The SECRET tuning trick I used to finally fix my tuning forever! No one taught me this :(

[@jonmaclennan]

►►Discover the 5 MUST-KNOW chords and scales to play in ANY style anywhere on the neck FREE PDF GUIDE → www.jonmaclennan.com/fretboardguide

[@banopo]

To all the older people who dont have alot of time left: SECRET starts at 5:15

[@dodger916]

Thanks! It did take quite a while...

[@sdmlinstructionvideos8506]

😂😂😂

[@kevinr.3542]

U didn't need a review on 5th fret tuning?

[@andrewcarr3650]

Weeel, not really, OMG! What a babble of nothing.

[@SD-nj1cy]

KZbin doesnt monetize short vids. They all put in filler to start the meter running.

[@martinheath5947]

When you're all tuned up I recommend this quick combined intonation+tuning check. On your low (thickest) E string fret an A five frets above the octave (17th fret) Play that note plus the A string open plus a high A two frets up on the D string as well, so you hear all three strings sounding together and listen for discrepancies. Repeat across the fingerboard, paired octaves straddling an open string each time. Surprising how quickly you can identify intonation issues this way even if your open strings are "in tune" on your tuner.

[@forcryingoutloud23]

I like to play a barre Emajor at the 7th fret A-string, if you don't mute the low E it should be 1 octave down and it makes it easy to hear the discrepancy

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

“Always tune UP , never down” !! This means if your sharp go well below flat then tune back up , if you go over do it again. Strings tuned UP will maintain tension even under stretch , and stay in tune. (Of coarse floating bridges are another monster but still tune UP ) 🤠🎸🎶🤙

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

The Pano Tuner app works with most smart phones ,and is free . It’s an amazing app. Fully adjustable if you want to down tune to say 432 . It also has a tone generator if you want hear the tuning note just like a fork. Except it’s adjustable to whatever frequency you want. You can also adjust the sensitivity from +-15 cents to +-5 cents. Having a worn fret can cause a chord to have a sharp note, or for a specific flavor at times I’ll tune my G string just at -5 cents still in tune to the ear , but off just enough to be “unique”.

[@johncarlo7395]

Absolutely, if you're sharp tune down and then up to pitch

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

@@johncarlo7395 it’s amazing how many guitarist don’t know this. Rock on

[@tedbundy2797]

@@theofficialdiamondlou2418 unjust downloaded and tried that pano tuner. Mediocre... Pro guitar tuner dials you in easier and more options.

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

@@tedbundy2797 except you have to pay to access those features. Whereas the Pano is actually FREE !!!!

[@zuperdee]

1) Another way you can do it is to use harmonics (e.g., 5/7 fret harmonics, or 5th fret harmonic on the Low E along with open high E). This way, if you don’t have perfect pitch, you can use the beats/phasing between the strings to get closer to tune than you could by ear. This method also eliminates any drift that might result from the intonation being off, which can ESPECIALLY be useful on Telecasters with 3 saddles. 2) I was also told in high school never to strike the tuning fork on a hard surface, but rather on something soft like the rubber sole of your shoe-this will extend the life of your tuning fork.

[@johnmoooo5804]

I've tolerated (just barely)3saddle telecasters for several decades. They were invented by the minions of Satan to torment guitarists.

[@SRHMusic012]

For guitars, the 7th fret harmonics do not match the target pitches on other strings and frets, due to the shifts in equal temperament tuning. Use of and 5th fret octave harmonics against fretted notes and you'll be fine.

[@dan_kay]

I am using the same clip-on tune for the past four years. I wouldn't know which part could possibly break. Maybe taking the tuner off before you throw the guitar into the speaker stack after a gig helps keeping the tuner alive :)

[@KGale]

Only lasts 3 months?? Yes, I’ve had mine for 2 years… and it’s rechargeable, so no need for batteries too.

[@micahrichardson6371]

Yeah. Hes never had a snark? Had mine for years

[@richardbrucemusic]

@@micahrichardson6371until recently, I was still using the tuner I got from Reverb WHEN THEY STARTED. When the clip to hold it on to the headstock broke, I simply attached it to the back of the headstock of my Squier Affinity bass with double-sided tape (no big loss there). So there's that...

