Learning to play guitar is tough, and even tougher on your own. That is why I have collaborate with Kathy Unruh of ABC Learn Guitar.com to bring you this series on "How to Play Guitar" for beginners.
Tuning the guitar is easy once you understand how the fretboard works. But, even if you don't have a clue about the fretboard, it's still a very simple process.
Today there are many electronic and digital devices available to help you with tuning your guitar. I use the Korg TM-40 because it has both a tuner and a metronome. It comes in handy when I’m teaching and I also like to use the metronome during my own practice sessions. It can also be a great asset to have when playing with a group of other musicians because it makes tuning up a breeze. So you might want to consider adding one to your gig bag.
The method I'm going to show you today, however, will teach you how to LISTEN to the tones of your guitar. This is an important area to develop if you wish to become a better musician.
To begin with let's review some guitar basics. Remember that the strings are identified like this:
LETTER> E A D G B E
STRING> 6 5 4 3 2 1
These letters represent the natural open tones (sound) of each string and they move forward alphabetically as you ascend (move up) the neck. Each letter is the distance of one whole step from the other except B/C and E/F. These two pairs are always a half-step apart (see lesson on Introducing The Fretboard for further review).
Let's look at the fifth and sixth string as an example:
Notice that when you arrive on the fifth fret you are on the letter A. This is the same tone as the open A on the fifth string! When you compare the sound of both tones on each string, they should sound the same.
With this in mind, let's get started tuning the guitar!
TUNING TABLATURE
1. Press down and strike the A on the sixth string at the fifth fret.
2. Next, strike the open A on the fifth string.
3. Slowly adjust the fifth string until it matches the sound of the fretted A on the sixth string.
4. Now move to the fifth sting and again press down at the fifth fret. This is D and should sound the same as the open D on the fourth string. Compare and adjust as needed.
5. Move to the fourth string, press down G at the fifth fret. Follow the same proceedure and compare with the open G on the third string.
6. When you arrive at the third string you must move to the FOURTH FRET. This is B (third string, fourth fret). Press down and compare with the open B on the second string. You're almost done!
7. Move back to the FIFTH FRET on the second string. You are now playing an E. Compare this tone with the open E on the first string.
Wah-Lah! You have successfully learned the secret of tuning the guitar by ear!
LESSON OBJECTIVE:
To become familiar with tuning the guitar using the method given in this lesson.
PRACTICE: Use this method to help develop your ability to hear the correct pitch of each tone. If you have an electronic or digital tuner, you can use that to check how accurate you are when you've finished. If you continue using this method you should notice an overall improvement in your ability to hear correct pitch after a relatively short time!
FOR MORE HELP:
LISTEN TO THE SOUND - Does it blend? It should sound like you're hearing the same tone twice even though you're hitting two different strings. If the tones don't sound the same you will adjust the FIFTH STRING by either raising or lowering the pitch with the tuning key at the head of the guitar. It is always safer to begin by LOWERING the pitch so that you don't accidentally break a string!
TIP: If you have difficulty hearing the correct pitch when tuning the guitar by ear, then you shouldn't be without a guitar tuner. It will make tuning up a lot easier and faster when you're with other musicians too! Below is a graphic of the tuner that I got online at zzounds.com
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