Basic Steps for Tuning a Guitar

Do you have trouble tuning your guitar by ear? This can be an essential skill for anyone who plays live shows, as pulling out a tuner between every song takes up valuable gig time. Tuning by ear is easy and doesn’t take long to learn. These instructions are for standard tuning: EADGBE.
Step 1
Find a reference tone for the low E string. This is not essential if you’re playing alone, but if you need to be in tune with a group, make sure to have a tuner or other reference point such as a keyboard or piano. 

Step 2
Tune your low E string relative to your reference. This gives you a starting point for the rest of the tuning process. If you begin with a low E string that is out of tune, the rest of your strings will also be out of tune.

Step 3
Hold down the low E string at the fifth fret and pluck it. Tune the A string until it matches this tone. Pluck the two strings several times to check that they match.

Step 4
Hold down the A string at the fifth fret. Pluck it and tune the D string until the two tones match.

Step 5
Hold the D string down at the fifth fret and note the tone. Tune the G string until it matches. Make sure to pay close attention to this tone, as it will be your reference for the high strings, which can be harder to tune.

Step 6
Hold the G string down at the fourth fret to get the proper tone for your B string. Tune the B string until the tones match. Be careful not to add tension too fast to avoid breaking the string. 

Step 7
Hold down the B string at the fifth fret and pluck it. This is the reference for your high E string. This can be a little difficult to match due to the higher pitch, so pay close attention when tuning the high E string to match this tone.

Step 8
Repeat steps 1-7 to double-check your tuning. Adjust any strings that aren‘t yet in tune. Strum all six strings and test a few chords to make sure everything sounds right.

Your guitar is now in tune and you’re ready to play. Use this method to tune and adjust strings any time.