How To Tune Your Guitar by Ear

Before tuning your guitar by ear, it's vital to understand what standard tuning is. Standard tuning for a six-string guitar starts from the thickest string (the 6th string) to the thinnest string (the 1st string): E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4.

To tune your guitar by ear, start with a reference pitch. This can be any instrument that’s already tuned (piano, tuner, or another guitar). Locate the note E2 (the 6th string) on your reference and match your guitar string’s pitch to it.

Once the 6th string is in tune, proceed to tune the other strings by ear. Use the 6th string to tune the 5th string (A) by fretting the 5th fret of the 6th string, which produces an A note that should match the open 5th string.

After tuning the 5th string, repeat the process for the 4th string (D) by fretting the 5th fret of the 5th string. For the 3rd string (G), fret the 4th fret of the 4th string and match it with the open 3rd string.

For the 2nd string (B), fret the 4th fret of the 3rd string and match it to the open 2nd string. Finally, the 1st string (E) can be tuned by fretting the 5th fret of the 2nd string.

Once you finish tuning all the strings, double-check your tuning. Go through each string again to ensure that they are all in correct pitch. Play a few chords to further verify.

For more precise tuning, use harmonics. Lightly touch the 5th fret of the 6th string while plucking, and then compare it with the 7th fret of the 5th string (and so on). Adjust the strings accordingly.

The more you practice tuning by ear, the better you will become at identifying pitches and making adjustments. Try tuning without a reference pitch occasionally to develop your ear further.