Tuning a 6 string guitar for beginners. Guitar tuning online

Many people love the sound of the guitar and some even decide to learn how to play it. First you need to understand how a guitar is tuned and how you can do it yourself. There are several simple methods that do not require special knowledge and are suitable for beginners.

How to tune a guitar?

To play your instrument and produce beautiful melodies, you need to set it up correctly. For this purpose, you do not need to contact specialists, since most methods are simple. Tuning an acoustic guitar and a bass guitar is done in the same way, with the exception of some details. It is important to know which notes the strings on the instrument correspond to.

How to tune a 6 string guitar?

There are many ways to tune the instrument yourself, for example, this can be done using a device - a tuner, which is also available in an online version. You can also tune your guitar through a microphone using online programs. In addition, this can be done by ear and in other ways, for example, using harmonics. The last option is the most difficult, but with its help you can achieve maximum sound accuracy. First, it is worth pointing out that the harmonic is a playing technique in which an overtone sound is produced. Tuning a six-string guitar goes like this:

  1. To produce the desired sound, touch the 6th string above the 5th fret with the tip of your left hand finger.
  2. With your other hand, touch the string and immediately remove your finger with your left.
  3. After this, remove the harmonic over the seventh fret of the 5th string.
  4. It is important that the overtone sounds are identical and sound in unison.
  5. The first string should be tuned to a reference tone or tuner, and then a harmonic comparison is made.

Tuning a 6-string guitar using different tuners should be carried out taking into account the correspondence of strings and notes:

  • 1 – note Mi (E);
  • 2 – note B (B);
  • 3 – note Salt (G);
  • 4 – note D (D);
  • 5 – note A (A);
  • 6 – note Mi (E).

How to tune a 7 string guitar?

All tuning options presented below are also suitable for a seven-string guitar. In addition, you can also use a tuning fork - a device capable of producing only the sound “A”. Tuning a seven-string guitar this way starts with the first string, which should produce the same sound at the fifth fret. When it sounds in unison with the tuning fork, you can move on to tuning other strings, for which the first will be the standard. The circuit is identical to the instructions for tuning by ear, as described below.

Tuning a guitar online or using a tuner is carried out taking into account the correspondence of notes to strings:

  • 1 – D;
  • 2 – B;
  • 3 – G;
  • 4 – D;
  • 5 – B;
  • 6 – G;
  • 7 – D.

Tuning a 12 string guitar

All methods suitable for six- and seven-string guitars can be used for such musical instruments. There are several rules for tuning a guitar without a tuner:

  1. The sixth string should be tuned last and carefully, since it has the highest tension.
  2. When using new or nylon 6 strings, tune it a tone lower, and after a while you can tighten it up.
  3. It is better to tune an acoustic guitar a tone lower and place the capo on the first fret. Thanks to this, the sharpness of the sound will be maintained, and the tension will be reduced, which will extend the life of the instrument.

To tune a guitar, you need to focus on the following correspondence between strings and notes:

  • 1 and 2 – E;
  • 3 and 4 – B;
  • 5 and 6 – G and g an octave higher;
  • 7 and 8 – D and d an octave higher;
  • 9 and 10 – A and a an octave higher;
  • 11 and 12 – E and e are an octave higher.

Bass guitar tuning

It’s worth noting right away that the standard tuning of such an instrument is no different from a regular six-string guitar. There is one significant difference - the bass guitar must be tuned a tone lower. All the methods presented in this article are also suitable for a bass guitar, but the best solution is a device for tuning a guitar, that is, a tuner. It is important to know the correspondence between strings and notes:

  • 1 – G;
  • 2 – D;
  • 3 – A;
  • 4 – E.

How to tune a guitar for a beginner?

There are many different methods that are available to everyone. You can tune a guitar by ear, but you won’t be able to achieve ideal sounds. For this, additional instruments can be used, for example, a tuning fork. In addition, there are special devices, thanks to which you can quickly bring each string to the ideal. If you are interested in how to tune a guitar using a tuner, it is worth pointing out that its role can be played by a smartphone, and another option is to use online programs.

Tuning your guitar using a tuner

This device has a microphone, thanks to which it analyzes the vibrations of the string and helps to quickly tune the instrument. The guitar tuner has buttons that, when pressed, play a reference sound for each string. After this, the string is activated and the device will show the difference and indicate that you need to tighten (the arrow tilted to the left) or loosen (the arrow tilted to the right). When it stops in the middle, the guitar tuning is complete.


