How to Tune a Fender Electric Guitar
- 1). Use a fresh set of strings. Tuning a guitar that has an old set of strings can be compared with filling an old, worn-out car tire with air. It won't help it work much better. Old strings become rusty and sound flat. New strings will make a guitar sound brighter and it will be easier to tune.
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Guitar tuners can help you tune your guitar.tuning pegs image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
Tune a guitar using a device called a guitar tuner. This small hand-held gadget doesn't physically tune the guitar for you, but it lets you see what note you are playing. The thickest string is called the bottom string and is usually an "E" note. Set the tuner to "E" and pluck the string. The tuner will show you if you need to tune higher (increase the pitch) or lower (decrease the pitch). Adjust the pitch of the string by turning the tuning pegs at the top of the guitar's neck until the tuner is green or at zero. Repeat this process with each remaining string. They are "A," "D," "G," "B" and "E." This last string is called a "high E." It is the thinnest string. - 3). Tune using a tone match tuner. These tuners play the note each guitar string should be. So if you set it to "E," you will hear the "E" note. Play your low "E" string on the guitar (the thickest string) and tune it to the tone the tuner is playing by turning the tuning pegs at the top of the guitar neck. Repeat this process with the remaining five strings.
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Avoid depening on a machine by learning to tune by ear.Guitar tuning image by cdbdi from Fotolia.com
Tune your guitar by ear. Pick a reference point on the guitar. This is usually the low "E" (thickest string). The low "E" can be matched to the "E" note on a piano or another instrument. Move your finger to the 5th fret and hold it down on the string (frets are the boxes along the guitar's neck). Pluck the string. This is an "A" note. Tune the next string to match this note. Repeat this process until you get to the "B" string (second-thinnest string). To tune the "B" string hold your finger over the 4th fret and press down on the "G" string. Tune the "B" string to match it. The final string is the high "E." Hold your finger over the 5th fret and press down on the "B" string. Tune the final string to match this tone.
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