Geni Swing Guitars

Electric String

It is no secret that even a slightly out of tune guitar sounds dreadful and yet, many instructional courses seem to give only a cursory glance at this very important part of playing.

This article will focus on how to tune a guitar using the reference tuning method which involves comparing each string of the guitar to a sound of the correct pitch that is known to be in tune.

Here Are The Steps:

1. Decide which Tuning Standard or an Alternative

For most songs, use a tuning of E A D G B E (starting from the lowest pitched string). This is called standard or open E tuning. The word open in this case refers to a note played by plucking a string without pressing down on a fret.

2. Find an accurate reference sound source for the notes of each string.

This can be an electric piano, a tuning fork or an Online Guitar Tuner just to name a few.

3. Compare your strings to the reference.

Pluck one of the strings starting with number 6 (the lowest pitch), at the top of the guitar neck. Compare it to the reference sound. Is it higher in pitch (sharp), lower in pitch (flat) or exactly the same (in tune)?

4. Adjust the tension of the string until it matches the reference.

If it is flat the string needs to be tightened so that it will vibrate faster to produce a higher pitch sound that matches the reference. This is accomplished by plucking the string again then turning the tuning peg that is associated with that string.

If the string is sharp it needs to be loosened to match the reference pitch. However, do to the mechanical characteristics of most guitars it is important to first loosen the string until it is lower in pitch than the reference. Then tighten it up to the reference. The reason for this is that a freshly loosened string often will continue to change in pitch after you think it is in tune. A freshly tightened string tends to be more stable.

Tuning With A Piano As A Reference Source

Tuning a guitar using a piano is a simple matter of finding and comparing the notes on the keyboard that correspond to each open string of the guitar. Since a traditional piano has strings that can go out of tune it is often more accurate to use an electric piano or keyboard.

The key to this method is finding the middle C key on the piano. On a full sized, 88 key piano the middle C is four octaves up to the right of the lowest C on the far left of the keyboard. It is also four octaves to left of the highest C on the right.

The Low E String (the thickest and lowest sounding) compares to the E on the piano keyboard that is 12 white keys to the left of middle C.

The A String compares to the A on the piano keyboard that is 9 white keys to the left of middle C.

The D String compares to the D on the piano keyboard that is 6 white keys to the left of middle C.

The G String compares to the G on the piano keyboard that is 3 white keys to the left of middle C.

The B String compares to the B on the piano keyboard that is 1 white key to the left of middle C.

The High E String (the thinnest and highest sounding) compares to the E on the piano keyboard that is 2 white keys to the right of middle C.

It Takes Time To Develop An Ear For Tuning A Guitar

At first, you may not be able to tell if one note is flat or sharp compared to the other. It takes experience and patience just like learning to coordinate the fret hand and the strumming hand. Here are a few tips for developing a tuners ear:

1. Make tuning a part of every practice session. It will soon become second nature.

2. Use a chromatic electronic tuner as a double check.

3. Make it a game. Tune against a reference sound then compare it to the electric tuner to see how many times out of 10 you get it right. Compete against a friend.

4. Make sure that you are rested and in a quiet room for best concentration.

5. Try to hear the sound pulses that come from simultaneously playing a reference sound and an out of tune guitar string. The slower the pulses the closer they are to being in tune. When both notes are perfectly in tune the pulses disappear completely.

Above all relax and be patient with yourself. Some days you will be able to quickly tune and others, even after you become pretty good, you may feel confused. This is very common. If you give this the importance and practice frequency of other aspects of learning guitar you may be surprised how quickly you will develop the consistently sensitive hearing required for this important task.

John Mackinnon started taking guitar lessons over 40 years ago and still enjoys the learning process. His website http://www.CompareGuitarLessons.com focuses on reviewing online and DVD based guitar lessons. Also you will find FREE guitar lessons, articles, a FREE newsletter, a new Online Guitar Tuner and Chord Finder Tool. The free Online Guitar Tuner can be found at http://www.CompareGuitarLessons.com/Online-Guitar-Tuner.html

Basketball - Electric String Lights $12.99 Includes (1) string of Basketball - Electric Lights.