[@MrVbobby]

I started playing in 1964, we used a tuning fork tuned to A. you would strike the fork then place it against the body of the guitar. It was a difficult process and we were rarely completely in tune. In 1966 I started playing piano also and then I would use the keys to tune my guitar. In a group it is almost more important to be in tune with each other than being pitch perfect. Once my keyboard had lost it tune a little and my guitar player would tune down to me to sound the best. John, how is it that you are always so upbeat? You remind me of one of those movie stars that you will automatically like as soon as you first hear them start talking. Never lose that natural easy going nature that is so enjoyable to listen to. Keep us the good work my friend.

[@keithdf2001]

Many players also say to only tune up from flat. The tuning pegs hold better this way and keeps the string in tune better.

[@jhandle4196]

. . . In other words, make your last move a tightening motion.

[@keithdf2001]

@@jhandle4196 Yes

[@torgo4ever]

ALWAYS tune up

[@rjpg]

actual instruction at 5:17, you're welcome.

[@Chaddilaculus]

It bears mentioning that every time you tune a string up, it pulls the neck forward very slightly which drops the other strings slightly flat, so you’ll need to go through tuning the strings at least twice if you want more accurate tuning. This effect is magnified when you use a floating tremolo system.

[@kirkhensley5870]

Clearly this is being ignored by our host here.

[@MikeS4628]

I have several tuning forks. I've been using them for years. There's one in each acoustic case. One in my computer desk. Our other guitarist used to make fun of me for using it until the day his headstock tuner was dead at a gig. Haven't heard a joke about it since. In studio I use a pedal tuner but the fork is always there as a backup. Back in the day when we all had corded landline phones the dial tone is 440 and I used that a lot then.

[@napadave58]

No shit about the dial tone? That's a great little tidbit. Although I remember hearing once that car horns blew a perfect F ... so ... yeah that didn't end up being true.

[@MikeS4628]

@@napadave58 Yep the dial tone is 440. Used to tune all the time with it. I just googled it to make sure it's a true 440 and it says it's a combo of 440 and 350. At any rate a bunch of us used to use it to tune. Couldn't tell you where I learned it.

[@TheRealFamespear]

As a player of a flamenco guitar, I have always used an “A” tuning fork. Once you tune the A string, you simply tune all the A on every string. That’s how we learn to tune in classical and flamenco guitar.

[@phiddler1]

good idea

[@larrybaker3104]

Hi Jon, thank you for all the free lesson's you share! Your teaching approach is great!! I've learned a lot in the last couple of months! I'm in my sixties now and you have opened my eyes to a lot of new things regarding the guitar! Your lessons have inspired me to play more, especially your song lessons! I cannot thank you enough!! Thank you!!!😊😎

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

American Guild of Luthiers has an interesting one - which helps with tempered tuning - especially good for acoustics. Tune the High E (thinnest) to pitch. Play the harmonic of the low E at the 5th fret (or octave) - with the High E string and tune - listen for beats. Fret the D sting at the E note fret (2nd) and make sure they are in agreement albeit and octave out with the high E - listen for beats. Play D sting octave harmonic then tune the G sting D at the 7th fret - listen for beats Play the D sting octave harmonic then tune the B string D at the 3rd fret - listen for beats. Fret the G string A at the 2nd fret and tune the A sting either with its open or harmonic at the 12th.

[@napadave58]

"Play the D sting octave harmonic then tune the B string D at the 2nd fret" Do you mean the 3rd fret?

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

@@napadave58 oops

[@CAGED1702]

That's the way aha aha I like it! 🙂

[@jacko717]

Peterson Strobo Clip. Maybe 1 battery a year, had mine 3 years works perfectly.

[@kevinr.3542]

I use a simple but effective tuning trick. Every time I practice, without fail, my neighbor screams out of his window for me to "shut the F*CK up!" One day I had my tuner turned on and sitting in front of me on my desk. Looking down, I noticed he was screaming a perfectly pitched A 440! I was able to tune my A string quickly and efficiently. If i turn my guitar up even louder I can get him to raise the pitch to a D3 as his anger grows and he becomes dangerously unhinged. Before long my whole guitar is in tune.

[@donparker4521]

Tuning from one string and tuning always up are brilliant tuning hacks. Add one more element, I call it the pull test. Gently, but vigorously pull each string up from the fret board, if any wound string are stuck in the bridge or nut this "unstucks" them. I would go out of tune after one song, and this pretty much cleared that up.

