How to tune your guitar
- Choose your instrument and tuning, then press Start tuning and allow the microphone.
- Pluck one string and let it ring. The note and a needle appear.
- Turn the tuning peg until the needle sits in the middle and turns green, then move to the next string.
How the tuner hears a note
The microphone signal is analyzed many times a second with autocorrelation, which finds how often the waveform repeats. That gives the frequency, which is compared with the nearest note to show how many cents (hundredths of a semitone) sharp or flat you are.
Getting a stable reading
Pluck with medium force near the middle of the string and let it ring; the first instant of a pluck is slightly sharp. Mute the other strings, keep the phone or laptop close, and tune in a quiet room.
Tunings and reference pitch
Drop D lowers only the 6th string to D for heavier riffs; half step down lowers every string by a semitone. Within ±5 cents the needle turns green, which is closer than most ears can tell. Change A4 only to match a piano or band tuned differently.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of standard tuning?
From the thickest string to the thinnest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4. A common memory aid is Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
Why does the needle jump around?
Pluck firmly, let the string ring and keep other strings quiet. Background noise or touching other strings confuses the pitch detection.
Should I tune up or down to the note?
Tune up to the note. If you are sharp, lower the string below the note first and then bring it up; the string holds its pitch better.
What is A4 = 440 Hz?
It is the standard reference pitch. Some bands tune to 432 Hz or 442 Hz; change the reference slider to match.