How to Tune a Guitar? What is Alternate Tuning?

Many beginner guitarists are excited to play as soon as they get their hands on a new guitar. However, there’s an important step that must not be overlooked before you start playing—tuning your guitar.

1. Why is Tuning Important?

The guitar is a stringed instrument, and its sound is generated by the vibration of the strings. These strings are wound around the tuning pegs on the headstock. Due to variations in string tension, either from environmental changes or regular use, the strings can go out of tune.

When playing, it’s essential to ensure that the strings produce the correct pitch so that your guitar sounds harmonious and pleasing. If your guitar’s sound seems a little off, it’s time to check and adjust the tuning.

2. When Should You Tune Your Guitar?

Here are a few situations where tuning is necessary:

When you first purchase a new guitar
After not playing your guitar for a long time
Before performing on stage

As a general rule, it’s recommended to tune your guitar every 2–3 days. Over short periods, the tension in the strings doesn’t change much, so only minor adjustments are needed to restore standard tuning. However, if you leave it too long, the strings may go significantly out of tune, making them harder to adjust and increasing the risk of damaging the neck or snapping the strings due to excessive tension. Regular tuning helps maintain your guitar’s longevity and sound quality.

3. Tools for Tuning

There are two commonly used tools for tuning a guitar:

1. Tuner

A tuner is a small device that clips onto the guitar’s headstock and detects string vibrations to determine pitch. Tuners range in price from inexpensive models to premium ones. They are powered by small button batteries.

Advantages:

High precision
Unaffected by environmental noise

Disadvantages:

Needs to be carried separately in your guitar bag
Batteries can run out, rendering the tuner unusable

2. Tuning Apps

Tuning apps on smartphones are now highly advanced and capable of meeting most tuning needs. Many of these apps are free and provide a convenient, quick solution.

Advantages:

Easy to use and always accessible (as long as you have your phone)
Cost-effective

Disadvantages:

Accuracy can be affected in noisy environments
Some features, like specific alternate tunings, may require in-app purchases

4. What is Alternate Tuning?

Alternate tuning refers to any deviation from standard tuning. It is typically used to accommodate specific playing styles or techniques. Alternate tuning can be categorized into two types:

Type 1: Modified Tuning

This involves adjusting the pitch of one or more strings while keeping the remaining strings in standard tuning. The purpose is often to simplify chord fingerings or facilitate certain techniques.

For example, let’s say you frequently play notes on the 2nd string (1st fret) and the 1st string (5th fret), which can be challenging due to the stretch. By lowering the pitch of the 1st string by one whole step, you only need to press the 1st string at the 3rd fret to achieve the same result. This simplifies the fingering but may change the positions of some chords. Alternate tunings like this are often tailored to individual songs. For instance, Japanese guitarist Masaaki Kishibe’s fingerstyle piece “Popular Clouds” requires modified tuning.

Type 2: Open Tuning

Open tuning means tuning all six strings to form a specific chord when played open (i.e., without pressing any frets). A popular example is Open D (DADF#AD), which is used in songs like Masaaki Kishibe’s “Miracle Mountain.”

Special Tuning with a Capo

Another interesting tuning method involves leaving the strings in standard tuning but using a capo to change the pitch of specific strings. For example, in Chinese guitarist Chen Liang’s piece “Untitled”, a capo is placed on the 2nd through 6th strings at the 4th fret, leaving the 1st string open. This creates a unique tuning without altering the strings’ standard pitch.

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5. Additional Tips

Sometimes, you’ll come across instructions in sheet music that call for a half-step down tuning. This is common when specific fingerings or voicings are required to match the original track. Here’s how you can achieve it:

First, place a capo on the 1st fret.
Using a tuner, tune the strings to standard pitch with the capo on.
Once all strings are tuned, remove the capo, and you’ll have a half-step down tuning.

If the music calls for a full-step down tuning, place the capo on the 2nd fret instead.

Learning to tune your guitar accurately is a fundamental skill for every guitarist. Whether you prefer playing in standard tuning or experimenting with alternate tunings, maintaining proper tension and pitch will ensure that your guitar sounds its best every time you play.

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