[@trevorsneath4665]

If you tap the tuning fork then sit the base of it on the string above the A fret on any string the sound will peak as you reach pitch (I always tune down first, then tune up to pitch using the fork this way). That way you can use it on all the strings.

[@da324]

What is an A fret?

[@trevorsneath4665]

@@da324 The fret that makes the note A on any string

[@UFO6600]

Thanks for the good tips. I play since 50 years different guitars and have of course tried nearly all systems available. Also with capo and not perfect guitars. Without making advertising, I use today nearly always the fender tuning app (for free). With this, I can even easily tune the guitar to another instrument (e.g. piano), just in case I want to play with a friend together 🤓😋🥰

[@mattphillips199]

Fast way to tune (assuming the low e is already correct) is to play a power chord and if it sounds like it is pulsing, then tune until it harmonizes. You can use a distortion pedal or high gain to hear the pulse better.

[@uniqdzign2]

Reading the comments below, it looks as though everybody has their own method. As a player of 50 plus years, I think your method is an excellent way to tune a guitar. It also makes sense to start at the top "E", as when that string is well in tune, (after stretching if it's new), it tends to move far less or not at all from its tuned position, when tuning the rest up.

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

Good tutorial. Just today I was using one of the clip-on tuners and it was jumping all over the place until I figured out that it must be the breeze coming in through the window. The idea of a tuning fork is great, especially considering that 100 years ago we didn't have these fancy electronic gadgets for tuning. People either used the forks or relied on their musical ear.

[@dennisoneill8148]

this is a great lesson thanks John this works every time and its fast. this really helped me because some time your guitar goes out too often and you need a quick method with no distractions. because if your guitar isn't in tune nothing sounds good. ive been looking for a better way and this is it, thanks so much now i can feel confident tuning quickly and efficiently with your method it just takes a little practice and your on another level. i would have paid to learn this.

[@millerjeff]

Tony Rice used only a tuning fork ever and Norman Blake still uses only a tuning fork. You're in pretty good company. Great to know where you can get them. Thanks Jon.

[@ParaBellum2024]

You shouldn't hit the tuning fork on a very hard surface. I tap mine on my knee (carefully!) and it works just fine.

[@Patbwoy]

Did you know, that your pickups will also pick up the sound from your tuning fork? Just hover it above the PU and you'll have the note A coming from your amp :)

[@lesteubes-r1t]

It’s amazing what I am learning from these comments!

[@andybedford7889]

RIGHT ON!! Way back in the mid-seventies when Conn strobe tuners were the only tuning device out there and they were $400 (price of a GOOD used strat or Gibson Les paul back then) I used to do this. What makes an electronic tuner better is when you have to tune to a fixed instrument. In 1979 I bought Peterson's first all-electronic (not mechanical wheel) tuner. We had a harp player and I found that when he would blow a note GENTLY into a mic and the mic was plugged into the Peterson, pretty much every harp was about 2 cents flat. By tuning our guitars and bass 2 cents flat we were finally in tune as a band. BTW I think pitch pipes are a waste of money because they are basically specialized harmonicas. If you don't blow gently their pitch goes flat, plus the low-E is easily damaged, plus they don't sound like a guitar string, plus you need a quiet space, etc...

[@mylifewithporsche]

If you want to cut to the chase and skip all the intro, go to around 5:00 and start in there. But for the really good and unique tip, after you've tuned all the strings to the top E, go to 7:30, where Jon cross-checks the E's and the A's. This is super cool and something I'm going to try as I've been frustrated as to how all the strings can be in tune and one chord, let's say D, sounds great but the G chord is off. Thanks for the great idea.

[@baabaabaa2293]

5:58 ffs!

[@waltjames407]

I've done something similar where you get A440 from a tuning fork or some tone generator, tune the 5th string 7th fret harmonic (it's the same note in the same octave), and then fret an A on every string and tune it from the 5th string. I used to get so frustrated getting the 5th/7th fret harmonics perfectly matched, except tuning the B string off the 7th fret harmonic of the 6th string...and then my E chords would sound perfect and crispy, while my G chord would sound like complete and total doodoo. Frustrated me for years, until I learned about tempered scales and how you should always tune to a tempered scale.

[@jameyaustin]

So been there! Thanks, and thanks for all your great content. Getting so much from it!

