathering dust on a closet for several years, can also be called non-standard system and play terribly non-standard songs on it. Let's look at a few of the most popular tunings. We will consider changing the system relative to the standard one.
These are the pies. When I was studying - I played classical etudes and other works - they often used the Dropped D tuning - we simply lower the sixth string down one tone - it sounds interesting. I have never played in other tunings, although sometimes I want to try. Maybe someday I’ll play, say, in the Vihuela tuning.
However, all this is for general information. I've gotten a little carried away - I'll have to do a series of posts. In this post we covered the basics of guitar tuning, mostly acoustic. In the next series we will look at some of the subtleties of tuning an electric guitar; there will also be useful material for acoustics. So don't get lost. If you liked the post, stay tuned for blog updates and receive articles by email.
Sometimes when I write music, I tune the guitar differently, open it up to the universe. When you discover something that has an element of divine intervention in it, you are overwhelmed with bliss. Joni Mitchell.
Correct tuning of a six-string guitar
"Tutorial" Guitar lesson No. 3
Many sites on the Internet outline how to properly tune a guitar for a beginner, but nowhere is there a detailed description of the correct tuning of a guitar. It is difficult for a beginner to correctly tune a guitar using only tuning diagrams. I myself started as a self-taught person and therefore I can describe this process in more detail.. Before tuning a guitar, a beginner should know two such concepts as unison and fret, since correct setting guitar is based on the unison of sounds on certain strings and frets of the guitar.
1. Unison translated from Latin means monotony. This means that two sounds that sound the same in pitch will be unison. (Two strings together sound like one.)
2. The fret has more broad concept, but we will consider the concept of fret in relation to the guitar neck. Frets are transverse metal inserts on the neck of the guitar (their other name is frets). The spaces between these inserts where we press the strings are also called frets. Frets are counted from the headstock of the guitar and are designated by Roman numerals: I II III IV V VI, etc.
And so we move on to the question of how to properly tune the first string of a guitar. The first string is called the very thin string. A beginner should know that when the string is tensioned, the sound increases, and when it is loosened, the sound decreases. If the strings are loosely tensioned, the guitar will sound flabby; overtightened strings may not withstand the tension and burst. Therefore, the first string is usually tuned using a tuning fork pressed on the fifth fret of the fingerboard; it should sound in unison with the sound of the tuning fork “A” (A of the first octave). A home telephone can also help you tune your guitar (the beep in its receiver is slightly lower than the sound of a tuning fork), you can also go to the section where the sound of the open strings of a six-string guitar is presented.
Tuning the first string of a guitar
It is advisable to loosen the first string before tuning, since our hearing is more receptive when the string is tense than when it is overtightened and must be lowered when tuning. First, we listen to the sound by which we tune the guitar and only then press it on the V fret, strike it and listen to the sound of the string. Follow these tips when tuning the next strings. So, having achieved unison and tuning the first string, we move on to the second.
Tuning the second string of a guitar
The first open (not pressed) string should sound in unison with the second string pressed also at the V fret. We stretch the second string to unison by first striking and listening to the open first string, and only then the second string pressed on the V fret. For a little control, after tuning the second string, hold it down at the fifth fret and hit the first open string and the second down string at the same time. If you hear only one clear sound similar to the sound of one, and not two strings, then proceed to tuning the third string.
Tuning the third string of a guitar
The third string is the only one that is tuned pressed to the 4th fret. It is configured according to the second open string. The process remains the same as when tuning the second string. We press the third string at the fourth fret and pull it in unison with the open second string. After tuning the third string, you can check it - pressed at the IX fret, it should sound in unison with the first string.
Tuning the fourth guitar string
The fourth string is tuned to the third. The fourth string pressed at the V fret should sound like an open third string. After tuning, the fourth string can be checked - pressed at the IX fret, it should sound in unison with the second string.
Fifth string tuning
The fifth string is tuned to the fourth. The fifth string pressed at the V fret should sound like the fourth open string. After tuning, you can check the fifth string - pressed at the X fret, it should sound in unison with the third string.
Tuning the sixth string of a guitar
The sixth string is tuned to the fifth. The sixth string pressed at the V fret should sound like an open fifth string. After tuning, you can check the sixth string - pressed at the X fret, it should sound in unison with the fourth string.
So:
The 1st string (E), pressed at the V fret, sounds like a tuning fork.
The 2nd string (B), pressed down at the V fret, sounds like the first string open.
The 3rd string (G), pressed at the 4th fret, sounds like an open second.
The 4th string (D), pressed down at the 5th fret, sounds like an open third.
The 5th string (A), pressed at the V fret, sounds like an open fourth.
The 6th string (E), pressed down at the V fret, sounds like an open fifth.
Alena Kravchenko answers
How to tune a 6 string guitar? This question worries every beginning guitarist. And today there is an opportunity to learn how to properly tune your 6-string guitar. I would like to warn my students against playing an instrument out of tune. It is very important to understand that playing an out of tune guitar can short term ruin it once and for all ear for music student.
Playing an out-of-tune guitar is dangerous for hearing development. And therefore it is very important to tune the guitar before you sit down to practice. Our hearing gets used to the sound of strings during training, and we are already shaping our hearing and learning to hear the pure sound of notes.
Let's learn how to tune a 6-string guitar, and you should always do this before you sit down to practice.
The easiest way to tune a 6 string guitar
Thanks to electronic developments, so-called tuners have now appeared that allow you to quickly and accurately tune your guitar. This is the simplest and affordable way Guitar settings for a beginner.
You can purchase a tuner at a music store, like a small electronic box, or you can download the application for free on mobile phone or tablet.
For example, I like free application(for android, which can be downloaded from the Play Market under the name “Guitar Tuna”.
As an experiment, I asked my husband Sergei to tune his guitar using this application. He is absolutely far from music and does not know how to play any musical instrument. Within a few minutes he tuned the guitar very accurately and correctly.
Setting up a 6-string guitar using an electronic app is very, very easy. Press the desired guitar peg in the program picture (the string you want to tune, for example, the 1st string) and pluck the first string on the guitar. Your task is to slowly turn the peg of the first string and watch the indicator so that it turns green. The arrow shows whether you need to tighten the string or relax it.
In fact, there are many different programs, applications and devices. You need to find for yourself the most convenient and understandable way to configure the gatara and use it in the future.
Over time, you can learn to tune your guitar by ear.
This instructional video will help you learn tune a 6-string guitar by ear.
