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TUNING THE GUITAR
Tuning the guitar is foundational for optimal enjoyment and listener
satisfaction. Although tuning the guitar seems so rudimentary, a fine tuned
guitar can make or break the motivation and enthusiasm that good sounding music
should elicit. The development of a “good ear”, relative or perfect pitch comes
with practice. There are a few common methods for ear training and fine-tuning
that we should consider.
To make the process easier, you may want to purchase an electronic guitar
tuner, a tone generator, pitch pipe or a Pocket Tones. These devices will
produce the tones of the strings or you will see an easy-to-read LED indicator
that tells you if you are sharp (too high) or flat (too low). We recommend the
electronic guitar tuner as an almost fool proof method for starters. However, as
stated above, ear training is critical, and eventually all one may need is a
single tone from anywhere to tune by. This is the reason for Pocket Tone’s
popularity, it is the world’s first key chain tuning device. This product
produces a perfect pitch, and since it can be clipped to one’s key chain, it is
always accessible. You can use Pocket Tones, the key chain tuner, for tuning
your instrument anywhere, anytime.
For starters, let’s get that E or 6th (the fattest string) in tune. Once you
have accomplished this, use this simple method of tuning by unisons at the 5th
fret:
Method one for tuning your Guitar
1. Make sure your sixth string is in tune
2. Play the sixth string, fifth fret (A), then tune your open fifth string (A)
until it they sound the same.
3. Play the fifth string, fifth fret (D), then tune your open fourth string (D)
until they sound the same.
4. Play the fourth string, fifth fret (G), then tune your open third string (G)
until they sound the same.
5. Play the third string, fourth fret (B), then tune your open second string (B)
until they sound the same.
6. Play the second string, fifth fret (E), then tune your open first string (E)
until they sound the same.
Method 2 for tuning your guitar
Tuning by ear:
 1.
Click the FREE on-line Guitar Pocket Tones starting with the low (fat) E string.
2. Now progress downward through the remaining 5 strings matching the tones to
the on-line Pocket Tones.
Match your string to the corresponding note on the Pocket Tones using your ear
for closeness and accuracy. (If you find this method difficult at first, get
your starting tone and a bit of advice from a local teacher or music store clerk
– they can assist you in moments).
If your notes sound similar to the notes on the Pocket Tones, play a chord and
see if it is pleasing to the ear. If so, you have successfully tuned your
instrument.
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