Learn How to Tune a Guitar by EarYou can learn how to tune a guitar by ear! I'll teach you a few ways that you can tune your guitar without a guitar tuner! The first (and easiest) way to tune by ear is using octaves. You will play two notes on your guitar, and tune them so that they sound the same. Here are the first two notes that you'll play: E ------------ B ------------ G ------------ D ------------ A ------0----- E ----5------- This method is called Relative Tuning. Using relative tuning, each string will be in tune relative to one another. The 5th fret and open string below it can be used as an octave for all strings except one. Here are the rest of the octaves you will use to tune your guitar by ear. E -----------------------------------------------0-- B ------------------------------------0--------5---- G -------------------------0--------4--------------- D ---------------0-------5-------------------------- A ----0-------5------------------------------------- E --5----------------------------------------------- When using octaves, you can tell that your guitar is in tune because the notes will ring together with a smooth, even sound. If the notes sound 'wobbly' you will need to turn the tuning key of the open string. If you're having trouble with relative tuning, don't worry... like anything else, this takes a lot of practice! When I first started to learn this method of tuning by ear, I used a tuner to check that my guitar was in tune. If you don't have a guitar tuner yet, go to your local guitar shop and get one. You can get a high quality tuner for under $30. If you've already got a tuner, and you're really interested in ear training, take a look at the
Pure Pitch
ear training program. This program isn't for everybody- but if you are serious about becoming a great guitarist, take some time to go through it. I was amazed with the results that I got from this program.
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