An out-of-tune guitar can make a correctly played chord sound wrong. Learn to tune before judging your playing. A tuner that identifies the note is useful for a beginner because matching pitches by ear adds another skill to an already unfamiliar task.
For standard six-string tuning, use E A D G B E from the thickest string to the thinnest. Pluck one open string, adjust its matching peg gently, and repeat.
Go straight to the stepsBefore you begin
These targets are for ordinary standard tuning, not bass, ukulele, or alternate tunings. If a string feels unusually tight or the tuner shows a wildly different note, stop and confirm the string and peg before tightening further.
What you’ll need
- A six-string guitar
- A clip-on tuner, suitable tuning app, or other guitar tuner
- A reasonably quiet place
Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Select the correct tuning
Choose standard guitar tuning if the tuner offers instrument presets. If using a chromatic tuner, check the note and octave, not just whether its needle is centered.
- 02
Find the thick low E string
Trace it from the bridge to its tuning peg. Pluck it without holding a fret and allow the initial attack to settle. Mute neighboring strings if they ring and confuse the reading.
- 03
Make small adjustments
If the note is flat, increase tension a little; if sharp, reduce it. Watch how your particular peg changes the pitch instead of assuming all pegs turn the same way. Approach the final pitch from below.
- 04
Repeat for the remaining strings
Continue from thickest to thinnest: A, D, G, B, then the thin high E. Trace each string to its own peg before turning it. Wait for a stable reading after each pluck.
- 05
Check the complete set again
Recheck the six open strings after the first pass. Play a familiar simple chord if you know one, then confirm any doubtful string individually. Retune before your next practice session.
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Make the first session easy to repeat
Write the six note names on a card and point to each string as you say its name. This suggested exercise removes the need to remember the sequence while you are also learning how the tuner reacts.
Record which tuner mode you used. A guitar preset can be friendlier for the first session; a chromatic mode may show many notes between the starting pitch and the intended note. Do not chase a green indicator for the wrong target.
If the reading jumps around
Pluck one string at a steady moderate strength, let it settle, and reduce background noise. A phone microphone should be able to hear the guitar clearly. If an electric guitar uses a connected tuner, follow that tuner’s connection instructions.
If one string repeatedly slips, buzzes, or will not settle near its target, a tuning procedure may not solve the underlying setup or string problem. Ask a guitar technician or teacher to check it before continuing to tighten.
Standard tuning, thickest to thinnest
| String number | Open note |
|---|---|
| 6 — thickest | E2 |
| 5 | A2 |
| 4 | D3 |
| 3 | G3 |
| 2 | B3 |
| 1 — thinnest | E4 |
A quick final check
- I matched each string to its own peg.
- The six target notes are E A D G B E.
- I checked the strings again after the first pass.
Common questions & sticking points
Why are there two E strings?
They are different pitches: the thick string is low E and the thin string is high E, two octaves higher in standard tuning.
Can I tune a guitar without a tuner?
Relative tuning is possible, but it does not establish concert pitch without a reliable reference. A tuner makes the first attempt easier to verify.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
Last source check: September 21, 2026