[@timsmith8489]

I prefer to use the D string as my reference rather than the high E. Same principle of then tuning each other string to the reference, but by using the D string you can find notes on all the other strings that have the same pitch as a note on the D string. When you use high E as the reference you have to match some notes with the same note in a different octave. The A and low E strings both have a D3 that matches the open D string. The G3 on the D string matches the open G string. The B3 on the D string matches the open B string. Only the 1st string is a little awkward, because the match for the open high E string is the E4 on the 14th fret of the D string. You can get tuning forks that match notes on the D string, such as A3 and C4.

[@Rick_Cleland]

Mmmmmmmm... 🤔🤔🤔

[@jhandle4196]

I've never had anything to tune other than a pitch pipe, or a keyboard to tune one of the strings to concert pitch, preferably a lower pitched string (they have more overtones in the audible range), and then, harmonics, and my ear unless it was built into the guitar or amp I was using. Except for the interval between the G and B strings, the harmonic on the 7th fret is the same pitch as the harmonic on the 5th fret of the next higher string. Then you can tune the B and high E string to the harmonics of the Low E. Then there are the beats one hears when playing two sources of a pitch. Each beat/second is how many vibrations per second the pitches differ. Adjust until you hear a single pure tone. (make your last move a tightening motion.)

[@chrisvanderwalt790]

What I found out through the years - after putting new strings on, stretch them a few times (grab each string and pull away from the pickups or soundhole, with enough force to carry the weight of the guitar). This stops me from vement between the ball end & the saddle and tightens it around the tuning peg. Check for pinching in the nut slots (where pencil graphite is a good lubricant, much cheaper than 'nut oil').

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

I’ve been using Rem-oil for years, great lube for the nut and saddles.

[@lesteubes-r1t]

Holding an acoustic by a string so it supports the guitar is a great tip. Thank you. But I am guessing you wouldn’t recommend me doing the same with my Les Paul (which weighs as much as Belgium)?

[@terrybeaud9348]

Great idea !! I agree with you on the pitch drifting when tuning string to string. I do something similar to your method ... I tune the 'A' string to pitch. Then fret 'A' string at 7th fret and tune the low 'E'. Fret 'A' string at 5th and tune the 'D' string Fret 'A' string at 5th and tune 'G' string while fretting 'G' string at 7th fret (...octave) Fret 'A' string at 5th and tune 'B' string while fretting 'B' string at 3rd fret (...octave) Fret 'A' string at 7th and tune the high 'E' string Then I play a few chords just to hear how it sounds, and I might make some slight adjustments. Thanks for the tip !! :))

[@dmor6696]

nice video, going to learn this method to see if i improve my tuning. usually i use the harmonics using the same method of Fifth's described by Jon but slightly modified and very easy, you newcomers can do it with a bit of patience and your tuning will improve a good 50% 6th string, place the finger on top of the fret directly to the right of A (5th house), don't press it, just touch the string with the tip of your finger, play it and after remove the finger as fast as you can next 5th string, place your finger on top of the fret directly to the right of E (7th house) and do the same movement with your fingers like i explained before this method is better for me because the frequency is higher and when both strings are vibrating you will immediately feel something is off. if there is a back-and-forward sound, that means it's out of tune, try to find the spot where the sound signal is continuous and not wavy. And also, as a plus, your fingers are not touching the strings after starting it so you have more time to tune. the problem is, this method only works until the D string, and then i got lazy to know more, but i am sure the matching harmonics exist but i think we have to use false harmonics, and that is hard for me to do. Anyway, at least the drift between both E strings is smaller and you can tune those two in the end to see if all six strings round up nicely. Also bear in mind that if the neck is bent, whatever you do it won't work, cheap guitars are horrible to tune in my experience. if you can, spend at least 200 on a guitar sorry for the testament eheh just trying to help

[@levik19]

I use both tuning fork, harmonics, and 5th fret tuning initially. But once in tune, I also do a very little amount of stretching and bending the strings in order to even the strings, then check if still in tune. Then use a tempered tuning especially to address playing chords in barred positions. I use the tuning in cents that EVH does with his guitars. Low E and A - 0 cents, D string is -1 cent, G -3 cents, B and high E is -9 cents. If the guitar is also equipped with a tremolo system either strat style or floyd, just follow the usual adjustments especially for floyd. For a strat style, you may dive the bar and pull back to check if the guitar is still in tune then make the necessary adjustments to the tuning.

