Well folks, this lesson here is one of the most important things to know. You have to know how to tune a guitar. What you are doing when tuning a guitar is basically tuning each string to the next one. This makes the playing scale sound correct when finished. Also, once you learn how to do this, you do not need a tuning instrument or pitch tool. There is only one set back to this method however. Your guitar will not be tuned to a concert pitch. The guitar will only be in tune with whatever the top string happens to sound like at the time of doing this.
The first thing we are going to do is to make the fifth string sound correct. We are going to get the fifth string in tune with the sixth string. Place a finger on the fifth fret of the sixth string. This note which you are holding down is the pitch that string five should be tuned towards. Keeping your finger pressed down, strum the sixth string and let it ring. As you let the sixth string ring, strum the fifth string. If the fifth string sounds exactly like the sixth, it is in tune.
Listen to a guitar being tuned:
If it is any higher, you need to tune down below the note, then bring it up again to match with the 5th fret note on the 6th string. If the 5th string note is lower, you are going to need to tighten the string and bring the pitch up to meet with the 5th fret note on the 6th string. This might sound really confusing, but read it very slowly again. With practice this will all come naturally. Give it time. This is how to tune a guitar.
The second phase is to match the 4th string with the 5th string. Again, place a finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. The note you are holding down is the pitch you want the 4th string to sound like. Keeping your finger pressed down, pluck the 5th string and listen to it. As the 5th string is still ringing, pluck the 4th string. Do they sound the same? If so, then they are both in tune. If not, you need to get it in tune. If the 4th string sounds higher than the 5th, bring it down lower, then back up again. This makes it easier to work with. If it is already lower, bring it up slowly to match the sound of the 5th string.
The third step we will be doing is, you guessed it. We are going to match the 3rd string with the 4th string. What do you do first? Place a finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. The note you are holding down is the sound the 3rd string should be tuned to. Ok, now pluck the 4th string and let it ring. As it is still ringing, pluck the 3rd string. If they sound the same, they are in tune. If the 3rd string is higher, tune it down, then tune it back up slowly to match the 4th. If it is already lower, simply bring it up slowly to match the sound. Ok, we are almost there.
Well, we are getting there. The 4th step of this process is to match the 2nd string with the 3rd string. Place your finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string. The note you are holding down is the one the 2nd string should be tuned to. Pluck the 3rd string and let it ring. As you are listening to it ring pluck the 2nd string. Do they sound exactly the same? If so, your 2nd string is in tune. If not you are going to have to once again either lower or raise the sound to match the sound of the 3rd string. Keep on tuning until you get it right brother.
The very last step is just like all the rest. We have to make sure the 1st string sounds just like the 2nd. So once again, place a finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string. The note you are holding is the way the 1st string should sound. Strum the 2nd string and listen carefully. As that note is still ringing strum the 1st string. If they do not sound the same the 1st string is not in tune. Raise or lower the tune of the 1st string until it matches the second. There you have it, a guitar that is in tune.
You have just learned how to tune a guitar by yourself. You should be pretty proud. To make a quick summary of things, you want to tune each string in accordance to the one preceding it. If your guitar sounds a little off you might want to go back and repeat this process once in a while. It is hard to master this art right away but in time you will. Good luck and keep on jamming.
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