Guide to Quick Tuning You Guitar

This short guide will show you how you can quickly tune a guitar to a playable standard tuning. It isn't a guide to perfect tuning, just so you can tune it in 3rds so that it is playable.

This is for use really when you guitar has been in tune, and some of the strings have been pulled out of tune slightly or dramatically, but other have remained pretty much in tune.

There is a set pattern across the strings where by a few on one string will be the equivalent of the string below it when it is played open. This is the 5th fret on all strings, except for when you are matching up the G and B Strings. in this instance, it is the 4th fret on the G string that should match the open sound of the B String.

See this diagram for visual guide of matching notes

Basically you start by playing the 5th fret on the low E string, and comparing it to the sound of the A string. You then tune the A String until it matches the sound made by the low E string at the 5th fret. Your ear should automatically detect when the same note and pitch are found as they will harmonize perfectly.

You then repeat this process for the other strings. Play the 5th fret of the A String, and compare it to an open D String. Then play the 5th fret of the D String and compare it to the open sound of the G String.

When you get to the G and B Strings, as mentioned above - things change. Play the 4th fret of the G String and match it with the open sound of the B String. Then to finish off, play the 5th fret of the B Sting and compare it to the open high E String.

You guitar should now be roughly in tune so that it is playable, even if it is not spot on to the notes of standard tuning.