String Swing Electric Guitar Wall Hanger $39.99 String Swing Electric Guitar Wall Hanger

D'Addario XLB020P Electric Bass Nickel Single String $1.69 D'Addario XLB020P Electric Bass Nickel Single String

D'addario Xlb020p Electric Bass Nickel Single String $2.95 D'Addario XLB020P Electric Bass Nickel Single String

Elixir Nanoweb Single .130 Electric Bass String $9.99 Elixir Nanoweb Single .130 Electric Bass String

Used Jackson V 6 String Electric 7.0 $179.99 In Store Used USED JACKSON V 6 STRING ELECTRIC 7.0

Used Carlo Robelli Electric 4 String Bass $169.99 In Store Used USED CARLO ROBELLI ELECTRIC 4 STRING BASS

Thriller - String Bass/Electric Bass $6.99 By Michael Jackson. By Rod Temperton. Arranged by Robert Longfield. Orchestra. For String Bass/Electric Bass. Pop. Individual instrument part. 1 pages. Duration 2:15. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music

Bellafina SSE Electric Violin Outfit Black 4 String $299.99 Bellafina SSE Electric Violin Outfit Black 4 String

D'Addario XLB125 Nickel Wound Electric Bass Single String $7.49 D'Addario XLB125 Nickel Wound Electric Bass Single String

Elixir NanoWeb Single .032 Electric Bass Guitar String $6.99 Elixir NanoWeb Single .032 Electric Bass Guitar String

Elixir NanoWeb Single .130 Taper Wound Electric Bass Guitar String $9.99 Elixir NanoWeb Single .130 Taper Wound Electric Bass Guitar String

Godin Multiac Nylon String SA Electric Guitar Natural High Gloss $1579 Godin Multiac Nylon String SA Electric Guitar Natural High Gloss

Guild GAD Series GN-5 Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $999.99 Guild GAD Series GN-5 Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural 886830297878 $1119.99 Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural 886830297878

Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural 886830213304 $1119.99 Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural 886830213304

The Realist RV Series 4/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Violin 4 String $999 The Realist RV Series 4/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Violin 4 String

The Realist RV Series 4/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Violin 5 String $1196 The Realist RV Series 4/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Violin 5 String

Schecter Guitar Research Jeff Loomis-7 String Electric Guitar Satin Black $899 Schecter Guitar Research Jeff Loomis-7 String Electric Guitar Satin Black

La Patrie Hybrid CW Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $895 La Patrie Hybrid CW Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CD/IN Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $599.99 Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CD/IN Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Cordoba GK Studio Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $649.99 Cordoba GK Studio Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Breedlove Passport N250/CO Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $599 Breedlove Passport N250/CO Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Taylor NS34ce Cutaway Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $1304.13 Taylor NS34ce Cutaway Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Dunlop Reverend Willy's Electric Guitar String Set - Light $6.99 Dunlop Reverend Willy's Electric Guitar String Set - Light

Ovation Applause Series AE35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural $299.99 Ovation Applause Series AE35 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural

Cordoba C5-CE Thinbody Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black $399 Cordoba C5-CE Thinbody Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

Taylor NS34ce Cutaway Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural 886830288500 $1199.2 Taylor NS34ce Cutaway Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural 886830288500

Cordoba C7-CE Cedar Top Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural $599.99 Cordoba C7-CE Cedar Top Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Black/Creme $69.95 DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Black/Creme

DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Black $69.95 DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Black

Ibanez AEG10NE Nylon String Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black $299.99 Ibanez AEG10NE Nylon String Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Crème $69.95 DiMarzio DP755BC Tone-7 String Electric Guitar Pickup Crme

Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural $1399.99 Takamine TC132SC Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar Natural

Dunlop Reverend Willy's Electric Guitar String Set - Extra Light $5.99 Dunlop Reverend Willy's Electric Guitar String Set - Extra Light