How to Tune a Guitar Without a Tuner for Beginners | Guitar Tips

[@ayamerrouane9547]

Thank you!! I was able to successfully tune my daughter’s first guitar!! Can’t wait to see her face when she sees it on Christmas morning 🎄❤️

[@TomasMichaud]

Great job Aya!

[@babiperini1799]

Oh, this is so beautiful! I guess she loved it!

[@aornngaming]

I'm seeing it after a year. But still excited to Know what was her reaction tho ... I hope she's gonna love it

[@shutupfam4237]

W mum

[@elanking]

Whats her reaction

[@eleanorwayland1440]

You are the best really I gave up on learning how to tune my guitar by myself until this video got randomly recommended to me. The best teacher ever

[@TomasMichaud]

Glad I could help!

[@everardosabido6649]

Not accurate

[@eleanorwayland1440]

@@everardosabido6649 what's not accurate?

[@edwinsmith2827]

I can't figure out what I did wrong. It sounds terrible!

[@Jivi_Galaxy]

Awww 🥺 sir you are really kind. You give me some energy. ❤️ I stopped my guitar lessons for months now I'm starting again 🤗 it was my birthday from dad. 🤗

[@TomasMichaud]

You can do it!

[@rubydog25]

hey. tune each string from top to bottom until you hear them perfectly in tune, then tune relative lower strings to the higher string down until you hear 4 clashes a second. this gives you a nice tempered tune that compensates well and plays well.

[@nihaswikanaladi4378]

Definitely

[@jazza4762]

Huh?

[@jasonduodu1571]

im sorry what?😀

[@icebear8058]

@@jasonduodu1571 are you confused too? 😃

[@suminshizzles6951]

The clashes you are talking about..... Is the wah wah wah wah we hear when we use one string to tune the other? As in they are out of phase and coming into phase

[@rae6140]

I'm pretty happy with myself, I figured out this method on my own after learning the concept of notes step/half steps. I did get stumped by the low e string, but I guess I'll need an external source until I memorize how it should sound. This gave me a confidence boost, as I'm pretty insecure about my guitar playing.

[@TomasMichaud]

It's nice to hear from you, Rachael. Good job!

[@mjrchapin]

Congratulations on your progress. Here's a clue for that E that almost anybody can get. There will be a song on YT on in your own collection that you like by excellent musicians. Avoid live versions where the tuning can slip. I usually grab Pink Floyd's acoustic start to Wish You Were Here. You'll get your E string and a simple riff multiple times so you can keep checking. nd if you listen, you'll pick up the simple riff as you do it. The chord is easy as well: E Minor, Good luck!

[@aqeeftaa6170]

I always tune by an tuning app, I never tune by ear, but after watching this video I will. This video is really helpful

[@mika-ew5bu]

which app do you use

[@hounddoggurxi203]

I tried practicing this at home by messing with the tuner. and arranging them like a rubics cube later on. this is my method to train my ear. and it works fine wine.

[@TomasMichaud]

Cool!

[@Spikethepurpledragon-gr6rn]

I actually cannot believe that you managed to teach me. I have been looking at sooo many videos and I simply could not understand any of them. THANK YOU!

[@TomasMichaud]

You're very welcome!

[@gracielasandt4142]

Thank you so much!!! I remember back in my high school years the way we used to tune our guitars. I just got it. You made my day. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

[@00ilera00]

NEVER tune your guitar without getting the low E tuned correctly to pitch. This is going to program your ears to associate the wrong pitch to each string.

[@stevesalt8003]

Exactly what I thought. Never tune the guitar to itself. Terrible advice.

[@nxxqx6912]

But how do you get it to lit h

[@youtubedeletedmynamewhybother]

The issue im finding is that peoples guitars on youtube seem to not really be the same thing as mine. My E string seems lower than a lot of youtube videos and even if i tune it up it just sounds different. So im really struggling to find the "baseline" for the notes in the first place. I have a Magnum Acoustic, idk what model n stuff exactly.

[@my2cents49]

@@youtubedeletedmynamewhybother same.

[@STEVEM730]

You can even put your eye out with a snapped string if you're low E was way high

[@emilyjeffrey7218]

Took me so long to find this method of tuning !!!! It’s how I learned as a young one, and I remembered, but couldn’t remember which fret to tune on !!! Ugh thank you for this !!!

[@TomasMichaud]

You're welcome Emily.

[@gjoseph1628]

On the contrary, once you are taught how to tune a guitar this way, you never forget. Or should I say, "very unlikely to forget even after many long years".

