Why does my guitar go out of tune after i tighten the strings, mainly the first and second strings?

Question

they stay in tune for a while but its as if they slip down after a few minutes of playing, its a new guitar too!

Answer 1

maybe you are strumming too hard?

Answer 2

If your strings are mounted right then I would say you have cheap tuning keys. Usually guitars come with cheap keys and you should replace them. This is the weakest link in a new guitar. Buy some Grovers to replace the cheap ones that come with your new guitar. Make sure you know how to string your guitar properly. There is a multitude of information on this on the internet. This is the last place you may find the proper information for your problem. All you can get here is for someone to tell you where to go for the proper information. You may also need to pre-stretch the strings but they will still stretch some more on their own. Stretching may be your problem but later on you will figure out if it is your tuning keys. Also if it has a whammy bar the thing will go out of tune more whether you use it or not because the springs expand and contract alot more than the strings causing tuning problems. If you have a double locking system it will take alot of trial and error to get things right even if you are the most seasoned player. Read up on all this on a Google search or Yahoo search.

Answer 3

Your guitar is not a rigid hunk of metal. It's wood. The neck bends, the body warps, etc. In your case, though, I suspect that either your strings are stretching out (totally normal), or your tuning knobs aren't good quality (fixable).

Plus, the very act of tuning changes the tension on the neck, which throws the other strings slightly out of tune. Most guitar players like to roughly tune all the strings, then go back through and fine tune each string individually.

When using brand new strings, I've found it helpful to tune the string, then bend it like you're doing a pitch bend. Do it gently, though, or the string could snap and that **** HURTS.

If your guitar costs less than $200, it probably won't have the best hardware on it, and will give you no end of tuning problems. You really do get what you pay for with music equipment.

Answer 4

I'm laughing really hard right now, because I just got a guitar and that is my same problem. But yes, the strings need to be worn in. Until they have stretched all the way you will have to tune it every day if not more. My first and second strings are the worse too. Hopefully you know how to tune or at least have a electric tuner. If not I suggest 8 notes.com, that's what I use.

Answer 5

If you're using new strings, they'll go out of tune a lot at first. Fresh strings need to "stretch"--I'm not sure how the physics of this works, but you can think of it like breaking in a pair of jeans. Eventually the strings lose their slack and they'll stay in tune better. Wen I put a fresh set of strings on a guitar, I tune 'em up, then bang on it a little, "bend" the strings, and then tune up again and repeat the whole process a few times. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

If they are fresh strings, they will usually do that until they are "played in"; this happens with with accoustic as well as electric.
If you have an accoustic guitar, the slip may be due to the heads, in which case I would recommend getting Schaller machine heads. Also, bad "pegs" on the bridge can sometimes cause a slip if not inserted right.
If its electric, you can stop the slip using lockdowns, or what some call micro tuners. They keep the string in place, and usually help in keeping the strings tuned right with a whammy bar.
Alternatively, switch to coated strings, and they keep the harmonics better and stop tuning slippage.

Answer 7

The tuning machines may not be very stable, you may need a truss rod adjustment, tons of things could be the problem but without seeing it its just a shot in the dark. Take it to a guitar shop and have them take a look.

Answer 8

It could be several things. It could be that the guitar's tuning pegs just totally suck, you bend or use your whammy bar too much, or if you live in a cold, dry climate, the the wood dries and contracts, thus loosening the tuning pegs.

Answer 9

It is possible that they are slipping out of tune. The tuning keys might be really loose.

Answer 10

You should use this free software to tune your guitar from your pc http://j.mp/1uUuOQM
I strongly recommend it.
Regards

Answer 11

you are making them out of tune by tightening them.... did you just start playing??? You should learn how to tune a guitar before you start playing, those pegs are not for "tightening", they are for tuning.