How to use this tuner
- Allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Pluck one string. The display shows the nearest note, and the needle how far off you are.
- If it reads flat, tighten the string; if it reads sharp, loosen it. Stop when it shows in tune, then move on to the next string.
The buttons under the display play a reference tone for each string.
Standard tuning notes
From the thickest string to the thinnest, standard tuning is E A D G B E. The number after each note is its octave.
| String | Note | Frequency | Memory aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (thickest) | E2 | 82.41 Hz | Eddie |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 Hz | Ate |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 Hz | Dynamite |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 Hz | Good |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 Hz | Bye |
| 1st (thinnest) | E4 | 329.63 Hz | Eddie |
Read down the last column: Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
How to tune a guitar without a tuner: the 5th-fret method
With one string in tune, you can tune the rest from it: each open string matches a note fretted on the string below.
- Tune the 6th string (low E) to a reference.
- Fret the 6th string at the 5th fret (A). Tune the open 5th string to match.
- Fret the 5th string at the 5th fret (D). Tune the open 4th string to match.
- Fret the 4th string at the 5th fret (G). Tune the open 3rd string to match.
- Fret the 3rd string at the 4th fret (B). Tune the open 2nd string to match. This is the one exception: G and B are tuned closer together than the other pairs.
- Fret the 2nd string at the 5th fret (E). Tune the open 1st string to match.
Play each pair together and listen for a wobble between the notes. When it disappears, the strings match.
Common alternate tunings
Strings are listed from the 6th (thickest) to the 1st. For what each tuning is for and how to play in it, see the guide to alternate guitar tunings.
| Tuning | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drop D | D | A | D | G | B | E |
| DADGAD | D | A | D | G | A | D |
| Open G | D | G | D | G | B | D |
| Open D | D | A | D | F | A | D |
| Half-step down (E♭) | E♭ | A♭ | D♭ | G♭ | B♭ | E♭ |
How to tune to Drop D
Tune the other five strings to standard first. Then lower the 6th string until the tuner reads D, a whole step (two frets' worth) below E. To check by ear, play the 6th string at the 12th fret: it should match the open D string exactly.
How to tune half a step down
Lower every string by one semitone, the distance of one fret. The tuner shows sharp names, so tune the strings, thickest to thinnest, to D, G, C, F, A and D — the same notes as E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭and E♭. Go slightly below each target and come up to it; the strings will feel a little looser than usual.
Tuning tips
- Tune up to the note. If a string is sharp, go below the note and come back up; that takes up slack in the gear, so the string holds its pitch.
- Retune after new strings. Fresh strings stretch, so check them often for the first day or two.
- Check the 12th-fret harmonic. Touch the string lightly above the 12th fret and pluck, then compare that harmonic with the fretted 12th-fret note. If they differ, the intonation needs adjusting at the bridge.
Tuner FAQs
Is an online tuner as good as a tuner app or clip-on?
For tuning at home, yes: like most tuner apps, it listens through your device's microphone, and it only shows a string as in tune within 5 cents. A clip-on tuner reads the vibration of the headstock instead, so it copes better in a noisy room or on stage, where a microphone also picks up other sounds.
Why won't my guitar stay in tune?
New strings stretch for the first few days, so they drift flat until they settle. Temperature and humidity changes, strings slipping on the pegs and a nut slot that grips the string are the other usual causes. Stretch new strings gently and retune once the guitar has adjusted to the room.
Is this tuner accurate enough?
Yes. It only shows a string as in tune within 5 cents of the target note, a twentieth of a semitone. For the best reading, tune somewhere quiet and keep your device close to the guitar.
Can I use this tuner for Drop D and other tunings?
Yes. The tuner names whichever note you play, not just the six standard ones, so tune each string to the notes in the alternate tunings table. For Drop D, lower the 6th string until the display reads D.