Guitar · Getting Started

Tuning Your Guitar

Q: What is standard guitar tuning?

From the thickest string to the thinnest: E-A-D-G-B-E. That's string 6 (low E) through string 1 (high E).

Q: What's the easiest way to tune a guitar?

A clip-on tuner, tuner pedal, or phone tuner app is the fastest and most accurate method — it listens to each string and shows you whether to tune up or down.

Q: How does the 5th-fret tuning method work?

Fret the 5th fret of a string and compare it to the next open string up — they should match. The one exception is the G string, which is compared at the 4th fret against the open B string.

Q: How often should I tune my guitar?

Check every time you pick it up. New strings, temperature changes, and humidity all shift tuning, and even well-settled strings drift slightly over days.

A guitar that's out of tune fights you at every turn. Learn the six standard-tuning notes, tap each one to hear it, and see the classic backup method.

Beginner ⏱ 5 min read 🎸 Interactive

Standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E

From the thickest string (6, lowest pitch) to the thinnest (1, highest pitch), standard tuning is E – A – D – G – B – E. Notice the low and high strings are both E, two octaves apart — a handy anchor when you're checking your tuning by ear.

🎸 Tap a string to hear its open pitch Left to right: string 6 (low E) to string 1 (high E).

The fast way: use a tuner

The modern, reliable method is an electronic tuner:

Clip-on tuner — clips to the headstock and reads the string's vibration through the wood. Works anywhere, even silently on a noisy bus.
Tuner pedal — plugs into an electric guitar's signal chain; common on stage.
Phone app — uses your microphone; free and good enough for practice at home.

Pluck one string at a time, watch the display, and turn the matching tuning peg until it reads in tune (usually a centered needle or a green light).

The classic backup: 5th-fret relative tuning

No tuner? You can tune the guitar to itself using your ears:

Press the 5th fret of the low E string (string 6) — that note is A. Match it to the open A string (string 5).
Press the 5th fret
Press the 5th fret of the D string — that's G. Match it to the open G string (string 3).
Press the 4th fret of the G string (the one exception) — that's B. Match it to the open B string (string 2).
Press the 5th fret of the B string — that's E. Match it to the open high E string (string 1).

💡 Ear training bonus: the 5th-fret method won't fix a guitar that's badly out of tune with the rest of the world (like another instrument), but it's an excellent way to train your ear to hear when two pitches match.

Common questions

What is standard guitar tuning?

E-A-D-G-B-E from the thickest string to the thinnest — string 6 (low E) through string 1 (high E).

What's the easiest way to tune a guitar?

A clip-on tuner, tuner pedal, or phone app — fast and accurate, showing whether each string needs to go up or down.

How does the 5th-fret tuning method work?

Fret the 5th fret of a string and match it to the next open string up; the exception is the G string, compared at the 4th fret against open B.

How often should I tune my guitar?

Every time you pick it up — new strings, temperature, and humidity all shift tuning, even day to day.

Practice with a perfectly tuned reference

Melody Monkey plays back real pitches so you can check your ear and your tuner against a trusted source.

Open the tuner →

Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Tuning Your Guitar →

Standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E

The fast way: use a tuner

The classic backup: 5th-fret relative tuning

Common questions

Practice with a perfectly tuned reference

Keep learning