[@redapplemusicofficial]

this actually helped me THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[@alliyah6502]

Everything makes more sense now, i didnt know anything about tuning 😭 thank you so much sir this is definitely gonna help in the future

[@TomasMichaud]

Happy to help Alliyah!

[@sachertorte9806]

I play guitar and sing for the last 30-35 years and I always tune my guitar by ear. I just need the E or A sometimes, but not very often. And then play the few strings of the chord to see if it is ok. I already have the 6 strings "in my ear" so to speak. But this is a very good video.

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to watch it.

[@newsforyou5394]

Thanks alot i been using apps for years, everytime i tune it , it tune too tight that help alot , i give you the like you deserve it.

[@emilyelizondo728]

Sait what app do you use I’ve been trying to look for some

[@unknownalien5424]

@@emilyelizondo728 guitar tuna is pretty good.

[@rossanadejesus6828]

@@emilyelizondo728 00⁰0000⁰0900000⁰00

[@kashish-1871]

@@unknownalien5424 that app made my 2nd string broke I didn't do it , I swear

[@tshegofatsothejane2345]

Thank you sooo much. I used Fender Tune to get the 6th string right, and then tuned the rest using this method :) And to double verify that the other strings are in tune, I use Fender Tune again once I'm done with each string.

[@TomasMichaud]

That's a great idea. Glad the lesson helped!

[@clintonsavage4018]

This all well and good if you're only tuning to play by yourself. In that case though, I only use the fretted method for tuning the B string, for all of the others I use the 5th fret harmonic on the lower string and the 7th fret harmonic on the upper string. This keeps them both in neutral state instead of one string with extra tension on it.

[@beawsbiz]

This harmonic method is well known to be flawed and compromises equal temperament.

[@LiteralGhost8]

Got my guitar for Christmas and I feel like I already know what Imm doing. Thanks mate :]

[@TomasMichaud]

You are very welcome Alex. keep up the good work!

[@marybrum3091]

thank you so much I just got my first guitar and I dont know how to tune it and I don't have a tuner this really helps me alot!

[@TomasMichaud]

You welcome Mary.

[@mr.hanger]

I've been tuning this way for over 30 years. My suggestion for the low e is to play a song that you know well and sing to it. It takes experience and practice, but you'll get it

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks for sharing Casey.

[@vn2022_]

I didn't learn this process, like tuning my guitar by ear. But the moment I learned how to play the guitar, this kind of tuning process just came in just naturally.

[@SandraFidelis_RN]

Love your guitar learning journey. Life is short, give it your best.

[@aiahcreates8704]

HAHA

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks Sandra. I'm glad to see you're making music.

[@dijonstreak]

..great job !!.. been playing for Xyears and have ALWAYS tuned my guitar by EAR...mNY DIFFERENT WAYS..I CAN USE A PITCHFORK TUNED TO A = 440 OR G=196.0....OR playing the E = 82.41 on the keyboard..( it helps a lot if you can play a keyboard BELIEVE ME )..excellent for EAR-TRAINING...ya can't beat it folks !!

[@christianfruhauf5161]

Great end of your speech... “life is short”... Excellent! You’re right and so kind, really... So much appreciated! Thank you!

[@TomasMichaud]

You are so welcome Christian.

[@45Blackjack]

Also the closer you get the 2 strings in tune, plucking 1 will cause the other to vibrate more and more 🎷😎👍

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks for sharing. I didn't know that.

[@beawsbiz]

A lot of people here are asking how they tune their first string to an accurate pitch. This would commonly be A or E. This would be considered a “reference” pitch so that you would be in tune with other musicians. Traditionally this would be a tuning fork or piano. As a youngster I had a tuning fork for reference when tuning my Viola. You often hear orchestras playing a reference note so that they are all in tune with each other. Probably originally taken from the orchestras piano. In a “guitars/band” situation, without an electronic tuner you would ideally require a tuning fork as a reference. Give the accuracy and quality of most guitars even if every band member tuned their A strings with each other they would be unlikely to be far from A=440. Even if the band was slightly off from A=440 it would be of little consequence as long as every band member used that original A reference point and then tuned the rest of their instruments to their reference note. With your same instrument at home, without a tuner it would be normal to just keep tuning the guitar to itself until you need a reference point again, such as a band situation or playing along to a record. Most people these days do use a tuner but I can see the value in having mastered tuning by ear.

[@jinreitsung7833]

Many thanks !! I dont know why the heck when I use Guitar Tuna or other tuners and when I try E the tuner shows the A or G , I remember an old man that just with his ear would tell when good or not and I want to trust my ears better

[@gjoseph1628]

Yes, TRUST WHAT YOU HEAR! We were not evolved with electronic note tuners installed, but we evolved to know what we hear and we know when the sounds are wrong or right.