[@kirkhensley5870]

Got a bunch of clips with E standard proper set and ready. Lucky to have two older brothers that taught me to tune with 5th and 7th fret harmonics. I stumbled on a hack that helps with the B string where if you tap the harmonic on your low E at the 7th fret, that should match or back up the note you need for the high B. It eliminates the need to press down 4th fret G. By now, I'm no longer the only one using a sharpened #2 pencil and marking the groove in the nut. I hear tell that reduces the guitar whacking out of tune as well. Actually, I can say, to some degree that it works. Last note. Leave the guitar in the elements. If it has more than an hour to adapt to room temperature it's more likely to remain in tune. I say this from experience.

[@martinh1277]

This sounds all so great! But what do you do if you have a gig in summer, open air, under a roof. The sky is cloudy and you tune your guitar. Then you are on stage, the gig begins and the sun breaks through. Really warm sun on your Telecaster. The wood reacts at once and mooves. The tuning is killed. Avoid the sun?

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

It would be smart to mention that proper intonation (especially the nut height, for this method of tuning) will have an influence here. The method is sound so long as your intonation is solid. Also consider that pressing down on frets can often pull the note out of tune. Be gentle and press it on a directly downward angle right up against the back of the fret (close as you can get without muting it out at all), cheers

[@michaeliulamusic]

Had one off those when i started playing at 14 years old - i'm 64 now - funny whats old is new again ! thanks for the video

[@MarquezGallegos]

This video is so relatable. I feel like a lot of us guitar players go through very similar experiences when learning to tune a guitar. I really identify with picking up an out-of-tune guitar at a music store and sweating while struggling to tune it, all the worrying about what everyone thought of me (in reality they probably weren't even listening). One thing that's helped me is working on learning what thirds, fourths, and fifths sound like, especially fifths. For my ear, fifths seem to the easiest to recognize as in tune, even more so than unison intervals. For fourths I just use the opening notes of Keith Richards guitar intro on Honkey Tonk Women as my reference, especially for the D-G interval.

[@lesteubes-r1t]

I soon learned (the hard way) to stick a tuner in my pocket when “only going to buy some strings, darling”…

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

FYI, the old dial tone of the USA/Canada phone system was A=440 in its overtones, so you could tune to the phone... :)

[@Tonetwisters]

Although tuners are getting tighter, it is good to learn a tempered tuning method like this one. And that, from a player of 60 years.

[@SRHMusic012]

Nice touch with a tuning fork. A similar method, shown to me by a classical player about 20 years ago, is to tune everything else to the A string, open, 12th fret octave and 5th fret double octave. For example, the A string 5th fret harmonic matches the 1st and 2nd strings fretted at 5th and 10th frets, respectively. (Note the 7th fret harmonics are "just" and don't match the equal temperament target pitches on other strings andcfrets.)

[@richardbrucemusic]

This method, or "trick" - starting with the 1st string and working down - will only work if your guitar is already pretty close to being in tune. There's a reason most guitarists start with the low E string and tune their way up. The E string, being the heaviest (and with the most tension), will pull the neck SLIGHTLY forward as it's tightened. To a lesser degree, each other other strings will do so as well, until you get to the high E string, which exerts the LEAST tension on the neck, and thus, has the least effect. By starting on that string, tuning the lower strings up is actually exerting additional tension on the neck, pulling it slightly forward, and thus, throwing the other strings OUT OF TUNE. Again, if your guitar is already close to being in tune, this effect will be minimal. But if you use other tunings on the same guitar, like a drop D (or Neil Young's famous "double drop D), or if you occasionally tune down a half step to play that Hendrix or SRV or Nirvana song, be aware of this phenomenon and how it can affect your tuning. I would suggest sticking with the tuner for those occasions, or relative tuning starting with the low E string.

[@charlesstiebing9231]

you can also tune the 5th and 6th strings by comparing the harmonic at the 7th fret to the open 1st and 2nd strings (i.e. 5th string at the 7th fret harmonic is the 1st string open and 6th string at the 7th fret harmonic is the open 2nd string B)

[@adamdelarozza1985]

When I was young, i would play a song by Lynard Skynard, on cassette. You can find a D note or an E, really fast with Skynard, once the note is found the rest is easily tuned.

