Tuning Your Guitar Without an Electric Tuner

When beginners first start out most ensure they purchase an electric tuner with their guitar since they have no idea how else they can tune all 6 strings. Today I want to share with you a simple exercise you can practice to tune your guitar without the need for an electric tuner.

Since there are so many notes on the guitar neck you can easily tune each string by finding the same note as the open string in question at another place, on another string on the guitar.

This might sound difficult but thankfully there is a very easy pattern you can follow.

This pattern only has two rules you must remember.

1.)The 5th fret on each string is the same note as the string below it.
2.)There is one exception to the above rule on the G and B strings. When tuning the B string you must use the 4th fret of the G string.

Keeping these two rules in mind we can walk through a simple example of how to tune a string without the use of a tuner.

EXAMPLE: Let’s say that the 1st string, or high E string is sounding a bit out of tune. No worry, armed with this new information you can simply play your B string on the 5th fret then play the open high E string and compare the notes. If the E sounds like it may be higher or lower then the 5th fret of the B string adjust it’s tone using the tuning pegs.

This exercise should be practiced each time your pick up for guitar for the first couple of weeks. It takes a bit of practice to hear the tone correctly and recognize if it’s lower or higher then the base note your tuning to.

After a couple week of consistent practicing you’ll have no trouble what so ever quickly checking each string on your guitar to ensure it’s in tune.

Below is a brief video that explains this concept in detail and walks you through an entire example of tuning all 6 strings. Watch the video and then go grab your own guitar to give this a try.

For more beginner guitar tips like these why not consider taking some guitar lessons for beginners? You can easily study guitar at home using dvds or online lessons for less money and in less time.

Filed under: Guitar Lessons • Learning and Loving the Guitar • Tuning your guitar

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