Tuner

How to use an online guitar tuner?
The most common tuner displays show the correct pitch in the middle of the screen with a moving line or dot which shows the pitch of the note the user is playing. The goal is to tune the instrument such that the dot or line is moved into the centre of the screen where the correct pitch is marked. Proceed, note by note, until each note produces the correct pitch according to the tuner display.

Step 1: Start with the top string (E in standard tuning). Pluck the string with your plectrum or finger and let it sustain.

Step 2: Now, looking at the online tuner, observe what note it detects. Typically, if you are within 1 semitone of the target note, the tuner will show the note you are attempting to tune. If you are significantly out of tune, the tuner will show the closest real pitch. If your note is flat compared to the correct pitch, the tuner will display that by showing a line or dot to the left of the target pitch which is usually in the centre. If your note is sharp, the dot or line will appear to the right of the target pitch.

Step 3: If your note is flat, you need to “tune up” to the target note by turning the machine head for the string counterclockwise (Machine heads are also called tuning pegs or tuners)

Step 4: If your note is sharp, you need to “tune down” to the target note by turning the machine head for the string clockwise (Machine heads are also called tuning pegs or tuners)

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 to 4 until all strings have been tuned.

Step 6: Often, you will need to repeat the whole process and retune each string again. This is particularly true if you have just placed new strings on the guitar or if the guitar was significantly out of tune to begin with. Each subsequent tuning iteration is quicker than the last since you are closer to the correct pitch than when starting the process.

What are some alternative guitar tunings?
There are many alternative guitar tunings that can be used to create unique sounds and open up new creative possibilities for guitar players. Here are some examples of alternative guitar tunings:

Open G Tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D): used by many blues and rock guitarists, including Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

DADGAD Tuning (D-A-D-G-A-D): a popular tuning for Celtic and folk music.

Open D Tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D): used by many slide guitar players.

Drop D Tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E): a popular tuning for heavy metal and hard rock music.

Open C Tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E): used by some acoustic guitarists for a fuller and richer sound.

Standard tuning with a capo: changing the position of the capo allows for playing in different keys and using different chord shapes.

These are just a few examples of alternative guitar tunings, but there are many others to explore and experiment with.