Guitar Tuners for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Learning to tune reliably is one of the first skills a new guitarist needs. Guitar tuners make accurate tuning possible without prior ear-training experience, and they take only a minute or two to use correctly once you understand the display.

Standard Guitar Tuning

A standard six-string guitar is tuned to E A D G B E from the lowest string (sixth) to the highest (first). Electronic chromatic tuners display the nearest note name to whatever pitch they detect. Pluck a string and tune it until the tuner shows the correct note name with the indicator centred. Repeat for each string in turn. Tune the lowest strings first and check the high strings last, as tensioning the lower strings can slightly affect the tuning of the upper ones.

Clip-On Technique for Beginners

Clip the tuner to the headstock and pluck the open string clearly. Let the display settle for a moment before adjusting the peg. Turn the peg slowly and in small increments — the pitch changes faster than it might initially appear. If you overshoot the target pitch, tune back down below the note and approach it from below again. This prevents the peg from settling sharp. Always re-pluck and let the display stabilise after each adjustment before making the next change.

Tuning by String

Start with the thickest string and work down to the thinnest. After tuning all six strings, go back and check the first string again — changes to the bass strings can affect the tension of the whole neck slightly. Checking the lowest and highest strings last ensures the instrument is stable before you start playing. Most guitar tuners respond instantly to open strings and are reliable for this process within the first few uses. For further buying advice, see our buyer's guide.

Frequently Asked Questions