14 - Electronic Tuning

How To Tune A Guitar With An Electronic Tuner

Electronic Guitar Tuner
Electronic guitar tuners work on analyzing frequency vibrations in Hertz (Hz). Since guitar strings will reach other notes and vibrations on its way to proper pitch, the electronic tuner can misinterpret these, and think the string is in tune when it is not.


When using any electronic guitar tuner, the guitar should first be tuned by ear to avoid these false, confusing readings. Let’s go through the steps on  how to tune a guitar with an electronic tuner painlessly and effortlessly. Don’t forget to check out our audio guitar lessons if you prefer to learn by listening!

How To Tune A Guitar with an Electronic Tuner – Step 1

Tune the guitar by ear. A guitar tuning pitch pipe, the audible note tones on the tuner, or an “E” tuning fork may be used as a guide to achieve approximate tuning.

Step 2

Turn the electronic tuner power on by pressing the power button. The display will light up and perform a brief calibration cycle.

Step 3

Attach the tuner to the guitar by clipping it onto the headstock, sticking it to the body surface, or by plugging a guitar into the input jack, (depending on the tuner model).

Step 4

Pick the low E 6th string on the guitar (the thickest string) and view the tuner display. The target note (E in this case) will appear. Depending on the model, An LED light or LCD arrow will also appear to the left side of the note, indicating whether the note played is too low (flat=b) or on the right of the note, indicating whether the note played is too high (sharp=#).

Step 5

Adjust the string’s corresponding tuning key to bring the note up or down in pitch, until the arrow moves the center position, or the green LED is the sole illuminating light, (with no red LEDs). The string is now in tune.

Step 6

Repeat steps 4 and 5, for remaining 5A, 4D, 3G, 2B, 1E strings.

Step 7

Disconnect the tuner from the guitar and turn power off by pressing the power button once again.

 


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