Guitar Start Guide
Knowing how to tune a guitar is the single most important skill a beginner can have, because everything you play sounds wrong on an out-of-tune instrument — no matter how perfect your finger positions are. The good news: it takes minutes to learn and there are several easy methods. This guide covers standard tuning, clip-on tuners, tuning apps, and tuning by ear with the 5th-fret method.
Make it a habit to tune every single time you pick up the guitar. Strings drift with temperature, humidity, and playing, so a quick check before each session keeps your ears learning what “in tune” actually sounds like.
Standard tuning: E A D G B E
Standard tuning is the default nearly every song and lesson assumes. From the thickest, lowest string to the thinnest, highest string, the notes are:
- 6th string (thickest): E — low E
- 5th string: A
- 4th string: D
- 3rd string: G
- 2nd string: B
- 1st string (thinnest): E — high E
A popular way to remember it is the phrase “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.” Turning a tuning peg one way raises the pitch (tightens the string) and the other way lowers it (loosens the string). Always tune up to the note where possible — approaching from below helps the tuning hold.
Method 1: The clip-on tuner (easiest)
A clip-on tuner clamps onto your headstock and reads the string’s vibration, so it works even in a noisy room. It’s the method we recommend for beginners — cheap, reliable, and foolproof.
- Clip it to the headstock and switch it on.
- Play one string at a time, letting it ring clearly.
- Watch the display: it shows the note name and whether you’re flat (too low) or sharp (too high).
- Turn the peg slowly until the needle centres and the display turns green.
- Work through all six strings, then check them again — tuning one can nudge the others.
Check current prices on Amazon: Snark SN5X · D’Addario NS Micro →
Method 2: A tuning app on your phone
Free tuning apps use your phone’s microphone to do exactly what a clip-on tuner does. They’re perfect when you don’t have a hardware tuner to hand. The process is identical: play a string, read whether it’s flat or sharp, and adjust until it reads in tune. The only downside is that background noise can confuse the microphone, so tune somewhere reasonably quiet.
Method 3: Tuning by ear with the 5th-fret method
This is the skill that trains your ear, and it’s worth learning even if you own a tuner. The idea: on most strings, the note at the 5th fret matches the pitch of the next open string. Start with your low E as close to correct as you can (ideally checked against a tuner, piano, or reference note), then tune each string to the one below it.
- Press the 6th string (E) at the 5th fret — it should match the open 5th string (A).
- Press the 5th string (A) at the 5th fret — it should match the open 4th string (D).
- Press the 4th string (D) at the 5th fret — it should match the open 3rd string (G).
- Exception: press the 3rd string (G) at the 4th fret (not the 5th) — it should match the open 2nd string (B).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at the 5th fret — it should match the open 1st string (high E).
Play the fretted note and the open string together and listen: if they wobble against each other, they’re slightly off; adjust until the wobble slows and disappears. It feels tricky at first, but it sharpens your ear faster than anything else.
Why your guitar won’t stay in tune
New strings stretch and drift for the first few days — that’s normal, and gently stretching them by hand speeds it up. Big temperature or humidity swings knock a guitar out of tune too. If it slips constantly even after settling in, the culprit is often the strings needing changing or the way they’re wound at the peg. Persistent tuning problems are worth ruling out early so you’re not fighting the instrument.
What to do once you’re in tune
A tuned guitar is the launchpad for everything else. Next, learn your first guitar chords so those in-tune strings actually turn into music, get comfortable with reading guitar tabs to follow along with songs, and add a rhythm from our basic strumming patterns guide. It all lives in our Guitar Basics hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the guitar string notes in standard tuning?
From thickest to thinnest, they are E, A, D, G, B, E. The lowest and highest strings are both E, two octaves apart. A handy phrase to remember the order is “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.”
How often should I tune my guitar?
Every time you play. Strings drift with temperature, humidity, and use, so a quick check at the start of each session keeps you sounding good and trains your ear to recognise correct pitch.
Do I need a tuner or can I tune by ear?
A clip-on tuner or app is the most reliable choice for beginners and we recommend starting there. Tuning by ear with the 5th-fret method is a valuable skill to develop alongside it, because it sharpens your ear over time.
Which way do I turn the tuning peg?
Tightening the string raises the pitch (makes it sharper); loosening it lowers the pitch (makes it flatter). Turn slowly and in small amounts, and where possible tune up to the target note rather than down, as this helps the tuning hold.
What to Read Next
- How to Read Guitar Tabs
- First Guitar Chords: 8 Easy Chords to Learn First
- Basic Strumming Patterns
- Guitar Basics
Next up: in tune and ready to play? Start with our easy guitar songs for beginners.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we genuinely rate.