Guitar tuning is more than a technical necessity; it’s your gateway to sonic perfection. Whether you’re a budding enthusiast strumming in your room or a seasoned pro, a properly tuned guitar means each note resonates with clarity and harmony. This mundane process is where music begins. Proper guitar tuning means playing the correct notes and pitches. Poor tuning can make your guitar sound off key and discordant (unless that’s the sound you want).
How and why guitars go out of tune
Playing a hunk of wood supporting tense strings, guitars go out of tune because:
- You beat on them.
- You sweat on them.
- Your body heat warms them.
- Weather, temperature, humidity cause the wood to swell and shrink.
- Strings get tired. New strings need period of adjustment.
- Loose/worn tuning pegs.
- Worn out nut/bridge.
- Truss rod not properly adjusted.
- Worn frets
- Slipping strings
There are several approaches to achieve precise and accurate tuning, each with its advantages and considerations. Here are some common methods:
Standard Guitar Tuning
This is the most basic and widely used method of tuning a guitar. The strings are tuned to the notes E, A, D, G, B, and E from low to high. Musicians often rely on their ears or use a digital tuner to ensure each string is in tune. Baritone guitar standard is B, E, A, D, F#, B.
Alternate tunings/keys
Many many guitarists employ alternate or “open” tunings, usually to create a chord when the guitar is strummed open. Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, B-52s [guitarists Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland], Joni Mitchell, David Crosby are just a few. When you [I] compose in an alternate situation, different ideas come to you [me].
Digital Guitar Tuners
These devices use a built-in microphone or a direct input to detect the pitch of the strings and display the corresponding note. Digital tuners provide precise readings and can be used in both live and studio settings. Plug-in pedal tuners also mute the output.
For cell phone users, there’s a plethora of tuning apps. Personally, I don’t use these, but these were the most recommended:
- I-Phone Guitar Tuner – Simply Tune
- Android – BOSS Tuner
- This would be difficult to use at a live gig but, at home, you can use the free Fender online digital guitar tuners – these include tuners for bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and ukulele. Plus, these are free.
Clip-On Tuners
Clip-on tuners are compact devices that attach to the headstock of the guitar. They use vibrations to detect the pitch and provide visual feedback through an LCD display. Clip-on tuners are convenient for live performances as they can be easily seen by the guitarist while playing.
Strobe Tuners
Strobe tuners are highly accurate and often used in professional studio environments. They work by displaying a spinning wheel of LED lights that freeze when the string is in tune. Strobe tuners are more expensive than other types but offer exceptional accuracy. They’ve been around for many years.
On-board Tuners
Built in, with a small switch to engage the tuner. Non-muting.
Pitch Pipes
Pitch pipes consist of a set of small reed pipes, each corresponding to a specific note. The musician blows into the pipe to produce the desired pitch. While less commonly used nowadays, pitch pipes can be handy when a tuner is not available.
Tuning fork
Strike the fork on your knee. Press its base onto your guitar. Match the string’s pitch to the fork’s pitch [usually A]. Finish with comparative tuning.
Piano/Keyboard Tuning
In some cases, guitarists may tune their instruments by comparing the strings to a piano or keyboard. They play the corresponding notes on the piano and adjust the guitar strings until they match. This method can be used in both live and studio situations, especially when a piano is readily available.
Comparative guitar tuning
If there’s no piano handy, guess at the pitch for the low E-string. Base the pitch of each successive string on that of the previous, or compare octaves or fourths or fifths.
Harmonics [comparative] Tuning
Advanced guitarists may use harmonics to tune their instruments. By lightly touching the strings at specific points and picking them, harmonic overtones are produced. The musician adjusts the tension of each string until the harmonics align with desired reference pitches.
Auto-tuning
Mechanized tuning machines [tuning head and key] rotate themselves as the onboard tuner reads the pitch and instructs the machine. I do not need or want one.
Pre-tuned guitars
Artist employs an instrument technician. Tech hands her a fresh guitar, appropriately tuned, as often as each song, or even during a song. What happens when a guitar goes out of tune during a song? How does that affect the performance?
Sucks. Suffer through the rest of the song, or act like you don’t care. Better yet, do not care. Re-tune before next number, or switch guitars.
Tech hands artist fresh guitar, during, or after this number.
Capos and how they quickly change tunings/pitch
By applying a capo, we uniformly shorten the strings and thereby raise the pitch. Now we are playing in a higher key and using chord voicings otherwise difficult or impossible. E. G. “Here Comes the Sun” and “If I Needed Someone.” Here’s a capo chart.
Broken strings and tuning
- Broken strings suck. You’ll need to suffer through the rest of the song, or act like you don’t care. Better yet, do not care. Replace string before next number, or switch guitars. While replacing string, you can chat with audience.
- If you have no backup guitar, no extra strings, or string tools, prepare to suffer.
- Have a tech hand hand you a fresh guitar, during or after this number.
Examples I’ve experienced while working for/with other bands/performers
Running sound for Footnotes, Fastball, et al, Rick or Miles breaks a string. They grab a handy backup guitar. I run up, seize the afflicted, return to FoH, replace the string, re-tune [ear touching instrument], ideally pre-next number, and return guitar to stage.
Timbuk3 seldom broke strings, but often re-tuned [usually guitar tuning Drop D] on the fly.
It’s important to note that the choice of tuning method depends on personal preference, the specific requirements of the performance or recording, and the guitarist’s skill level. Furthermore, the type of guitar (acoustic, electric, classical) may influence the preferred tuning method.