[@UmVtCg]

A couple of decades ago I didn't have a tuner. I tuned the E or A string to a record. Later I got one of those whistle tuners but the 5 fret method was way faster by then.

[@gjoseph1628]

One of the troubles using the pitch-pipes is that the exact pitch changes as your breath-pressure through it changes, so becomes difficult to match string pitch correctly. Years later after first learning to tune a guitar, I stopped using the pitch-pipe.

[@gjoseph1628]

I use more than just this. I often include a tuning fork and listen to beating between the sounded A string and the ringing tuning fork; and adjust until the beating is gone. I then use both unison between neighboring strings (fifth fret or fourth fret as suited), and harmonics, and recheck with one or two or three basic chords. I have never used nor possessed an electronic tuner.

[@TomasMichaud]

old school, awesome!

[@GodsStoryteller]

Coming to learn from your comment. Thanks.

[@Foprop1]

This is one of the hardest things I've done in my life 😭, thank you for the tutorial l, cuz I was wondering why my new guitar wasn't sounding right, cuz the ppl at the store didn't tune it correctly 😔

[@mario3687]

Buyed a guitar today and looking forward for your videos sir

[@TomasMichaud]

I wish you the best Natsu.

[@jamiehamblin7204]

That's the way I learned many Moons ago...thank you for keeping this method alive, it works great.

[@TomasMichaud]

You bet!

[@Trenchant468]

@@TomasMichaudHa! My ancient brain just remembered guitar pitch pipes!

[@seamusdoran9851]

Dry straightforward. Thank you. 👍👍👍

[@kayanajoseph1584]

This was really helpful, all the other videos I had watched before this was really complicated thx sm

[@TomasMichaud]

I'm so glad!

[@claritapayang6239]

Oh thanks a lot.i've learned this from you sir.now I can play guitar while I'm alone...

[@TomasMichaud]

That's great Clarita!

[@Thinkingtoomuchh]

Thank you man hope you’re life is goin well

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks, Solomon. I'm doing great.

[@philorlowski2681]

Typically, my low "E" string is lower than "real E" -- playing with other guitars, they tune to me. This gives the music a richer sound. When there's a keyboard in the group, we'll tune our E to the keyboard A which also allows a sax to stay tuned to the key board. To achieve the desired effect. Experiment. There's a 'right way' to tune and there's other ways that produce awesome sounds to match vocals that might otherwise sound a bit offish.

[@megalofish2]

Thanks this helped I wanted to play guitar but my parents didn’t let me so recently I found an old guitar my dad played in high school so I’m learning

[@TomasMichaud]

I'm glad to hear that. Why won't they let you play guitar?

[@gjoseph1628]

What you show and discuss here was known just as well fifty to sixty years ago as it is today; NO ELECTRONIC Tuners back then ! . Still you show the first good steps to tuning a guitar.

[@MJ-sj9ho]

Hey thank you for Sharing your talents your the best!!!!!

[@TomasMichaud]

You are so welcome Maryjo!

[@sjohnson1216]

Did it! Thanks, Tomas.

[@MsSunnyda]

Thank u for the lesson on the low E string tuning. I will tune my guitar to yours. obviously I'm new to this lol.

[@TomasMichaud]

Have fun!

[@householdone7559]

Great.. for people like me who haven't got a tuner that 5th fret method is brilliant. And i just tune the E string to an electric keyboard we have lying around... thanks.

[@TomasMichaud]

Sounds great!

[@gjoseph1628]

Opt maybe for a tuning fork, if you visit a music shop.

[@kartikayshukla2166]

Under rated video Guys share this I watched so many videos and this was the best

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks, Kartikay. I appreciate it.

[@damianperez9923]

Thanks you explained it in simple terms. keep up the good work.

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks, will do Damian!

[@jsvaiphei6070]

The video i have searched for a long time. thanks alot' it did really help

[@NaqashMunir]

It feels so good to keep tightening the string

[@tammyaikman1990]

A good way to learn this method is listen to the low e string when it's in tune and hum that note through the day , and then when you can hum it you can keep that string in tune and all the rest follow

[@commonsense2809]

Thanks my nephew is 12 and just got an electric 🎸 today this video is very helpful 👍

[@TomasMichaud]

Glad it helped Kelly. I do however strongly recommend getting an inexpensive electronic tuner. It really will save a lot of headaches.

