TB-001 • How To Tune Your Guitar (mp3)

[justinguitar]

Questions on this lesson...

[bom]

hi justin

i just wanted to know: is there a way for me learn how to tune my guitar by ear only;, not using mp3 or a tuner??

thank u for everything

[nairsantos]

Hello everyone!

First of all, I want to say thank you for this website. I've been learning a lot from your guitar lessons, because I have no other teacher.


But now, I have a question, about the guitar strings. They are tuned, I used a electric tuner, but they seem to be a bit loose. I tried to strech them but them I couldn't tune them, so I gave up....


What shal I do now?

Thank's

[fprintf]

Nairsantos, the trick to tuning the guitar correctly is to make sure each string is close to the approximate tension. In order to do this you want to use an MP3 or other reference tone. This could even be a tuning fork or a tuning pipe. Once you have this tone, you can then tune your guitar to it.  The problem with electric tuners, at least when starting to tune the guitar, is that they don't tell you if you are below or above the right tension. So you could actually be at a D (for the A string) and tuning it way too tight.

In your case, your electric tuner just might be telling you that you are in tune but an octave too low. Listening to the MP3 will tell you.  If this is not it, post a reply and we can help further.

[TerryBullock]

First off, thanks for a fantastic site!  I have been playing a couple of months now and am really starting to get the hang of it.

Is there a way to download the mp3 files, so I can play them from (e.g.) a mobile phone?

Also, I have heard of apps that supposedly run on a phone, turning it into a tuner.  Any experience of any of these?

[kuihtako]

yep, there something that i found on internet. Maybe, it can lead you somewhere. Just click it.

http://blog.littlerockjams.com/2008/11/17/top-3-iphone-guitar-apps.aspx?ref=rss

[dashulic]

Hi everyone

can you guys please explain as for dummies how to tune guitar to a not-standard tuning? i mean i do approximately understand that need to hold a string at certain fret and tune it up(or down) till it sounds like an open string, but the question is how to know which fret to hold? let's say for instance if i want to tune low E string to C?

Thank you very much in advance

[justinguitar]

@ bom - only if you have "perfect pitch" (google it) but 99% of people don't have it and need to use a tuner or mp3 or something to tune a guitar. BUT...

You can tune the guitar to itself so you can play it ok, but it might not be in tune with other instruments... lesson on a basic version of that coming soon! - but check the advanced tuning lesson too - that does the same thing...

@ nairsantos - fprintf could be right... but if not sorry but I don't understand what you mean... - maybe take it to a music shop and ask...

@ TerryBullock - option click them (right click on pc maybe?) and select download file to disk... then import into iTunes. Or get the app which is more cool!

@ dashulic - lesson on that coming soon... but to drop a C - just hold a C note (5th string, 3rd fret) and lower the thick E until it sounds the same!

J

[rockermouse]

I am pretty sure this is a moron question, but here goes. I can get all the other strings to sound like the mp3 but my first string just isn't working out right. It sounds tinny or something. I tightened and loosened, but it still sounds off. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

This site rocks totally, BTW!!

[surfnmusic90]

first of all

great site

but for my question, im playing my electric guitar, and decide to tune it down a step on all strings, so i go an tune them down one by one with my electric tuner and once i finish i play a chord (doesnt matter which) and nearly gag at the horrible sound coming out, somewhere in the process of tuning the strings, they detuned themselves almost as soon as i tune them. so i go and tune them again, and the same thing happens, i repeat the process multiple times until they finally stay in tune.

but then i go to tune them back to normal and i have to repeat the same tedious steps and i dont know why. i would imagine it has something to do with the intonation or something like that. im  using regular slinky ernie ball strings so maybe the difference in pressure has something to do with it.

so can anyone let me in on the secret of what i should to, and i should mention that there is no good guitar shop ANYWHERE around so if it is with the intonation or something, could you recommend a DIY that could help as i am pretty good at working on things with my hands, and the guitar isnt exactly top notch.

thanks in advance for the help.

greetings from Mexico.

[hawk2422]

Hey, maybe it's just my lack of computer skill but where is the Mp3 and how do I get it to play?

[drewdo]

@ surfnmusic90

Tuning can be a tricky beast...esp if you're fairly new at guitar.
I remember having very similar problems when i was learning on my old squier strat many years ago

Heres some tips i can give you that i've picked up over the years:

- old, crusty strings tend to do what you described, new strings definitely hold their tune way better

- the quality of the setup and hardware of your guitar has a big effect on tuning (basically the better the guitar, usually the better it will stay in tune ie. dont expect too much from say a squier strat)

-try tune by ear...especially use Justin's advanced tuning tips..i've never found electric tuners to be as accurate as good ear techniques (skills worth perfecting)

- a tip which has always helped me, always tune the string UP into tune. I find that sometimes when u detune a string into the required note, the nut and tuning pegs retain some tension which is released when u begin playing. I suspect this is probably your main problem, and causes ur strings to seemingly immediately jump out of tune.

Hope this helps

Ps. as for the intonation issue, what kind of guitar is it? certain guitars with tune-o-matic type bridges are fairly simple to adjust...and there are good tutorials on youtube for that

[Xx-BrAnDoN-xX]

Hey All,

I was just wondering if there was a different way for an electric guitar, I can't seem to get the sound exactly the same as the MP3.

P.S. I only just picked up a guitar today, sorry if this is a silly question. 

~BrandoN~

[close2u]

acoustic and electric strings may seem to resonate with different qualities and be a slightly different note ... your ears will adjust to this ... maybe you should use the mp3 tones to get close and then an electronic tuner to fine tune