How to Tune a Guitar by Ear: A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners

If you’ve ever picked up your guitar, strummed a chord, and thought, “Something sounds off,” you’re not alone. Learning how to tune a guitar by ear is one of the most valuable skills any guitarist can develop. Not only will it save you when you don’t have a tuner handy, but it also trains your ear to recognize pitch and helps you become a better musician.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to tune a guitar by ear, step by step—even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why Learn to Tune by Ear?

While clip-on tuners and apps are convenient, tuning by ear is a foundational skill. Here’s why you should learn:

✅ Develops Relative Pitch: You’ll start to hear the difference between higher and lower notes.
✅ Builds Confidence: No more panic when your tuner battery dies before a gig.
✅ Deepens Musical Understanding: Tuning by ear helps you understand intervals and improves your overall musicianship.

What You Need to Get Started

Before you begin, make sure your guitar is in good shape (fresh strings help); and you have a reference pitch for the low E string (6th string). This could be:

• A piano note
• A tuning fork (E note)
• Another guitar that’s in tune

If you don’t have a reference pitch, you can still tune to itself, but keep in mind you won’t be in concert pitch.

The 5th-Fret Method: Tuning One String at a Time

Here’s the classic method many guitarists use:

🎸 Step 1: Tune the Low E String

Using your reference pitch, tune your 6th string (low E) until it matches. Pluck the string, listen carefully, and adjust the tuning peg until the note sounds right.

🎸 Step 2: Tune the A String (5th String)

Press the 5th fret on the low E string.

This note is an A and should match the open A string.

Play the fretted 6th string and the open 5th string together.

Adjust the 5th string tuning peg until the two notes blend smoothly.

🎸 Step 3: Tune the D String (4th String)

Press the 5th fret on the A string.

This is a D note, which should match the open D string.

Play both notes and adjust the D string until they sound the same.

🎸 Step 4: Tune the G String (3rd String)

Press the 5th fret on the D string.

This is a G note.

Tune your open G string to match.

🎸 Step 5: Tune the B String (2nd String)

This is the exception:

Press the 4th fret on the G string (not the 5th).

This is a B note.

Tune your open B string to match it.

🎸 Step 6: Tune the High E String (1st String)

Press the 5th fret on the B string.

This is an E note.

Tune your high E string to match.

Tips for Tuning by Ear

Compare Carefully: Play each pair of notes slowly and listen to whether one sounds higher or lower.

Make Small Adjustments: Turn the tuning peg just a little at a time.

Check Again: Go back and re-check all the strings. Sometimes adjusting one string can slightly change the tension of the others.

Practice Regularly: The more you do it, the faster and more accurate you’ll become.

Alternative Tuning Methods

If you’d like to explore other ways to tune by ear, try:

🎶 Harmonics: Natural harmonics at the 5th and 7th frets can help you compare pitches more precisely.
🎵 Octave Matching: Match the 12th fret note to the open string an octave lower.
🎼 Reference Songs: Use a familiar song with a known starting note to get your low E in the right ballpark.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to tune your guitar by ear is a skill that will serve you every time you pick up your instrument. Whether you’re sitting around a campfire or jamming with friends, you’ll always be ready to get your guitar sounding its best.

Ready to improve your ear even more? Check out our free lessons on ear training and guitar maintenance!