Tuning lead guitar

Standard six string tuning uses the following pitches from low to high; E, A, D, G, B and E.

The low E is the sixth string and is the thickest one. The high E is the first string and is the thinnest one.

When playing alone it is only essential to tune your guitar strings relative to each other however if playing with other instruments or backing tracks the guitar will need to be in tune with the other instruments. The instrument will however play most accurately over the whole range of the fret board if it is tuned to concert pitch. Concert pitch means that the A string (fifth) is tuned to A = 440Hz. The other strings are then tuned relative to the A sting.

This sound all very complicated but in practice its quite simple.

These days there are several ways to tune your guitar. The most efficient and easy way is to buy an electronic tuning device. These come in various price ranges but a good one to start will only cost around £15 to £20. With this device you can simply tune each string individually using lights or a gauge to find the correct pitch. You could say this is the lazy way to tune so it’s also good to know other ways also. 

You can tune using a tuning fork as a reference point for your A string. Then tune the other strings relative to this.

If playing with other instruments you can tune your guitar using another instrument as reference.

Also most play along CD’s have tuning tracks to allow you to tune to the instruments used on the recording.

To tune a string the guitar has tuning machines which are to be found at the top of the neck. Simply turn counter clockwise to tighten the string and raise the pitch or clockwise to lower the pitch. Guitars can have three tuning machines on each side of the headstock and so the lower three will operate in the opposite direction to the top three.

It is usually easier to start by reducing the pitch (loosening the string) slightly, then slowly raising the pitch until the string is in tune.

To tune the “old” way follow these steps:

Tune the A fifth string using a tuning fork or other reference (say a piano).

Then play the fifth string at the fifth fret and play the fourth (D) string in the open (unfretted) position.

This way both notes should be in unison. Tune the fourth staring until it sounds exactly the same as the fifth.

Keep one hand fretting and reach over with the other hand to turn the tuners.

Next play the fourth string at the fifth fret and tune the third string in unison.

Next play the third string but this time at the 4th fret whilst tuning the second string.

Next play the second string back on the fifth fret and tune the first string.

Finally go back to the sixth string and play it with the 1st string in the open position.

These are both E notes however they are two octaves apart so you may ned a little practice to match the notes exactly.

As a final check go through this routine once more to re check the tuning. If the guitar was badly out of tune then the tuning will vary as you tune each string, This is due to the change in tension effecting the guitar neck.

So, whichever method you use always re check the tuning on each string.

Thats it! Standard 6 string tuning Done

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