How to tune a guitar using your phone?

Modern smartphones can be used as a tuner. For example, for a phone with Android OS you can download the GuitarTuna program from the Play Store. Use this guitar tuning application like this:

  1. On the main screen at the bottom you need to find the “Tuner” icon and activate it.
  2. After this, select the desired string and tune. Place your phone so that it can pick up the sound of the guitar.
  3. The scale will move up or down to indicate a high or low tone. Move the pegs until the indicator is centered.
  4. When the setting is optimal, a check mark will appear and the program will offer to move to another note.
  5. In the program, you can change settings depending on your own preferences for convenient use.

Tuning a guitar by ear

To make the correct adjustment, you need your ears to begin to detect the beating of two sounds, similar to volume jumps. It is important that the room is quiet and free of distractions. You can tune your guitar by ear using the following scheme:

  1. First, play 1 string and remember its sound, which will be the starting point, and we will not change its pitch.
  2. Play the 2nd string, pressing it on the fifth fret. Match the sound to 1 string and rotate the peg to get a cohesive sound.
  3. Tune the 3rd string to the 2nd string, pressing it on the fourth fret. Tune the 4th, 5th and 6th strings by pressing them at the fifth fret.
  4. To check the quality of the tuning, try playing a few chords and, if necessary, perform the tuning again.

How to tune a guitar via computer?

There are special online tuners on the network that can be used for both acoustic and electric guitars. In the first case, there is a built-in microphone, and in the second, you can use the linear cable input. Guitar tuning software is based on the fact that it shows the appropriate note for the frequency of the string's vibration. The tuner will detect the note and indicate whether you need to lower or raise the string. Turn the pegs until the indicator is in the center.

Guitar tuning is carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. Select an online tuner on the Internet (they all work on the same principle). Please note that if the application does not appear, you need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. Connect the microphone and check its operation.
  2. Launch the application, and if it works correctly, letters will begin to appear.
  3. Hold your guitar up to the microphone and play a string. Monitor the tuner readings and make the necessary adjustments.

Tuner online- This online guitar tuner via microphone, an online application that allows you to tune stringed musical instruments, is great for beginner guitarists.

The operating principle of this program is based on analyzing the frequency of reproduced sounds. To tune a guitar by strings, you will need Internet access, a microphone, an instrument to be tested, and an online tuner itself.

Tuning a guitar online through a microphone step by step

Most online tuners for tuning stringed instruments have a standard interface. In the online tuner menu you can select not only the desired type of plucked strings, but also the tuning.

Before you begin, make sure that the latest version of Adobe Flash Player is installed on your device, and that the setup program itself has access to the microphone. To do this, in the Adobe FP Options pop-up window, click the Allow button.

If your device does not have a built-in microphone, switch to external signal reception mode. Select an external microphone or line input in the online guitar tuner settings. The latter allows you to redirect the guitar signal to the sound card.

To check each string, select the corresponding notes in the online guitar tuner one by one. The test tuning of a classical guitar includes the following notes:

  • E (E) – first/sixth string;
  • B (B) – second string;
  • G (G) – third string;
  • D (D) – fourth string;
  • A (A) – fifth string;

Step 1:

Once you've made sure your guitar auto tuner is ready to go, play the string. The online tuner should capture your note and show its tone. The tuner will react positively if the guitar sound matches the reference frequency.

In the corresponding section of the menu, any user can find an mp-3 library of reference frequencies and tune the instrument by ear. This option is relevant for owners of electric and twelve-string guitars.

The disadvantages of network programs include the lack of storage and the need for Internet access. For users who work on setting up the tool, for example, while traveling, a mobile phone application will be much more useful.

To use the pocket tuner, follow the instructions:

  1. Find an online tuner in Google Play, Itune, or the App Store and download it to your phone for free.
  2. Go through the simple registration procedure and launch the application.
  3. Configure the tool to suit the application requirements.

Today, many telephone mobile tuners have not only a high-quality tuning fork, but also memory. Thanks to this feature, the device remembers your last settings, and you can return to them next time.

Guitar tuner online via microphone on Android

HOW to quickly tune a guitar without getting confused? There are at least 4 different ways to tune a guitar - and I'll tell you about it.

