Having a reliable tuner adds great value for both novice and advanced guitarists. It helps ensure that guitar chords and notes sound just right. Even a tiny bit of off-tuning can mess up an otherwise awesome show. You will often see guitar players using electronic tuners for precise tuning.
Mastering the art of tuning your guitar will greatly enhance your playing experience and ensure that your instrument always sounds its best. So let’s dive in and discover the key steps to using a guitar tuner like a pro! Before that let’s tell you how a tuner exactly works.Â
What Is a Guitar Tuner? – Understand The Little Guy
What exactly is a guitar tuner? Well, it’s a gadget designed to detect the frequencies created by the vibrating strings of both electric and acoustic guitars. Once it picks up those frequencies, it compares them to notes on a musical scale. If the frequencies match a specific note, the tuner shows the name of that note on its LED display. There are many types of tuners available for different types of guitars. For example, there are dedicated bass tuners tailored for bass guitars and string basses. However, a guitar tuner can often handle tuning duties for both guitar and bass guitars.
How to Use a Guitar Tuner? (In 6 Easy Steps)
Here are the 6 essential steps to follow when using a guitar tuner:
- Power Up the Tuner: Start by turning on your electronic tuner. Most tuners have a power button or switch located on the device itself.
- Start with the Low E string: Begin by playing a note on your guitar. It’s common to start with the lowest string, the low E string (6th string), and work your way up to the highest string, the high E string (1st string).
- Read the Display: Once you’ve plucked a string, the tuner’s digital screen will display the name of the closest note to the pitch you’ve played.
- Check for Accuracy: If the string is slightly out of tune, the tuner’s LEDs will indicate whether the note is flat (too low) or sharp (too high). Some tuners use solid lights to indicate this. Others may use pulsating lights to show the direction in which the pitch needs to be adjusted. Some tuners even offer a half-strobe mode for precise tuning.
- Adjust the Tuning Pegs: While keeping an eye on the tuner’s display, use the guitar’s tuning pegs to adjust the tension of the string until it reaches the correct pitch. Turning the tuning peg clockwise will tighten the string (raising the pitch), while turning it counterclockwise will loosen the string (lowering the pitch).
- Repeat for Each String: Move on to the next string and repeat the process until all six strings are perfectly tuned.
5 Different Types Of Guitar Tuners
You might think that there are only two different types of tuners available. However, there are way more options in the market than you can imagine. Although used by professionals, you can still check them out:
- Clip-On Tuners
Clip-on tuners are probably the most common type nowadays. You just clip them onto the headstock of your guitar, and they sense the vibrations of the notes you play through the guitar’s neck and headstock. They’re super handy because they attach easily, work even in noisy places, and can be used with acoustic and electric guitars.
- Tuner Pedals
Tuner pedals are popular for guitarists who perform live. You put them either at the start or end of your signal chain, and they make it easy to tune. With a pedal tuner, you can quickly mute your guitar while you tune so the audience doesn’t have to listen to it.
- Rackmount Tuners
Rackmount tuners are mostly used in professional recording studios or on-stage setups. They’re pricier than other types, but they often offer better accuracy and are easier to see from far away.
- Software Tuners
Software tuners usually come with audio recording software or guitar effect software. Since your guitar is already plugged into your computer for recording, these tuners make it easy to tune up within the software itself.
- Other Tuning Options
Besides electronic tuners, there are other ways to tune your guitar. For super accurate tuning, some people use analog strobe tuners, but they’re expensive and delicate.
Acoustic Vs Electric Guitar Tuners
Although they do the same thing, electric and acoustic guitars have different types of tuners. You can use an eclectic guitar tuner on an acoustic and vice versa.
Acoustic Guitar Tuners
Acoustic guitarists favor clip-on tuners, eliminating the need for audio cables. These compact tuners are powered by small lithium batteries, with impressive battery life lasting at least 2 months. Most acoustic eclectic guitars also come equipped with in-built tuners with their onboard electronics.
Acoustic players can also utilize microphone-based tuners, such as smartphone apps, these options are generally less precise than clip-on or pedal tuners. They should only be used when other traditional tuning methods are unavailable.
Electric Guitar Tuners
Electric guitarists often prefer pedal tuners as they are commonly integrated into a lineup of effects pedals between the guitar and the amplifier. These pedal tuners typically resemble standard guitar stompboxes in size. Sometimes they have compact versions available to conserve pedalboard space.
Certain pedal tuners also feature a subtle buffer to enhance the guitar’s audio signal, while others operate in a “true bypass” manner. True bypass tuners are suitable for setups with minimal pedals. Alternatively, those with extensive pedal chains may benefit from a tuner with a mild buffer.
[Bonus Tips] 2 Alternatives to Using Tuners
If buying a guitar tuner is not feasible right away, you can try out these two cost-effective ways to fine-tune your instrument.
- Tuning By Ear
Tuning your guitar by ear might not be as precise as using electronic tuners, but it’s a valuable skill that can improve your musical ear. Plus, it helps you recognize pitch better, making you a more skilled guitarist.
There are a few methods to tune your guitar by ear. First, choose one string as your “reference string,” usually the low E string (the thickest one), and tune it to the correct pitch using an external source like a piano, tuning fork, or digital sound file. Match the pitch of each string to your reference string by adjusting the tuning pegs.
Alternatively, you can use your guitar’s strings as reference notes for each other. Leave five strings open and fret one string to match the pitch of the adjacent open string, either at the same pitch or an octave apart.
Another method involves using harmonics at the 5th and 7th frets. Start by tuning your low E string and then match the 5th-fret harmonic on one string with the 7th-fret harmonic on the next string. Adjust the tuning until both harmonics sound identical, and continue across the strings until they are all tuned.
- Tuning With Your Smartphone
While it’s not the ideal method, you can use your smartphone to tune your guitar when nothing is around. Your phone relies on its built-in microphone to detect the sound of your guitar. Do remember that background noise can affect how well you can fine-tune the pitch. Still, having an online guitar tuner app on your phone can be a handy backup.
Investing in a good tuner can go a long way for any guitar player. While free phone apps can serve as a backup, it’s essential to have a reliable stompbox or clip-on tuner in person at all times. Even the most skilled players struggle with an out-of-tune guitar, so be prepared with the right tools for the job.
Tune Your Guitars With The Fantastic Tuners!
Mastering the skill of tuning a guitar is essential for any guitarist, and thankfully, there are numerous tools available to assist you in this endeavor. For beginners, understanding how to utilize an electronic tuner is very important. Once you’ve become proficient in using an electronic tuner, tuning by ear will become much easier.
