How to Use the E Tone to Tune a Guitar
- 1). Produce an audible E tone by playing the E key on a piano or electric piano. This is the key to the right of the pair of black keys. Or click on the low E button of the online guitar tuner (see "Resources").
- 2). Turn the tuning peg on the neck of the guitar and strike the low E string --- this will be the lowest, heaviest string on your guitar. Turn the peg tighter to increase the pitch of the E string and turn the peg looser to lower the pitch of the E string. Adjust the pitch of the E string until it matches the E tone you are using as a reference. You will probably have to listen to your reference tone and adjust your guitar string several times before the low E string is in tune.
- 3). Press the fifth fret on the lowest string and strike the string. This is your reference tone for tuning your second-lowest string, the A string. Use this tone to adjust the tuning of your A string until the two tones match. Press the fifth fret on the A string to get a reference tone for your third-lowest string, the D string. Use this tone to adjust the tuning of your D string until the two tones match. Press the fifth fret on the D string, and use this tone to tune your fourth-lowest string, your G string. Press the fourth fret on the G string to tune the fifth-lowest string, the B string, and press the fifth fret on the B string to tune your highest string, the high E string.
- 4). Check the pitch of the high E string against your low E string as well as your reference E tone. If you have tuned the guitar correctly, the high E string will match your reference tone, but two octaves higher. If your high E string is not in tune with your reference tone, tune the guitar again.
