Have you ever heard somebody play an out-of-tune guitar? It certainly isn’t the same crisp, rockin’ sound of one that is perfectly and harmoniously tuned. Tuning an electric guitar can be done in several ways, both with or without an amplifier or any equipment at all!
An amplifier is not necessary to tune an electric guitar. Instead, tuning can be done through tuning pedals, clips, online apps, or even by ear. This is because amplifiers are primarily used to project sound, usually for music concerts and events, not for tuning instruments.
So if an amp isn’t available when your guitar needs tuning, don’t fret! This article will provide all the information you need to learn the basics of guitar tuning with and without equipment. I’ll also discuss a few of the different devices and tuning methods on the market.
Related: how to tune an acoustic guitar without a tuner, how to tune a 12 string guitar, and how to play a guitar without strumming. Our guide to learning guitar by yourself covers the basics in one place.
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- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used😏)
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- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
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Understand Standard and Alternate Guitar Tuning
Before fully grasping how to tune your guitar correctly, it’s essential to understand the difference between standard and alternate types of tuning. Each has its merits but ultimately, the choice comes down to preference and accuracy. Generally if you’re looking for accuracy, the best choice is usually equipment-based tuning.
Since guitars only have six strings (unlike a piano with a range of close to ninety keys), standard tuning is most often in the keys of E-A-D-G-B-E. The low E is the thickest string on the guitar or the topmost string when holding the instrument in playing position.
Sometimes, musicians choose alternate tuning keys to create different-sounding songs. For example, a common alternate tuning scale is D-A-D-G-A-D (dadgad).
Led Zeppelin’s unique tune Black Mountainside is a popular song that uses this scale. Joni Mitchell, too, used Dadgad in her music. You can check it out on this video:
Choosing to tune your guitar in standard or alternate scales is a personal decision based on how you want your music to sound. Of course, this guide will teach you how to change the sound of your instrument any time you want to mix things up.
1. Tune Your Guitar With Equipment
Two well-known devices used to tune an electric guitar are tuning clips and tuning pedals. Each accomplishes the same goal with relatively high accuracy but in different ways. Musicians use clip-on and pedal tuners in several types of environments.
Tuning Clip (Clip-On Guitar Tuner)
A tuning clip is essentially a tuner that gets clipped onto the headstock of a guitar (the piece with the tuning pegs on it). When a string is played, the vibration of the note on the guitar’s body gets converte