The most common ways to tune a guitar:

Guitar tuning online

You can tune your guitar online right here and right now :)

The strings of your guitar should sound like this ♪:

  • 1 string
  • 2nd string
  • 3rd string
  • 4th string
  • 5 string
  • 6th string

To tune your guitar, you must tune each string so that it sounds like the recording above (to do this, turn the tuners on the neck). Once you have each string sounding like the example, it will mean that you have tuned the guitar.

Tuning a guitar with a tuner

If you have a tuner, you can tune your guitar using the tuner. If you don’t have it and have difficulty tuning your guitar, you can buy it, it looks like this:

In short, a tuner is a special device that is designed to tune a guitar.

It roughly looks like this:

  1. you turn on the tuner, place it next to the guitar, pluck the string;
  2. the tuner will show how the string sounds - and how it needs to be tensioned (higher or lower);
  3. turn until the tuner indicates that the string is in tune.

Tuning a guitar with a tuner is a good and practical option for tuning a guitar.

Tuning a six-string guitar without a tuner

How to tune a guitar for a beginner who doesn't have a tuner? You can also tune the guitar completely yourself, without using third-party programs!

You can also often come across the question: “What fret should I tune my guitar on?”- it is quite reasonable and now I will explain why. The fact is that when the guitar is tuned, all the strings are interconnected by the following relationship:

The 2nd string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound like the 1st open;
The 3rd string, clamped at the 4th fret, should sound like an open 2nd;
The 4th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound like an open 3rd;
The 5th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound like an open 4th;
The 6th string, clamped at the 5th fret, should sound like an open 5th.

So how do you tune your six string guitar this way?

We do this:

  1. pinch the 2nd string at the 5th fret and adjust it so that it sounds like the 1st open;
  2. after that, we clamp the 3rd string on the 4th fret and adjust it so that it sounds like the 2nd open;
  3. and so on according to the diagram above.
This way you can tune your guitar at the fifth fret, that is, using a dependency.

This method is bad because we don’t know how to initially tune the first string. In fact, all strings depend specifically on the 1st string, because we start tuning with the 2nd string (and it is tuned by the first string), then we tune the 3rd string by the 2nd string, and so on... But I He acted very wisely - and wrote everything down.

Guitar tuning app

You can also tune your guitar using an app on your phone. I think the best tuning software is GuitarTuna. Look for this program in the Play Market or App Store.

How to tune a guitar using GuitarTuna?

  • download the application, open it;
  • pull any string - the program will start drawing a graph;
  • you want the graph to be as close to the center of the screen as possible;
  • if the graph is in the center, it means you have tuned the string;
  • We tune each string in this way.

I find tuning a guitar through an app the easiest, most efficient and convenient.

Watch the guitar tuning video!

Greetings, dear friend! I can congratulate you if you have become the happy owner. Your dream has come true, you have this cool thing at home and you dream of surprising all your friends and acquaintances, and maybe your girlfriend, with some cool song.

But all these are still plans for the future, which will definitely come true when you learn to play the guitar, and this will be very soon, believe me. If you are serious about becoming a great maestro and conquering women’s hearts, and maybe even the stage with your talent, then you need to gradually, step by step, develop your playing technique and replenish your knowledge with new and new material.

Since you have landed on this page, you will definitely need my help. And since this article is called “How to properly tune an acoustic guitar?”, this is exactly what we will talk about next. Believe me, not only you, but also many beginners have problems tuning the guitar. After studying this material, you will learn:

  • How to learn how to quickly and easily tune a guitar by ear?
  • How to perfectly tune a guitar through a computer and a tuner at home?

I will answer all these questions in this article. So get your guitar ready, sit back and get into it.

How did I learn?

Unfortunately, not many people have an ear for music. In this regard, it was somehow easier for me when I got my first guitar, and I was just starting to learn how to play it. Maybe this was somehow inherited, because my family consists of almost only musicians. I learned how to tune a guitar quickly, since it didn’t seem that difficult to me from the very beginning.

Now I can easily tune my guitar by ear and can do without any tuners. But if I need to record something on a computer, then I can still use the help of a guitar tuner to more accurately (tightly, so to speak) make the settings. So today I want to look at two ways to tune a guitar, so to speak " aurally" And " using a tuner».

How to tune a guitar by ear?

