If you own a guitar, it is an indisputable fact that you also need a guitar tuner. It is an essential accessory to playing a guitar that sounds good; however, with the vast array of options available on the market, knowing which kind to use can be complicated. And now more than ever, people are wondering whether they should get a traditional tuner or just use a tuner app on their phone.
You should just use a tuner app if you are a beginner guitarist just learning to play, travel a lot, don’t have much space in your guitar bag, and have a quiet room to tune in. Buy a guitar tuner if you are more experienced, playing on stage, recording tracks, or don’t have a quiet space to play.
In this article, we will help you decide whether you should be using a traditional guitar tuner or a tuner app on your phone by discussing each one’s pros and cons and what situations you might use each of them in. We will also give you some recommendations of both traditional tuners and tuner apps you can use to get you started. Now let’s get into the article!
If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:
- Fender Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle (MY FAVORITE GUITAR)
- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used)
- 6 String Acoustic Guitar Capo (Best CAPO for quick changes)
- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
- Universal Guitar Stand (Cheap & Minimalist Guitar Stand I Recommend)
- Levy’s 2″ Wide Quick Adjust Guitar Strap (Best Guitar Strap For Any Level)
Which One Should You Buy And Use: Guitar Tuner Or Tuner App?
Ah, the age-old question that has plagued guitar players since the time that smartphones became popular and people started developing apps for, well, everything. However, unlike some of the other object vs. app debates out there, this one doesn’t have an obvious answer. Or at least, not an objective one, because let’s be honest, people will always have strong opinions on this topic.
So in the interest of giving you the most objective answer possible, we have done some investigating and will list the pros and cons of both tuner types, as well as how they work, and then give you our opinion on which one you should use.
Guitar Tuner
Traditional guitar tuners come in various form factors, but the most common kind is the kind that clips onto the guitar. They are clipped onto the guitar’s headstock and when you play your guitar or pluck at one of the strings, measure the resonant frequency of the string being played. This frequency is measured by the tuner picking up on the vibrations that move through the guitar’s body when a string is plucked.
The tuner will then analyze the frequency created by these vibrations and indicate to the player (on its LCD screen) whether they need to tighten or loosen that string’s peg to get it to create the correct frequency, and thus be “in tune” as they call it.
The design of each tuner and their respective LCD screen interfaces will differ; however, almost all of them will show which string they are measuring and will have a way of indicating when that string is correctly tuned. Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using this kind of tuner.
Pros
- Give you the most accurate tuning on your guitar.
- Don’t pick on ambient noise as tuner apps do, so they work much better in noisy places than the apps.
- It can sometimes be plugged directly into your guitar, avoiding latency and external noise complications.
Cons
- Some are big and take up a lot of space in your guitar bag or may need to be carried around in their own case.
- Often very expensive.
- Don’t offer the additional features that tuner apps often do.
- Often operate on replaceable batteries, requiring you to keep extras on hand.
Tuner App
Tuning apps work entirely differently from the way that traditional tuners do. Where traditional tuners can directly measure the frequency of the string being played, tuner apps record the sound that the string creates and then use software to convert the sound into an understandable frequency.
Once the perceived sound has been converted to a frequency, the app will then use a code to determine whether that frequency falls within the accepted range of note accuracy. The app will display to the guitarist whether they need to tighten or loosen the peg that the string is attached to get the sound into its accepted range of accuracy. Once this has been done, your guitar will be considered “in tune.”
There are dozens of these apps available; however, the initial software developed for them hasn’t been improved that much in subsequent years. What has been improved upon is the hardware of the phones that these apps are installed on. The piece of hardware that is most important to the accuracy of a tuning app is the microphone.
As this piece of hardware is improved, your phone’s ability to pick up the sound of your guitar accurately improves along with it. And hopefully, in the future, the software that these apps use will also be improved to make their tuning capabilities even more accurate. Now let’s have a look at the pros and cons of tuning apps.
Pros
- Convenient to carry, because most people carry their phones with them everywhere they go.
- Less expensive than traditional tuners and often may be completely free.
- Suitable for beginner players who don’t want to invest in a lot of gear from the get-go.
- Offer additional features like a metronome, chord library, and alternate tunings.
Cons
- Don’t tune as accurately as traditional tuners.
- May suffer latency issues, making getting an accurate tuning more difficult.
- Pick up on a lot of ambient noise, so they can’t be used in noisy places or on-the-go during a performance or sound-check.
- Require your phone to be charged to use them.
- Require that you have a relatively new smartphone for them to work at their best.
- It may differ depending on the software your phone uses (i.e., iOS or Android).
As you can tell from the above information, there’s a lot to love and hate about both types of guitar tuners, and there is no clear-cut best option for you to choose from. However, there are some factors you can consider to make your decision easier.
If you are a beginner guitarist and are just starting to learn how to play the guitar, using a tuning app on your phone will work just fine for you. They are able to tune your guitar accurately enough that you’ll be able to play on it without any trouble. If you have a nice quiet room to practice in, an app will work just fine for you.
However, as you become a more advanced player and maybe want to start performing on stage or recording some songs of your own, it would be wise to invest in a traditional guitar tuner. They will tune your guitar with greater accuracy and are better to use if you need to tune your guitar in a noisy place or somewhere other people are also playing their instruments.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine which type of tuner will work best for you. Still, it may be a good idea to start out using a tuner app, then invest in a traditional tuner later on and keep the tuner app on your phone as a back-up to the traditional tuner.
