Guitar Tricks Online Guitar Lessons

Basic Concepts of Tuning

 
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The strings of the guitar are tuned to six particular musical notes: E, A, D, G, B, and another E. When properly in tune, these notes will be the same exact tones that any other musical instrument would play, be it a piano, a bass, a flute, or violin.

This is what makes it possible for all different kinds of musicians to make music together, and have it all blend beautifully. Tuning your guitar every time you play is essential to training your ear to recognize and become familiar with the way the notes of the guitar should optimally sound.

If you skimp on the tuning, you shortchange yourself. Even the most fantastically advanced piece of music, if played on an out-of-tune guitar, is going to sound pretty bad.

Instructor Lisa McCormick
Tutorial:
The Strings and Tuning
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
download lesson open guitar tuner

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Questions & Answers

1 year ago
I can’t find B on the second string
Mike Olekshy 1 year ago

Hello - thanks so much for your question! I'm sorry you're having trouble tuning the second string. The open second string should be tuned to a B note. Play the 4th fret of the G string (3rd string) - that will be the pitch of the B note. Then tune the 2nd string to match the pitch of the fretted note at the 4th fret of the G string. Hope this helps!!