Since I’m not a fan of looking for easy ways, I’ll now tell you about the first method of tuning, which will stick in your head for the rest of your life. You need to be able to tune by ear first, and then get acquainted with all sorts of tuners. This is an old method that will always come in handy even when traveling, and will never let you down, because even if you string the strings on a bare guitar, you can easily tune it in 5-10 minutes.

I’ll say right away that we will be tuning the guitar in standard classical (“Spanish”) system E(Mi). Here's a chart of the classic standard guitar tuning for reference.

Classic tuning method (5th fret)

This method is considered the most popular and widespread among beginners because of its clarity and relative simplicity. So first of all we need to know how to tune 1 string?

  • String No. 1(the thinnest without winding, which is at the bottom). The most important thing is that the tuning of the entire guitar begins with it. It is tuned by note E(E) of the first octave. You can take the sound of another already tuned instrument as a standard (a piano or some program on a PC or smartphone is ideal).

The note E can be recognized by the dial tone on your telephone. You can also use a tuning fork for greater accuracy.


Fork- this is a portable small device in the form of a whistle tube (maybe even in the form of a keychain), which clearly reproduces the note A(La). By holding string No. 1 at the 5th fret, we get A, and in the open state it is E.

  • String No. 2. This string will be tuned based on the first one. That is, the second string must be clamped at the 5th fret and tuned so that it sounds in unison (the same) with the first open (not clamped) E string.
  • String No. 3. This is the only string that is tuned when pressed, not at the 5th fret, like all the others, but at the 4th fret. That is, we clamp the third string at the 4th fret and tune it in unison with the second open one.
  • String No. 4. Here we again need to press the string at the 5th fret so that it sounds like an open third. Further, even easier.
  • String No. 5. We tune the fifth string in the same way - press it to the 5th fret and turn the peg until we achieve unison with the fourth string.
  • String No. 6(the thickest one is in the winding, which is at the top). We tune it according to the same scheme - press it on the 5th fret and make unison with the fifth string. The sixth string will sound the same as the first, only with a difference of 2 octaves.

After you have tuned all the strings in turn, I recommend going through them again and making a small adjustment, since some strings may weaken and become a little out of tune due to the tension of others. This must be done until all the strings sound in unison. After this, your guitar will be almost perfectly tuned.

You can tune a six-string acoustic guitar more accurately and correctly using harmonics, since sometimes it is not always enough to tune it by frets. Flajolet- this is a technique when you need to lightly touch (not pinch) the strings with your finger in the middle of the fret and extract the sound with your right hand and at this moment remove your finger from the string. The setup sequence here will be slightly different.

  • String No. 1. The first string in this case is tuned in the same way as in the classical way, i.e. by the sound of another properly tuned instrument.
  • String No. 6. The sixth is the thickest string, which is tuned with a harmonic at the 5th fret in unison with first open string.
  • String No. 5. The fifth string should be tuned so that the harmonic at the 7th fret sounds the same as first open string.
  • String No. 4. Tighten the 4th string until the 7th fret harmonic is in tune with the 5th fret harmonic.
  • String No. 3. We tune the third string so that the harmonic at the 7th fret sounds in unison with the harmonic fourth string, taken at the 5th fret.
  • String No. 2. Tune the second string so that the harmonic on the 5th fret sounds in unison with the harmonic on the first string, taken on the 7th fret.

How to tune a guitar using a tuner?

You can almost perfectly tune a guitar quite simply either through a computer (for example, from Mooseland or in the program) or using a regular electronic portable tuner, since this is the easiest way to tune the instrument. If you don’t have it installed on an acoustic guitar, then you can use a regular microphone, which, I think, will definitely be at hand.

To do this, the microphone (or pickup, if any) must be connected to a regular tuner or to a virtual one on the computer. If it is a tuner like the one shown in the image above, then fix it on the headstock - vibrations from the strings will be transmitted to the tuner.

Everything is quite simple here! All you have to do is pull the string (for example, it will be 1st) and tune it until the letter appears on the display E, i.e. note E. If it is a tuner with an arrow, then it (the arrow) should be in the center. This will indicate that the setup is correct. Similar actions must also be performed with the rest. This will be the most accurate and fastest way to configure.

How to check the tuning of a guitar?

The peculiarity of all stringed instruments, including the acoustic guitar, is that it is quite difficult to tune it perfectly. This is mainly due to the design features of the instrument itself, as well as to the sound production technique. After properly tuning the strings in the classical way, there is still no guarantee that the guitar will play 100% well overall. Some chords may not sound quite clear. It’s not that the guitars there are of poor quality or bad, but even new and good instruments are always not built perfectly. That's why all guitarists try to periodically carefully check and tune their guitar using various techniques.

