by Stephen Cook

Created on: April 15, 2010

Even though the easiest way for most people to tune a guitar is by using an "automatic tuner" (or an electronic or battery powered tuner), you may be able to tune the guitar by ear if you are an experienced enough guitar player.  But if you do not have an "automatic tuner" or cannot tune a guitar by ear, there are still other methods available to tune your guitar.

The first method available is to use another instrument (that is already in tune) to how your guitar's tone needs to be adjusted.  For example, use a piano.  To tune the b string on your guitar, find the b key on the piano.  Then play the b key on the piano and then strum the b string (or the second smallest string) on the guitar and see if the guitar's tune needs to be adjusted up or down.  Keep in mind that the order of the strings on the guitar (from smallest string to the largest strings) is: e - b - g - d - a - e.  It is important that you tune the guitar's strings in this order, otherwise nothing played on the guitar will sound right.

Another way to tune a guitar (without using an "automatic tuner") would be to use a device called a "pitch pipe".  A "pitch pipe" is a device that you blow into, and then it produces a sound for a certain note based on where you blew into it.  Based on what string you are trying to tune on the guitar, you would blow into the matching hole on the "pitch pipe" and then you would see (similar to if you were using another instrument) if you need to adjust the tune of the guitar up or down.  This may take a little more time than other methods, but it is still not too difficult to do.

Also, as I said before, if you are experienced enough with the guitar and know what the different strings are supposed to sound like, then you can tune the guitar by ear.  This is the easiest way to tune a guitar without an "automatic" or electronic tuner, but only if you know how.  Don't worry if you can't tune by ear, it will usually come with time.  If you tune your guitar enough, you will soon know what each string is supposed to sound like and then you will be able to tune without any sort of device at all!

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