Why isn't my guitar staying in tune?

Question

Today i bought a SEIKO guitar tuner. I tuned my guitar to be perfect. 3 hours later, it was halfway between 0 being flat and 50 being tuned. It was very out of tune. Why won't it stay in tune? It stayed in the same spot- i picked it up to play 4 times though. How can i get it to stay tuned longer?

Ive had it for at least a year. Up until now, i never played it. It is a Fender Squier that came in a beginner package. It was around $200. IT still has the strings it came with.

Answer 1

There are several ways your guitar can be "thrown out of tune."

1. If your strings are new and you haven't stretched them out, they can go flat - especially after you play them for a few minutes.

2. Tempature is what usually gets me in trouble... fluctuation hot to cold, or cold to hot can make your guitar go sharp or flat. You might make sure it's not next to a window or door where it will get direct sunlight. Proximity to space heaters or heating exchanges also might effect it.

3. Sometimes the hardware on a cheap guitar is not very precise, and the tuning pegs that you turn to tune it don't hold very well... I noticed a big difference after I had a guitar technician at a local music store tighten everything up. It only cost me about $15 for them to give my guitar a tune up - and I think they put on new strings too.

I would recommend taking it to a local music store and have them check the guitar over for you, and show you some tricks to make sure you're getting the most out of your guitar.

Good Luck, and play on.

Answer 2

I have had mine go out of tune just taking it in the car in the cold(in a case) , then into a warm place. It needs to be tuned on a regular basis, maybe just a wee bit, but even putting on your capo will put one string out. If you have an electronic tuner, it's so much easier to take it out of the case & give it a quick tuning. Anyone who really cares about how their guitar sounds, will be a fuss budget about wanting it in tune. The electronic tuner is just small & easy to use & puts it in tune with a piano.

Answer 3

It's not so much about the tuner but the guitar itself. It becomes out of tune according to the humidity/ temperature drop/rise. New guitars get out of tune very easily.

Answer 4

If it's dry in your house try a humidifyer. Temperature changes can affect the tuning since wood expands and contracts. If it continues take it to a dealer to have the neck checked, it may need repaired. Good Luck! =)

Answer 5

sometimes it is the temp. in the room...if u switched rooms it would adapt to it...its kinda wierd i kno...but its true...or if u bumped it into anything...it can really be anything...you just need to keep, keeping it in tune!!! constantly tune it!!! oh...also the nut of the guitar can shift...that happens to mine all the time...it bugs me!!! but i went to guitar center and they said to get carpenters glue and take the strings off and glue the nut back to the guitar then tune the strings again!!! but like i said it can really be anything but most likely the temp.!!!

Answer 6

if you just put new strings on it then the strings will need to stretch a little before they "grow" to the guitar

Answer 7

Maybe you need new strings. how old are they.
they do go bad, but I don't know excactly when. and I'm sure the quality matters too in new strings.

Answer 8

well could be lots of things it can go out if strings are new or possible if the neck is warped ...

Answer 9

temperature. that's happened to my viola before. you need to tune it constantly.