Tuner Recommendations: Traditional and Apps
Now that we’ve discussed which tuner type is the best for you to use, we want to recommend some tuners that we think are good options to get you started.
Traditional Tuners
- MOOER Clip-on Chromatic Guitar Tuner
- KLIQ UberTuner – Professional Clip-On Tuner
- Snark ST-8 Super Tight Clip-On Tuner
- Fangstar Clip-On Guitar Tuner
Tuner Apps
- Fender Tune (iOS & Android)
- gStrings (Android)
- GuitarTuna (iOS & Android)
- BOSS (iOS & Android)
- Airyware (iOS & Android)
Should You Buy a Guitar Tuner or Just Use a Tuner App: Conclusion
You should aim to learn how to tune your guitar by ear in the long run, but in the meantime, you can use either a tuner app on your phone or a traditional guitar tuner like the clip-on versions we listed above (Note: locking tuners on acoustic guitar may be worth it.). Hopefully, this article was able to help you decide on whether you want to use a tuner app or a traditional tuner.
If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:
- Fender Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle (MY FAVORITE GUITAR)
- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used)
- 6 String Acoustic Guitar Capo (Best CAPO for quick changes)
- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
- Universal Guitar Stand (Cheap & Minimalist Guitar Stand I Recommend)
- Levy’s 2″ Wide Quick Adjust Guitar Strap (Best Guitar Strap For Any Level)
Should You Buy a Guitar Tuner or Just Use a Tuner App: FAQs
Are tuner apps as good as guitar tuners?
Tuner apps can be as good as guitar tuners, depending on the quality of the app and the device it is used on. Some tuner apps use advanced algorithms and can be just as accurate as traditional guitar tuners. However, some apps may be less accurate or less responsive, depending on the device and the environment.
Are guitar tuners better than apps?
Guitar tuners and apps can be equally effective, depending on the individual’s preferences and needs. Traditional guitar tuners can be more reliable and offer a more tactile experience, while tuner apps can be more convenient and portable.
Is a clip on tuner better than an app?
A clip-on tuner can be more reliable and accurate than an app, as it is designed specifically for tuning instruments and can be attached directly to the guitar. However, a high-quality tuner app can also be effective and offer more convenience and portability.
Do you really need a guitar tuner?
While it is possible to tune a guitar by ear or using other methods, a guitar tuner can be a useful tool for achieving precise and accurate tuning. A tuner can also help to develop the ear and improve playing technique.
Do professional musicians use tuners?
Yes, many professional musicians use tuners to achieve precise and accurate tuning. Tuners can also be useful in live performance settings where quick and accurate tuning is necessary.
Are tuners really worth it?
Tuners can be a useful tool for achieving precise and accurate tuning, and can also help to develop the ear and improve playing technique. Whether or not a tuner is worth it depends on the individual’s needs and preferences.
Do guitar apps actually help?
Guitar apps can be a useful tool for learning and practicing guitar, as they offer a wide range of features and resources. Tuner apps can also be effective for achieving precise and accurate tuning.
What is the most accurate guitar tuning method?
The most accurate guitar tuning method is to use an electronic tuner, which uses advanced algorithms to measure the frequency of each string and provide precise tuning feedback.
What is the most accurate way to tune a guitar?
The most accurate way to tune a guitar is to use an electronic tuner, which can provide precise feedback on the frequency of each string.
Are digital guitar tuners accurate?
Yes, digital guitar tuners can be accurate and reliable, and are often preferred by professional musicians for their precision and ease of use.
Are clip-on tuners worth it?
Clip-on tuners can be worth it for their convenience and portability, as well as their accuracy and reliability. They can also be a good option for live performance settings where quick and accurate tuning is necessary.
Can I use my phone as a guitar tuner?
Yes, many smartphone apps are available for tuning guitars and other instruments. These apps use the device’s microphone to measure the frequency of each string and provide tuning feedback.
Are expensive guitar tuners worth it?
Expensive guitar tuners may offer additional features and greater accuracy than less expensive models, but whether or not they are worth it depends on the individual’s needs and preferences.
Why would a guitar need tuners?
Guitar tuners are used to achieve precise and accurate tuning, which is necessary for producing the correct pitch and maintaining consistent tone and intonation.
How to tune guitar without tuner apps?
Guitars can be tuned without tuner apps by using reference pitches, tuning forks, or other instruments to achieve the correct pitch. It is also possible to tune by ear, although this can be challenging for beginners.
Should you practice with a tuner?
Practicing with a tuner can help to develop the ear and improve playing technique, as it encourages precision and accuracy in tuning and playing.
Do tuners make a difference?
Tuners can make a significant difference in the quality and consistency of a guitar’s tone and intonation. Precise and accurate tuning is necessary for producing the correct pitch and maintaining consistent tone and intonation across different frets and chords.
How accurate is the Fender tuner app?
The Fender tuner app is known for its accuracy and reliability, and is widely used by guitarists and other musicians. The app uses advanced algorithms to measure the frequency of each string and provide precise tuning feedback.
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