[@m.suriyanarayanan8157]

Beautiful and most useful content

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks a lot

[@jorgevelasquez9955]

Thank you! Hopefully your lower e is somewhat close when starting to tune.

[@hodgepodgemomentswithrenee6857]

Thanks! This is so cool!

[@TomasMichaud]

Glad you like it!

[@denisjainarine2548]

To know if my guitar is perfectly tuned I usually match up all similar notes together, for example the 'Gs' on the sixth and first strings, third fret and 'G' on the open third string, etc. etc. Every E on the entire fingerboard, every D, every C, etc must blend together with its similar note. If not something is wrong with the guitar. Sometimes the neck is being bent inwards making it difficult to tune. Anyway my way of tuning is not for beginners, I usually tune in a different way.

[@lasharojenko6907]

Hi there my name is Lasha I’ll be on KZbin at some point thank you so much for the tips they really helped🙏

[@darrenpape6868]

Hey!, thank you very much I am a older beginner and keep using my electronic tuner.

[@gjoseph1628]

Trust that you do not need an electronic tuner. Tuning any string to a reference. Use unisons and harmonics between neighboring strings and adjust as desired; recheck using simple common chords.

[@skittlewee4041]

Don't know how many people are facing this problem but as a beginner my string keeps breaking when I tune :-(

[@ismailedoomun8006]

Probably too tight

[@beawsbiz]

Although this method observes “equal temperament” it suffers from accumulative errors and for this reason I would avoid it. I personally tune to the bottom open E string to the 7th fret on the A string (not harmonics), then the A at 2nd fret on the G string compared to the open A, then the A at the 5th fret on the top E string. Then use the open D string and tune the D at the 3rd fret on the B string. Then compare the Open G string with the G at the 3rd fret on the upper E string. Also then check the bottom E with E at the second fret on the D string and the open top E string. Making sure never to change the open A as that is your reference note.

[@beawsbiz]

I stupidly forgot to include tune the D string at the 7th fret to the open A string. (Not harmonics)

[@alphakenny1193]

My friends tried to teach me this method i cound not understand it but after you explained it i get it now thanks a lot

[@TomasMichaud]

Happy to help Stephen.

[@peterhaynes8258]

What you want is a clip on tuner saves all the hassle & tune to E.A.D.G.B.E. or whatever. You can pick a tuner up on ebay for around £5/£10.

[@TomasMichaud]

Yes, I agree Peter.

[@277southtombob]

I read that the banjo player Earl Scruggs would use a 8 foot fluorescent light fixture to get the right pitch to tune to if he didn’t have anything else. Apparently the 8 ft, 2 bulb fixtures hum a perfect B flat.

[@lawremickylaw8242]

Thank you. I'm clearly clarify my doubt with yr help

[@TomasMichaud]

Happy to help

[@occamsrazor9183]

I found your video for someone else, I cannot remember if my Dad had taught me this or how I learned, just don't remember, it must have been him, I have always been able to do this for let's say 4o years...

[@REVERT_THE_REWORK]

Thanks this was so helpful thank you so much

[@TomasMichaud]

You're so welcome Enzi!

[@kueihnaihfamily5136]

it actually worked thanks

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks for letting me know San.

[@melchlobell2100]

Thanks for the advice!

[@kiro8002]

damn bro you here casue of qaurantine arent you

[@wilfredkarakach8822]

This hath really helped me.Thanks

[@TomasMichaud]

Glad to hear it Wilfred!

[@meghajaiswal1461]

Thanku sir this is very helpfull

[@TomasMichaud]

Most welcome

[@anilkumar-jw6gx]

Very much nice lession sir

[@Snoopdawggydawgg]

My teacher showed me this at school and it made everything easier 😁

[@TomasMichaud]

Awesome Rox!

[@hovering_track31]

Thank you bro you helped me so much😊

[@TomasMichaud]

No problem 👍

[@daniellynch8758]

I got my guitar on Christmas I don’t even have a clue what he’s talking about

[@TomasMichaud]

Hi Daniel. I can give you some very valuable advice if you're open to it? Here it is: Get a digital guitar tuner. Even a cheap one will save you a lot of time and frustration. Now it's up to you.

[@ZachShults]

It also could be the other way around, I personally string my guitars where it tunes the opposite way, lower and higher on the tuning machine being swapped.

[@TomasMichaud]

Hmmm... interesting Zac 😏

[@ZachShults]

@@TomasMichaud lol

[@ZachShults]

@@TomasMichaud Basically when I put on my strings I wrap them around the other way

[@MDHenry4]

Great 👍 and thanks

[@julyguchi5327]

Thanks a lot sir.... It's very helpful...

