Several ways to tune your guitar
This article will delve into the various methods of tuning a guitar. Some may be more expensive to use than others. You may be alright with spending more money if you are going to make your living with your guitar and need to keep it in perfect pitch. However, if you are going to just go to the beach or on an outing with friends and are wanting to simply have your guitar tuned enough to sing with those you’re with then you will probably just want something simple to use. You will have to decide which is easiest and right for you.
Tuning your guitar with a pitch pipe
The pitch pipe was popular in music store in the early twentieth century. You were considered something when you whipped out your pitch pipe and tuned up your guitar to sing around the campfire. It was convenient and easy to transport. Of course nobody cared that it was not perfectly in tune. Today they are rarely seen or used. The average student is unaware that these handy tuners were still useful in tuning a guitar. They are still available in music stores and beginners will have good results when using them.
Tuning your guitar with an electronic tuner
When electronic tuners came out, they were fairly large and bulky to carry around. They were mostly used by musicians who were making their living with their guitars. These instruments help guitarists to tune their guitars so that all the harmonics and overtones are in line and sound perfect. Now with the advanced technology we have, they have made them smaller and better. They used to be very expensive to own but can be purchased for much less today. Musicians like them for playing gigs because they can keep their guitars in tune in noisy settings and sound great.
Tuning your guitar with a tuning fork
The tuning fork is probably the most accurate of tuning methods besides the electric tuner. One reason why it is so accurate is because the tuning fork creates corresponding vibrations that help you adjust the strings to match that sound. Another reason for its efficiency is that is tuned to A440. Then you can tune the sixth string at the fifth fret, in other words an open A, and then you can tune the rest of your guitar from there. To use the tuning fork you simply hold the rubber part on the bottom and strike it against something that won’t dent or break. Then hold it to the guitar body allowing the fork to keep vibrating and then tune your guitar.
Tuning your guitar with your piano
This is one of the simplest and most used ways of tuning your guitar. The notes on the piano and the guitar correspond perfectly. The sounds are very similar and clear to hear so that it is easy to know when your guitar is in tune. Below is a diagram of the notes on the piano in relationship to the strings on the guitar.
Tuning your guitar with intervals
As soon as you have tuned one of your strings you can tune the rest of your guitar by using intervals. This means that you tune the open sixth string to an E using one of these tuning methods. Then you press the fifth fret on the same string to get an A. Now tune the open fifth string to until the pitches match. Now press the fifth fret on the fifth string and tune the open fourth string to match the sound. Now the same for the fifth fret on the fourth string and that tunes the third string open. For the next one it is not the fifth but the fourth fret on the third string that you hold down to tune the second string open. The last of all, press the fifth fret on the second string to tune the first string. Now your guitar is in tune and your ready to play.