Tune Your Guitar by Ear
Tap a string on the headstock to hear its reference note, switch on Repeat, and turn the peg until your string matches. No microphone needed.
- Free, no sign-up
- Plucked reference notes
- Repeat any note
- No microphone needed
Reference pitch (A4)
Hz
Lower it in noisy rooms
Press Start tuning, then play a string
0/6 tuned
Standard notes
A4 = 440 Hz| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
Listen for the beats
Play the reference note and your string together. If they are slightly different, you will hear the volume wobble slowly. This is called beating. Turn the peg until the wobble slows down and disappears.
On this page the tuner starts in Manual mode, so each tap locks that string. The needle still works if you allow the microphone.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Space Start or stop the microphone
- 1–9 Play a string’s reference note
- M Switch Auto / Manual mode
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Play a reference note
Tap a string on the headstock, or press its number key, to hear a plucked reference note.
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Switch on Repeat
Press Repeat to hear the note every few seconds, so both hands are free for the peg.
-
Match your string
Pluck your string together with the reference note. Tune until the two notes sound as one and the wobble stops.
The 5th-fret method
Once one string is in tune, you can tune the others from it. Press the 6th string at the 5th fret. It plays the same note as the open 5th string. Do the same on each pair of strings, except between the G and B strings, where you use the 4th fret.
Relative tuning only puts the guitar in tune with itself. Start from a reference note here, so it is also in tune with other instruments and recordings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune a guitar by ear without a tuner?
Play a reference note for each string here. Or tune the low E first and use the 5th-fret method. The 5th fret of each string matches the next open string, except on the G string, where the 4th fret matches the open B.
What are “beats” when tuning?
When two notes are almost the same pitch, their sound waves drift in and out of step, and you hear the volume pulse. The slower the pulse, the closer the notes. When it stops, they match.
Is tuning by ear as accurate as a tuner?
With practice it can be very close. Use the microphone tuner to check your result while you train your ear.
All guitar tunings
Standard & down-tuned
Drop
Open
Alternate
7-string
8-string
12-string & guitalele
More tuners
- Bass Tuner 4, 5 and 6-string bass, from drop D to BEAD. E A D G
- Ukulele Tuner Soprano, concert, tenor and baritone ukulele. G C E A
- Violin Tuner G D A E with bowed reference tones. G D A E
- Viola Tuner C G D A, a fifth below the violin. C G D A
- Cello Tuner C G D A, an octave below the viola. C G D A
- Double Bass Tuner Upright bass in orchestral and solo tuning. E A D G
- Banjo Tuner Open G, double C, sawmill, tenor and Irish tenor. G D G B D
- Mandolin Tuner Mandolin, mandola and octave mandolin. G D A E
- Chromatic Tuner Any instrument or voice, with B♭/E♭/F transposition.
Music tools
- Metronome Accurate online metronome with accents and subdivisions.
- Tone Generator Play any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
- Tuning Fork 415, 432, 440, 442 and 444 Hz forks.
- Pitch Detector See the exact note and frequency you play. C
- Custom Tuning Tuner Build any tuning with 3 to 12 strings. E A D G B E
- Tune Guitar by Ear Repeating reference notes for every string. E A D G B E