How to Tune Your Guitar or Bass
Simple Guide for New Students
One of the most important (and sometimes most frustrating!) parts of learning guitar or bass is keeping it in tune. Don’t worry — tuning gets easier very quickly once you know the basics, and with the right tools you’ll be ready to play in just a few minutes.
Here’s a simple guide to make it stress-free.
Why Tuning Matters
If your guitar or bass is out of tune, even simple notes and chords will sound wrong. That can be discouraging for beginners. Tuning regularly makes practice more enjoyable and helps you develop your ear.
👉 Tip: Tune before every practice session. Instruments naturally go out of tune from changes in temperature, humidity, and just from playing.
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What You’ll Need
The easiest way to tune is with a clip-on tuner that attaches to your instrument’s headstock. They cost around £10–£15 and are very beginner-friendly. Many amps and free smartphone apps also have tuners built in.
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Standard Tuning
For Guitar (6 strings, thickest to thinnest):
• E (lowest, thickest string)
• A
• D
• G
• B
• E (highest, thinnest string)
👉 A handy rhyme to remember: Every Apple Does Go Bad Eventually.
For Bass (4 strings, thickest to thinnest):
• E
• A
• D
• G
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Step-by-Step Tuning with a Clip-On Tuner
1. Switch on your tuner and clip it to the headstock.
2. Pluck one string at a time. The tuner will show you the note it hears.
3. Check the note name:
• If you’re tuning the 5th string on guitar, the tuner should read “A.”
• If it shows another note (like G# or Bb), the string is far out of tune — don’t panic, just keep adjusting.
4. Turn the tuning peg slowly:
• Tighten (turn away from you) to make the pitch higher.
• Loosen (turn towards you) to make the pitch lower.
5. Stop when the tuner shows the correct note in the centre. Most tuners have a little green light when you’re in tune.
6. Repeat for every string.
👉 Always tune up to the note (tightening slowly). If you go too far, loosen the string slightly and then tighten again. This helps the string stay in tune longer.
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Common Beginner Questions
Q: My tuner shows the right note, but it still sounds wrong. Why?
• Make sure it’s the correct octave (e.g., low E vs high E on guitar).
• Double-check you haven’t tuned a string to the wrong note by mistake.
Q: Do I need to tune every day?
• Yes. Even professional players tune every time before they play.
Q: Can I use a phone app instead of a clip-on tuner?
• Yes! Apps like “GuitarTuna” are great, but clip-on tuners are more accurate in noisy rooms.
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Final Tips
• Don’t rush — tuning takes patience at first.
• Ask your teacher to check your tuning during lessons until you feel confident.
• Over time, you’ll start to hear when a string is off, and tuning will feel natural.
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🎸 In short: Get a clip-on tuner, learn the string names, and tune slowly one string at a time. With a little practice, keeping your guitar or bass in tune will become second nature — and your music will sound so much better!
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