[stuntsboy]

I bought this new guitar few days ago, the guy at the shop tuned it for me using a tuner... but i'm not sure if he tuned it right, or maybe it got messed somehow..

so i just want to know whether my guitar is tuned right or not, because my strumming is quite unpleasant, maybe its because i'm a pure beginner, or maybe because it needs to be tuned.

i have recorded the pitch of each string, and open strums on all the strings.

iklerik.com/files/guitar_tune_check.wav

please listen to it, and tell me if it doesnt sound alright. thanks.

[Stratrat]

I'm with Elle. In listening to that recording, none of the strings are even close to being in tune except the 'A' string. If you have trouble tuning by ear to the online tuner, I'd second Elle and Mike8307's recommendation to buy a tuner like the $15 Korg GA-30. X4StringDrive put together a real nice video lesson on using a tuner which will probably be a big help.

Guitars don't stay in tune forever - some of mine will stay in tune for days or weeks, others for hours. As Allthumbs said, it's a good idea to check your tuning every time you pick up your guitar. Eventually you'll get to the point where you can just pluck the open strings and get a pretty good idea of whether they're in tune (at least relative to each other) - but until then, use a tuner.

[starsailor]

Agree with all the above, I tune my guitar every time I pick it up, would be best to get an electronic tuner,x4strings lesson is perfect, if your still struggling buy a tuner, tuning by ear is worth learning but takes a bit of time in my opinion.We all want you to crack this, look on it as part of the learning curve, first time I tuned I broke 2 strings because I wasn't doing it properly.

[scrappydidnt]

I agree with everyone else its still out but the main thing is to get a tuner and run with it after you've been playing awhile it will be easier to hear when youre out.

[Black&Blue]

Even with a tuner it takes a long while to really tune well. Or it did for me anyway. The main thing is to stick at it and always listen really carefully to your sound.

[GotDeeBlues]

Each string fingered on the 5th will be the next string down open. So if you can get your top E right like Elle suggested you start with, you can tune the rest against each other. So Thick top E on the 5th fret is your A(second from the top) The 5th A on the 5th fret is D, (4th), the D on the 5th is your third string G. The one exception to this is the 3rd string fingered on the 4th fret will be the second (B). Then back to 5 for the 2nd to be the same as the bottom E(skinniest). But like they all said, get a tuner, I prefer those with needle indicators, but a lot of folks like the LED models. Good ones are abailable for less than $20 and worth every penny. Good luck

[Black&Blue]

Another point worth mentioning is the stability of tuning. You seem surprised that your axe is out of tune after only a couple of days. Actually guitars are very prone to go out of tune- especially if subjected to changes in temperature- the different expansion and contraction of wood and metal can really throw your tuning out. Cheap tuning pegs can often slip. Hard strumming, or string bending will also put your tuning out.
You need to get used to continually checking your tuning- if you learn using a badly tuned instrument you will teach your ear badly- and in the end your musical ear is really the most important skill you have.
Electronic tuners were a Godsend for me.

[scorpius]

If I may add a little.

These days, tuners and metronomes can also be downloaded, and installed into mobile phones. (Not to all phones though, I think). Good for those who are always on the move.

[AX7221]

I would recommend that you get a tuner also, however I made due w/o one when I was starting out. From a technical standpoint the A note is 440hz (or 880hz or 220hz for different octaves), all the other notes are relative to each other, and A was somehow picked to be the one that people remember, 440. Anyways if I tuned my guitar to A 445, it would sound just as good as A 440. A 440 is only necessary for playing with other people/recordings.

So, you can just tune each sting so that they are in tune with eachother, just it will sound awful if you played with other music. So this is how it works: Each time you have two stings next to eachother the pitch is off by 5 half steps, except for one. The different b/w the thickest string Low E and the one next to it, A is 5 half steps, so if you put you finger just behind (not on top of) the 5th fret on the E string that will be exactly the same pitch as the A string when open.

I'll make a diagram:

e ||--------|-------|------|-----|-----|---
b ||--------|-------|------|-----|----e|---
g ||--------|-------|------|----b|-----|---
d ||--------|-------|------|-----|----g|---
a ||--------|-------|------|-----|----d|---
E ||--------|-------|------|-----|----a|---

I put in the note names for the the open stings, and I put in the note names for the 5th fret except for the b sting I put in the name for the 4th fret. So all you have to do is keep adjusting the pegs until all the pitches are as close to identical as you want them to be. Doing that is good for you ear too, I wish I was less dependent on my tuner. When the guitar would gradually fade out of tune or if the pegs got knocked I would try to find 2 or 3 stings that were the mostly closely in tune with eachother and tune the rest of the stings relative to them.


One more thing, in the second post Ellenback1 said even w/o anything to compare it to she could could tell it was out of tune b/c if all the strings are in tune with eachother it becomes difficult to determine if they're tuned to A 440 if there's nothing to compare it to.

[Noodler]

Matching notes is a musical skill. First, I agree with everyone here. Invest in an electronic tuner. I bought mine at 16. I'm 32 now and still use it. If I am putting on a new set of strings, I need a reference note to tune all the other strings to, so even though I can tune by ear, I still use my tuner. That's so I don't snap any strings or over-tighten them and lose tone. Sometimes it's just more convenient anyway.

2. When you play a few months with your guitar in tune from using your tuner, your ear will get tempered/ trained. You'll recognise from experience what in-tune sounds like. You will be telling us if you're in tune. Some people get so good, that they can remember concert pitch (A=440), and don't even need a reference.

3. Something no-one's mentioned. "beats" Whether using harmonics or 5th fret technique, when strings are fairly close in pitch, if you listen the sound gets louder and softer (pulsating). These are called "beats." If you turn the tuning peg the right way, the beats will slow down. When the string is exactly in tune, they'll stop completely.

4. Just a personal opinion. Use that tuner, because if you always play at "concert pitch" (A-440Hz), your ear will get used to it, and you could develop what they call perfect pitch.

[GotDeeBlues]

Ax, nice of you to add the chart diagram for him of the method I tried to explain.