TuneVibe

Tuning a guitar by ear is a fundamental skill for every guitarist. Although electronic tuners (like our TuneVibe) are extremely precise, it's worth knowing how to manage without them. The most popular method is the 5th fret method.

The principle is simple: the note on the 5th fret of a lower string should sound the same as the open higher string. The exception is the G string, which we compare with the 4th fret.

• A String (5th string): Press the E string (6th string) at the 5th fret. It should sound like the open A string.
• D String (4th string): Press the A string at the 5th fret. It should sound like the open D string.
• G String (3rd string): Press the D string at the 5th fret. It should sound like the open G string.
• B String (2nd string): Note! Press the G string at the 4th fret. It should sound like the open B string.
• E String (1st string): Press the B string at the 5th fret. It should sound like the open E string.

You tuned your guitar perfectly, but a moment later it sounds off again? This is a frustrating problem that can have several causes:

• 1.
  Old Strings: Worn-out strings lose elasticity and don't hold tuning. If your strings are rusty or have more than 3-4 months of intense playing, replace them.
• 2.
  New Strings: Paradoxically, freshly installed strings need to "stretch". For the first few hours of playing, they will go flat. This is normal!
• 3.
  Temperature Changes: Wood reacts to heat and humidity. Moving a guitar from the cold outdoors to a warm room will always detune the instrument.
• 4.
  Tuning Peg Issues: Cheap or damaged tuning pegs can "slip" under tension or vibration.