how do i tune an electric guitar?

Question

I just got a guitar for my birthday and i wanted to know how to tune it right. i have an auto tuner but i have no idea on how to use it. its a washburn guitar and auto tuner if that helps any.

Answer 1

okay, the fattest string is an E, the next is A, then D, then G, then B then an E again. They should increase in pitch as the strings get smaller.

if your guitar came with a cable, plug it into your guitar and the tuner, then turn on the tuner and pluck away at those strings.

Answer 2

I always start with the high E string. If you have a chromatic tuner, it will be easier. If you just have one that tells you whether you're playing an E or not, it will be harder. Basically, you keep plucking the high E string until your tuner tells you you've got the right note. There will probably be a green light in the middle of two red lights or something like that. When you've got it, only the green light should light. If either of the red lights are lighting at the same time as the green one, you're still a little off. Anyway, check your instruction manual to see exactly how it works. Please note, this can be a very frustrating process for a beginner. It's hard to tell if you're on the right note or not, but as with all things guitar-related, practice, practice, practice.

Once you have the high E, you can proceed in two ways: 1) continue using your tuner or 2) tune to the high E. The first way is easier, but will be less beneficial to developing your ear. I recommend the second. I'll give you the typical way to do it (which is easier) and the better way to do it (which you may want to file away until you learn more about the guitar).

Easy way

Tune the second string (note = B) at the 5th fret to match the 1st string unfretted (E). Listen for the pulses. As they get slower (wah----------wah------------wah instead of wahwahwahwahwah), you're getting closer...again, this takes practice). Once you have the 2nd string right, tune the 3rd string (note = G) at the 4th fret to the 2nd string unfretted (B). Then proceed to the 4th string at the 5th fret to the 3rd string unfretted. Next, tune the 5th string at the 5th fret to the 4th string unfretted, finally, tune the 6th string at the 5th fret to the 6th string unfretted.

The harder, but better way

Tune the 1st string to the 6th string, using the harmonic at the 5th fret (if you don't know what a harmonic is, learn...Mike McCready plays them at the very end of Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam). Tune the 4th string at the 2nd fret to the 6th string at the 12th fret. Tune the 2nd string unfretted to the 4th string at the 9th fret. Tune the 3rd string at the 9th fret to the 1st string unfretted. Tune the 5th string at the 10th fret to the 3rd string. Doing it this way is better because the guitar is tuned to itself more thoroughly. Doing it the easy way means that if you're a little off on each string, you're a lot off by the time you get to the 6th. This way, it's less noticable if you're a little off.

Good luck and stick with it. It's very frustrating to get your guitar in tune when you're beginning, but it's crucial, so don't let it get you down.

Answer 3

first thing you need to do is go to a very quiet room or plug the guitar into the tuner. then turn on the tuner and strum the first string on the guitar without having any fingers on the chords. there should be a needle on your tuner. you want this needle to be in the middle exactly or close to exactly. make sure that ther string you are tuning is the one is says on the tuner though otherwise your wasting your time. hope i helped

Answer 4

you plug your guitar into the tuner and strumm a string the lights wills come up and if it says flat ( looks like a angeled b) you need to turn the peg at the end clockwise and the opposite for sharp (#)