Having trouble tuning guitar?

Question

Okay, so I have a six string guitar and I got it out yesterday. No one has used it for at least a year, so needless to say, it was out of tune.

I don't play the guitar, but I read TAB so I tried tuning it so if I wanted to play it I could.

I have a metronome that also has a tuner on it, so I used that to see what the notes were. Now the lower 5 strings (E, A, D, G, B) are all in tune but the high e does this weird thing where when I play it: it says A on the tuner's screen but then after a second it changes to E. I tried retuning it, assuming I hadn't tuned it properly, but it always does this (ie. when it was tuned to Fsharp, it first came up as B but then changed after a second).

Is there any way I could tune the E string properly? Or is it that I'm not plucking the string right? Or do I need a NEW string?

Please answer this, and if I used any weird made up terminology, don't be mean, I'm a flautist.

Torbjorn · Accepted Answer

First off, you should definitely get new strings. Old strings like this will be harder to tune, plus they don't sound right. Please make sure you get the right kind of strings for your guitar!

Then, you should be aware that an electronic tuner is only good for fine tuning the string. It is best to use a reference not (like a piano) to get the string up to pitch and then fin-tune it with a tuner.

Also, you might want to check that the batteries are fresh in your tuner. When the batteries (or battery) starts to wear out, it gets harder to get a precise reading.

Finally, it may be that the string isn't fastened properly, or that it sticks in the nut slot.

You should definitely have someone show you how to string the guitar properly and then tune it. It is not hard to do :-)

Tommymc · Answer

The odd behavior of the tuner is most likely due to the strings being old. Do you see the relationship between the notes it's displaying incorrectly? (A → E and B→F#)  The tuner is picking up a harmonic 4th  before calculating the correct note. This is a tip-off that the strings are old and no longer vibrating at a true pitch. As the string wavers, the tuner has a hard time parsing which harmonic is the true note.

Since all the other strings are tuned properly, you can play the B (second) string at the 5th fret and ear-tune the E string to that note.  That will temporarily get you in tune, but you really need new strings.

Torbjorn is correct: a guitar tuner is really just for fine-tuning the strings.  After you replace the strings, start by ear-tuning the strings to reference notes. You can use a piano, your flute, or an online tuner like this one: http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/onlinetuner.html   The reason I suggest reference notes is to be certain you're in the correct octave.  If you trust the tuner entirely, you may end up with the right notes in the wrong octave.

Best of luck....

tulei · Answer

the 5th fret of the B string should match the pitch and octave of the open E string. when you play the string, there should be a clear, definite attack, without buzz, that rings as long as you hold your finger down tight to the fret. if you don't have callouses yet, you have to press harder (for acoustic guitars.)

either that, or you're tuning your guitar upside down/ opposite handed and your finger is striking the next string on the same position (open E + open A    or   3rd fret on the E string F# + B)

Anonymous · Answer

you could tune it to b sting press down at 5th fret and use your ear wont be far out?

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Having trouble tuning guitar?

4 Answers