The six strings, thickest to thinnest
Standard guitar tuning is E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4. The letter is what your strings are named after; the number is the octave, and it matters — both outer strings are E, two octaves apart. If you prefer to tune to a reference pitch instead of the microphone, tap a tone below and match it by ear.
- E26th string · thickest82.41 Hz
- A25th string110.00 Hz
- D34th string146.83 Hz
- G33rd string196.00 Hz
- B32nd string246.94 Hz
- E41st string · thinnest329.63 Hz
Tap a tone, then tune your string until the two sounds merge. Or just play each string into the tuner above and center the needle.
How to tune with the microphone tuner
- Start the tuner above and allow microphone access. Get reasonably close to the mic — an arm’s length is fine in a quiet room.
- Pluck one string at a time, moderately hard, and let it ring. The dial names the nearest note; check the letter first. If your low E shows D♯, you’re a semitone flat — tune up until the letter reads E, then center the needle.
- Approach from below. If a string is sharp, drop it a little below the target and come back up. Strings tuned downward to pitch slip flat within minutes; strings tuned upward stay put.
- Work E → A → D → G → B → E, then re-check the low E. Tuning changes the total tension on the neck, which nudges the strings you already did. A ten-second second pass is the difference between “close” and “in tune.”
Beyond standard tuning
Because this is a chromatic tuner, it reads any target — not just the six standard notes. When you’re ready to explore, there are preset tuner pages with the target notes docked right under the dial for Drop D, half step down (E♭ standard), Open G, Open D, DADGAD and Drop C — plus a guide for the 12-string. And if you want to understand what the needle is actually measuring, start with what cents are.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work for electric guitar, or only acoustic?
Both. An unplugged electric is quiet but perfectly readable — play close to the microphone and pluck firmly. If your electric is running through an amp, tune from the amp’s sound (clean channel, moderate volume); heavy distortion adds harmonics that can make any tuner’s reading jumpy.
The tuner shows the right letter but my chords still sound off. Why?
Letter-right is only half the job — a string can read “E” while sitting 40 cents flat. Center the needle on every string, not just the letter. If chords are still sour with all six needles centered, the usual culprits are old strings or intonation, covered in why your guitar won’t stay in tune.
How often should I tune?
Every time you pick the guitar up, honestly — it takes under a minute. Wood and strings move with temperature and humidity, and new strings drift constantly for their first few days until they finish stretching.