The easiest way- This is tuning the guitar according to chords. After some time, when you gain more experience, and your hearing becomes more developed and is sensitive to any falseness, then you will only need to play any chord on the guitar and determine which string is out of tune. Once you determine which string needs tuning, you can easily fix it with a peg. After this, a few more chord checks and adjustments will be required. As a result, you will achieve the desired result and optimal guitar tuning.

In conclusion, I would like to say this. Be sure to check the sound of the first and sixth open strings. The sound from them must be extracted simultaneously - it must merge and be smooth, and it will be heard that the sound consists of 2 voices - high and low.

I guess that's all for today, dear friend! I hope this article helped solve your problem, and now you already know how to properly tune a six-string acoustic guitar quickly and easily. Write in the comments how quickly you were able to tune your guitar? If you have a friend who is also learning to play, send him this article, I will be very grateful to you. I hope this way I can help other people. Yes, and finally, be sure to watch the video tutorials on how to tune a guitar right below the article, I recommend it.

Today we will talk about how to properly tune a six-string guitar for a beginner and show you this in a video example. Most often, the situation is such that a person spends a lot of effort, nerves and energy in order to learn how to perform some chords and play some simple melodies. And as soon as everything starts to work out and the person calms down, a problem arises with tuning a six-string guitar. This is not the worst option yet. A very large number of pianists die without knowing how to tune a piano. There are many different ways for a beginner to properly tune a guitar. Let's look at some of them.

String tuning methods

As you know, on the fifth fret the first string is the “A” of the first octave. In frequency, this sound resembles the sound of a dial tone in a telephone receiver. A telephone tone produces 400 vibrations per second, while an "A" produces 440 vibrations per second. I have not personally verified this fact, but I have heard about it several times.

"E" of the first octave is the open first string of the guitar. It is usually tuned to any tuned musical instrument, for example, a piano or tuning fork; in extreme cases, it can also be tuned by ear. If you can’t tune “A” and “E” by ear, then it’s okay. The first string can be tuned exactly how you like it. Over time, you will get used to this sound, which suits you best, and in the future you will tune the entire guitar the same way on the first string of a six-string guitar.

After you have tuned the first string of the guitar, located on the fifth fret, the rest must also be clamped on the fifth fret, and at the same time adjusted to the open previous one. The third string is an exception and must be fretted at the fourth fret. That is, if you pinch the second string at the fifth fret, it should sound in unison with the first open string. If you pinch the third string located on the fourth fret, it should sound in unison with the second open one. And so does everyone else.

The second method is testing

This method is very inaccurate, unless, of course, you have absolute pitch. Accordingly, after you have properly tuned the guitar, you can arrange a test. The third string, located on the ninth fret, sounds the same as the first open one. The fourth string of a six-string guitar, located at the ninth fret, is the same as the second string, open. The fifth string, located at the tenth fret, sounds the same as the third open string. The sixth string in a guitar, located at the tenth fret, sounds the same as the fourth open string. And the first and sixth open ones sound the same as “E”, only with a difference of two octaves.

Unusual way of setting

The guitar can be tuned using harmonics. A simple way to tune a six-string guitar for a beginner yourself. A harmonic is a sound with double the frequency that can be obtained as follows: lightly pressing the string with a finger or nail at the fret nut (that is, the place where the frets are divided), and pull it. The sound should be rattling.

When checking with harmonics, the first string on the seventh fret should be the same as the second string located on the fifth. The third string, located on the seventh fret, should be the same as the fourth, located on the fifth fret. The fourth string located on the seventh fret should be the same as the fifth string on the fifth. The fifth string located on the seventh fret should be the same as the sixth string on the fifth. That is, simply put, the sound with the first string slightly clamped at the nut between the seventh and eighth frets should be the same as the sound of the string located between the fifth and sixth frets.

The fourth method is visual

If it is difficult to tune a guitar correctly by ear, then you can try tuning it by eye. It happens this way: when two strings are tuned in unison, then when you pluck one string, the second begins to vibrate. We hope we helped you and you now know how to properly tune a six-string guitar for a beginner with your own hands.

Thank you for being with us, stay with us and you will learn a lot more interesting things!

How to tune a six-string guitar online using video