You need to know how to tune a guitar before you become a rock star. That's why the first thing every guitar player should pick up, after the guitar itself, is an electronic tuner. Many tuners are available on the market for relatively little money, and they help keep your guitar from sounding like a distorted mess.
The Standard Tuning
If you are just beginning to learn guitar, you'll want to tune it first to the standard tuning. The strings should be tuned from lowest to highest to the following notes: E, A, D, G, B and E. If you're playing an electric guitar, you can plug it right into an electronic tuner. If you're playing an acoustic guitar, you can use an electronic tuner, but be sure to go somewhere quiet to tune, as outside noise could muddle the sound.
One String At A Time
When you tune a guitar, you want to pluck one string at a time. Also, each string should be played open. It's important not to press down on any frets, as it will throw the tuner off. Let the note ring out, and gently turn its corresponding tuning knob. The tuner should tell you when you reach the correct note. It's a good idea to tune each string a little sharp at first, and then loosen it back down to the proper note.
Tuning With Harmonics
Guitars can go out of tune fairly easily. If you find yourself playing and a string falls out of tune, there's a quick way to get things back on track without an electric tuner. You can tune the strings using harmonics. Hold your finger over the seventh fret of the A string, gently touching it but without pressing it down. Now pluck the string. It should ring out with a high-pitched note. This is a harmonic and, if your A string is in tune, the note that should ring out is an E. You use this harmonic to tune both E strings. Doing the same thing over the D string produces an A harmonic, over the G string it produces a D and over the E string it produces a B. So, you can tune your guitar simply using the other strings. This method is easier for more experienced musicians who have a discriminating ear.
Advanced Tuning
You can try other tuning options besides the standard. Drop D tuning is popular in a lot of hard rock music. To get this tuning, simply tune the low E string down a whole step to a D, and leave the rest of the strings in standard. Open G tuning is another popular tuning for blues or slide guitarists. To tune to open G tuning, drop both E strings down to a D, and tune the A string down a whole step to a G. Leave the other three strings in standard.
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