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How to Tune a Guitar
The '5th Fret Method'
Most people learn how to tune a guitar using the 5th fret method
where you essentially tune a guitar to itself. This is perfect when you
don't have access to an electronic tuner or any other instrument for
reference (e.g. a piano to tune your guitar to).
Tuning a guitar to itself doesn't have to be accurate
in the sense that the individual strings don't need to be in perfect
tune - as long as they are tuned relatively your music will sound in tune. Let's take a look...
Follow the steps below on how to tune a guitar quickly:
Start with the lowest E string, this will be your base point for tuning
the other strings. Again, it doesn't matter if the low E is in fact
nearer to an Eb, because the other strings will be tuned in relation to
the low E string.
1.) Fret the low E string at fret 5
2.) Still fretting the low E string, play the open A string above it:
3.) If the open A string sounds lower than the E string at fret 5, tune it up until it sounds exactly the same note:
>> click to hear
If the open A string sounds higher than the E string at fret 5, first tune it down lower, then tune it up until it sounds exactly the same note...
>> click to hear
Note: Tuning up ensures the string's tension is locked and will therefore stay in tune longer.
4.) Repeat the same process, but with the A string at fret 5 and the D string open - tune up or down until the A string at fret 5 and the open D string become the same note.
5.) Repeat the same process, but with the D string at fret 5 and the G string open - tune up or down until the D string at fret 5 and the open G string become the same note.
6.) This is where it changes slightly, because the
tuning interval between the G and B string is different. Instead of
tuning to the 5th fret, fret the G string at fret 4. Then just follow the same process of tuning the B string up or down until it becomes the same note as the G string at fret 4.
7.) Finally, it's back to the usual 5th fret method, with the B string at fret 5 and the open high E string. Follow the same tuning process as before!
So, you should now know how to tune a guitar anywhere! Play a
few chords to see how accurately you tuned up, and make any tweaks
necessary (the guitar's tension is altered for each string you tune so
you may need to go back and have a tweak)
Over time your ear will become more accurately trained
to matching up those notes, and you'll eventually find this to be the
quickest and easiest way to tune up without the aid of electronics or
other instruments around you.
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