What you need to know first
Standard guitar tuning is E A D G B E from the thickest string to the thinnest. Without an electronic tuner, you can either tune the strings relative to one another or match them to an outside reference such as a piano. Relative tuning makes the guitar agree with itself, but it does not guarantee concert pitch.
Method 1: Use one reference note
Find a reliable E, A, or another known pitch from a piano, keyboard, tuning fork, pitch pipe, or instrument that is already tuned. Match the corresponding guitar string to that note. Once one string is correct, tune the remaining strings with the fifth-fret method below.
For a common A=440 tuning fork, match the fork to the A note at the second fret of the G string or the fifth fret of the high E string. Those notes are A4. The open A string is two octaves lower, so matching the fretted A is usually easier.
Method 2: The fifth-fret method
- Play the low E string at the fifth fret and match the open A string.
- Play the A string at the fifth fret and match the open D string.
- Play the D string at the fifth fret and match the open G string.
- Play the G string at the fourth fret and match the open B string.
- Play the B string at the fifth fret and match the open high E string.
The fourth fret on the G string is the important exception. Using the fifth fret there would tune the B string one semitone too high.
How to match two notes
Play the reference and target notes separately, then let them ring together. Two close pitches create a pulsing sound called beating. Adjust the target string in small steps. The pulses should slow as the pitches approach one another and nearly disappear when they match.
If you cannot tell which direction to move, lower the target string until it is clearly flat, then tighten it toward the reference. Approaching the note from below also helps settle slack around the nut and tuning post.
Method 3: Match a piano or keyboard
| Guitar string | Pitch | Piano reference |
|---|---|---|
| 6th, low E | E2 | E below middle C by two octaves plus a major third |
| 5th, A | A2 | Second A below middle C |
| 4th, D | D3 | D below middle C |
| 3rd, G | G3 | G below middle C |
| 2nd, B | B3 | B immediately below middle C |
| 1st, high E | E4 | E immediately above middle C |
Octave numbering can vary between apps and instruments, so trust the register and sound rather than a label alone. A guitar sounds one octave lower than written in standard notation.
Method 4: Use natural harmonics as a check
Lightly touch a string directly above the fret wire, pluck, and release the finger to produce a harmonic. The fifth-fret harmonic of a lower string can be compared with the seventh-fret harmonic of the next string for several pairs. Harmonics ring clearly, but natural harmonic relationships do not exactly match equal temperament. Use them as a close check, not the only final authority.
Check whether the guitar is usable
- Play familiar open chords such as E, A, D, G, and C.
- Listen for one string that stands out rather than judging the whole chord at once.
- Repeat the tuning sequence because changing tension can move other strings.
- Use moderate finger pressure; squeezing too hard pulls notes sharp.
When tuning without a tuner does not solve the problem
If open strings agree but chords become sour higher on the neck, check the guitar’s intonation. If a string repeatedly drifts, use the tuning stability checklist. Old strings and nut binding can make ear tuning inconsistent.
Verify and train your ear
After tuning manually, check the result with the free online guitar tuner. Comparing your estimate with an electronic reading trains your ear faster than relying on either method alone. For more listening exercises, read How to Tune a Guitar by Ear.