[@TomasMichaud]

Most welcome Julie.

[@yugendralimbu4203]

thank you for your teach sir iam from Nepali.

[@rachaelmarks2]

Thank you!!!

[@luckyhomes6396]

Thank you sir really appreciate

[@jackywrites2021]

Thanks!

[@TomasMichaud]

Thank you, Jacky.

[@meria1021]

Thanks so much this actually help alot

[@patelmahi9461]

Wow Sir thankyou so much sir for solve this problem ☺️

[@TomasMichaud]

Most welcome Patel.

[@sweetytweety4996]

Thanks so much.. 😊❤

[@PeterKHPark]

it is so amazing your the best!!!!!!!!!

[@StomreyKema-og3tp]

It's working wow ❤❤❤❤❤

[@neilrajsaha1873]

Wow so helpful I love ur vids

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks Neil.

[@Wired.by.Society]

Thank you soooooooooooo much!!!

[@TomasMichaud]

You're welcome! 😀

[@engr.kadooor09]

automatic subscribe thank you so much sir

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks for the sub!

[@douglaswilson1005]

Thanks!

[@TomasMichaud]

Thank you Douglas.

[@missedshotz-_-9141]

Should I get an acoustic my friend said they are hard is that true. Or should I stick with electric for now

[@TomasMichaud]

There are 2 kinds of guitars actually, acoustic and classical guitar. Acoustic has nylon strings (easier on the fingers) and classical has steel strings, so a little tougher on the fingers. Those guitars and electric guitar are of course very different from each other. This article I wrote I think will help you also decide what guitar is best for you. www.tomasmichaud.com/best-guitar-beginners-classical-or-acoustic/

[@raeraejnrbbnz3737]

Thank you heaps

[@TomasMichaud]

Glad I could help, Raeraejnr.

[@subambayo4124]

It worked!!! Wow.. Thanks so much

[@gracehanah3213]

Thank you

[@eloise6866]

Yh... I’m lost. This is rlly confusing

[@kiranchelani6367]

lmao same

[@amyrichardson1916]

I've never played guitar before amd this was easy

[@eloise6866]

Amy Richardson Yh I never played guitar before and this wasn’t easy -_-

[@ApollonarianShy]

@@amyrichardson1916 it was easy for you To tune without a tuner?

[@amyrichardson1916]

@@ApollonarianShy yh I found it really easy

[@MykolaDolgalov]

When I tune my new electric guitar like this, then my two E strings' sounds don't match (dissonance), and the chords sound wrong. What can be the reason and how to fix it? Thank you!

[@TomasMichaud]

My guess is some mistake along the way. Note, I go into how to make sure your low E is in tune, by comparing it to another instrument. The low E must be in tune before you can accurately tune the rest of the strings off of that one string. Watch the video once more and give it a go again! Let me know if you have any more issues :)

[@MykolaDolgalov]

@@TomasMichaud Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it! I guess, I made mistakes and they compound from string to string. I watched some other videos that also show how to check using harmonics (gently touching at 1/4th of string length), as well as to listen for waw-waw-waw pattern of sound when the strings are very slightly out of tune and are playing at the same time. After such tuning everything seems to be in order. Thanks again for responding to my question. It's incredibly that this video has 672K views, and you're responding personally! Cheers!

[@okhakhuanthonyoghenakhogie5889]

I used this method and it works and I'm currently using your Lower E as my tune guide but how do I tune my lower E to my satisfaction

[@TomasMichaud]

Usually with a tuning fork, piano, another guitar (so you can play together) or a recorded note.

[@kayceelozada1087]

thank you for this

[@TomasMichaud]

You're very welcome Kaycee!

[@tomquirke1688]

Very handy to know 👌

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks Tom. I'm glad you found this helpful.

[@libradomateojr9756]

Basically you've got the exact tuning man, how about the standard tuning,?

[@LDucon]

FOR THE LIFE OF ME!!! I can't seem to get those same sounds from my own metal strings without risking them to pop. Why is that?? I bought 09-45 strings because they are thinner. But still- not even close to standard tuning sounds such as above☝ Worth mentioning that I have rewired my epihone guitar to play left handed, as well as changing the bridge saddle upside down. Could this have something to do with it? All help welcomed! Thank you!

[@mondowyy9809]

Done like and subscribe. Tq very much! Very helpful.

[@mr.beez42.tgaming]

I'm new subscriber love from Indian 😇✌️

[@TomasMichaud]

Welcome to the channel, happy to have you with us!

[@mr.beez42.tgaming]

🥰🤗