Tuning Electronically
Electronic tuning is a great way for beginners to tune their guitar. Guitar tuners are really inexpensive these days. You can find a decent one for under $20.00.
Most tuners have a microphone and an input socket. If you are tuning an acoustic guitar place the tuner next you so the microphone can pick up the sound. If you are using an electric guitar plug it into the input of the tuner.
The tuner will have a pivoting needle, a row of LEDs lights, or both. When the string is in tune the needle will move to middle point or the LEDs will light up. Green means it's in tune.
Make sure you tune your strings to the right string name. Here are the string names.
Relative Tuning
My favorite way of tuning a guitar and probably the most popular among guitar players is called relative tuning. You tune the 6th string (low E) to a guitar tuner, piano or to another guitar and then you tune all of the other strings relative to the low E string. See the steps below to start tuning. Tip: Use the online guitar tuner we have on this site. It's easy to use and will give you a perfect pitch for your E string.
Step 1: Play the fifth fret on the E, or 6th, string and tune the next open A or 5th, string. Adjust the tuner post until the notes you hear are exactly the same pitch. To get the most accurate pitch, loosen the string you are tuning and then tighten it bringing the note up to the pitch until both notes are the same.
Step 2: Now play the fifth fret on the A, or 5th, string and tune the next open D, or 4th string.
Step 3: Now compare the D string, fifth fret, with the open G string. They should be the same pitch
Step 4: The next pair is a little different. Compare the G string, fourth fret, with the open B string. They should be the same pitch.
Step 5: Finally, compare the B string, fifth fret, to the pitch fo the open top E sting (or High E). They should be the same pitch.