How to Tune a Guitar

Updated October 5, 2026

Before you start

Standard tuning is E A D G B E, from the thickest string (string 6) to the thinnest (string 1). Each tuning peg makes its own string tighter or looser. Tighter raises the pitch, and looser lowers it.

Which way to turn depends on the headstock, so don’t try to memorise a direction. Pluck the string, turn the peg slowly and listen. If the pitch goes up, you are tightening. Follow the string from the nut to its peg to make sure you have the right one.

Step 1: Open a tuner

Open the online guitar tuner, press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Find a quiet place and hold the guitar 20–50 cm from your phone or computer.

Step 2: Play the 6th string

Pluck the thick low E string and let it ring. The tuner shows the note it hears and a needle. If it shows a different letter, such as D or F, the string is far out of tune. Turn the peg slowly towards E.

Step 3: Turn the peg until the needle is centred

• Needle left (flat): tighten the string to raise the pitch.
• Needle right (sharp): loosen it.
• Make small turns and pluck again after each one.

Always finish by tuning up to the note. If you go too high, go below the note and come back up, so the gears hold the tension.

Step 4: Repeat on every string

Now tune A, D, G, B and the high E. In Auto mode the tuner finds each string by itself. In Manual mode you choose the string first, which helps when a string is very far out of tune.

Step 5: Check again

Tuning one string slightly changes the tension on the neck, and this moves the other strings a little. Check all six strings a second time. It takes a few seconds, and the guitar will stay in tune longer.

Common mistakes

• Turning the wrong peg. Follow the string to its peg before you turn.
• Tuning an octave too high. If the string feels very tight and the pitch keeps rising, stop, or the string may break.
• Tuning in a noisy room. Background noise confuses the microphone. Lower the sensitivity in the tuner settings if needed.
• Not stretching new strings. New strings keep going flat. Pull each one gently away from the fretboard and retune a few times.

No microphone? Learn how to tune a guitar by ear. Want a different sound? Browse the list of guitar tunings.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I tune my guitar?

Every time you play. Temperature, humidity and playing all change the strings slightly, and a quick check takes less than a minute.

Which string do I tune first?

Most people start with the low E (string 6) and move towards the high E. With a tuner the order doesn’t matter, but checking every string twice is important.

Why does the tuner show the wrong note?

The string is probably more than half a step away from its note, so the tuner shows the note it really hears. Keep turning slowly towards the right note and the reading will change.