It’s no secret that even a slightly out-of-tune guitar sounds terrible, and yet many instructional courses seem to give only a cursory glance at this very important part of playing.

This article will focus on how to tune a guitar using the reference tuning method, which involves comparing each string on the guitar to a sound of the correct pitch that is known to be in tune.

Here are the steps:

1. Decide which tuning standard or an alternative

For most songs, use a tuning of EADGBE (starting from the lowest string). This is called standard or open E tuning. The word open in this case refers to a note played by plucking a string without pressing a fret.

2. Find an accurate reference sound source for the notes on each string.

This can be an electric piano, fingerboard, or online guitar tuner, just to name a few.

3. Compare your strings with the reference.

Pluck one of the strings starting with number 6 (the lowest pitch), at the top of the guitar neck. Compare it to the reference sound. Is it higher in key (sharp), lower in key (flat), or exactly the same (in tune)?

4. Adjust the string tension until it matches the reference.

If it is flat, the string must be tightened to make it vibrate faster and produce a higher pitched sound that matches the reference. This is accomplished by plucking the string again, and then turning the tuning peg associated with that string.

If the string is held, it should be slackened to match the reference pitch. However, due to the mechanical characteristics of most guitars, it is important to first loosen the string until it is lower than the reference pitch. Then tighten it to the reference. The reason for this is that a newly loosened string will often continue to change pitch after you think it’s in tune. A freshly tightened string tends to be more stable.

Tuning with a piano as a reference source

Tuning a guitar using a piano is a simple matter of finding and comparing the notes on the keyboard that correspond to each open string on the guitar. Since a traditional piano has strings that can go out of tune, it is often more accurate to use an electric piano or keyboard.

The key to this method is to find the middle C key on the piano. On a full-size 88-key piano, middle C is four octaves up to the right of the lowest C at the far left of the keyboard. It is also four octaves to the left of the higher C on the right.

The low E string (thickest and lowest sounding) is compared to the E on the piano keyboard, which is 12 white keys to the left of middle C.

The A string is compared to the A on the piano keyboard which is 9 white keys to the left of middle C.

The D string is compared to the D on the piano keyboard which is 6 white keys to the left of middle C.

The G string is compared to the G on the piano keyboard which is 3 white keys to the left of middle C.

The B string is compared to the B on the piano keyboard which is 1 white key to the left of middle C.

The high E string (thinnest and highest sounding) is compared to the E on the piano keyboard which is 2 white keys to the right of middle C.

It takes time to develop an ear to tune a guitar.

At first, you may not be able to tell if one note is flat or sharp compared to the other. Experience and patience are needed as is learning to coordinate the fretting hand and the strumming hand. Here are some tips for developing a tuning ear:

1. Make tuning a part of every practice session. It will soon become second nature.

2. Use a chromatic electronic tuner as a double control.

3. Make it a game. Tune against a reference sound, then compare it to the electric tuner to see how many times out of 10 you get it right. Compete against a friend.

4. Make sure you are rested and in a quiet room for better concentration.

5. Try to listen to the sound pulses that come from simultaneously playing a reference sound and a detuned guitar string. The slower the pulses, the closer they are to being in tune. When both notes are perfectly in tune, the beats disappear completely.

Above all relax and be patient with yourself. Some days you will be able to tune up quickly and others, even after you get pretty good, you can feel confused. This is very common. If you give this the importance and frequency of practice of other aspects of learning the guitar, you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll develop the consistently sensitive hearing required for this important task.