[@Ninjametal]

I had different recordings I referenced for individual tunings. (CD's were much more consistent than cassettes or records for a pitch being right) Here are my examples: Metallica "Enter Sandman," or Blind Mellon "No Rain" for E standard (A=440) Hendrix "Voodoo Child" or Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss" for Eb standard Soundgarden "Slaves and Bulldozers" for Drop D Then I'd tune with harmonics from there, and check the octaves. Either it ends up workably in tune, or intonation is off

[@adamdelarozza1985]

@@Ninjametal 🙂My early go to was Freebird for the E minor! I remember when I first tried to play Keith Richard's 'Gimme Shelter' lol, later i learned that song is not in standard tuning and Keith is a nut but a great guitarist/artist.😃

[@dougcrowe1226]

Funny my first lessonson guitar was with my dad. The very first lesson was tuning. And you guessed it- a tuning fork- no other gadgets. Its good to see tried and true make a comeback

[@ibji]

Can you put the clip on tuner on the fork to see how accurate the fork is?

[@DarkMatterEclipse]

Intonation has to be spot on and depending on how out of tune your guitar is, possible neck movement from tension change could throw it off...even tuning up, a cheap nut or heavier strings in a nut not cut for it can snag the strings and as soon as you play and bend strings end up out of tune.... do some bends across the strings and double check.

[@camfuinrules]

use the a fork to tune 2nd string (low a string). then tune each string to othe one beside it using 5th fret and 7th fret harmonics.from low notes up 5th on fater string 7th on thinner string.. doing this you can fine tune to make sure your not off.. by harmonoising the resonance.. not the tune.. oof the harmonics.. they will sound close but the sound will ossilate as long as your not perfect.. soon as your perfect.. the ossolatioono dissapears. i dont remember the fret for the 2nd last string harmonic but .. there is a harmonoic for it aswell.. its the one string that i usually just tone match raw by ear without harmonic

[@baabaabaa2293]

That's how l learnt. Develops ur ear.

[@baabaabaa2293]

2nd string tunes off the 6th strings 7th fret harmonic.. 1st strings (e) off the 5th strings 7th fret harmonic.

[@rockmeamadeus2823]

I tune the guitar starting on the 5th string A string then tune the top 6th E string to A. Then the 4th D string & so on. I also tune by HARMONICS WHILE I'm doing this, making sure the strings sound good harmonically matched.

[@daveshelton365]

I also started out with a pitch pipe and hated it! I've been using the same E tuning fork for over 30 years now and I've never had to replace the battery You may find by using an E tuning fork to set the pitch of the open 6th string to E. 6th string 5th fret gives you an A, which is the open 5th string below and so on down the line except for the 3rd string which is a half step lower on the fret board to the 4th fret for the open B string. Either way will get you in the standard E turning.

[@StephenLewisful]

There are great tips you can pick up on youtube but don't ever believe that you can learn anything without personal struggle. Going through it is the only way through it. It's just part of the deal. Don't fight it.

[@harveybc]

Tuning has always been my biggest issue when beginning. It was specially hard for me to match tones when going from wound strings to unwound. Once the electronic tuners came out I haven't looked back. HOWEVER I've found if I really want to get things exact, after using a clip on I will use harmonics to fine tune even closer. Much more sensitive than just comparing fretted tones.

[@redstrat1234]

But harmonics don't take into account the string bend/deflection as you press it to the fretboard...

[@clownpocket]

Harmonics are off. 4ths and 5ths are off by 2 cents, and the major 3rd is off by 12 cents. Harmonics are in just intonation, fretted notes are in equal tempered tuning.

[@duderama6750]

@@clownpocket I tune by harmonics and then check on the frets. Even luthiers wonder why my guitars sound so good. I never use clip on tuners. In a noisy space they might seem useful. But they are so inaccurate you can't trust them.

[@jasonkane454]

Sincere video man. Nice one.

[@garyclements318]

Sometimes the song taps gets me going without holding a string. My main problem with tuning from ear, is that my ear is slightly flat. Me and my best friend figured that out, i would say im good and he would say, no just a bit higher. After doing that quite a few times, he said your ear is slightly flat. Sux, so i use digital often.

[@lunastrat]

You should still check it with the fork when you're done. The neck does flex a little and might throw the first A out just a bit.

[@partriotsfight5039]

It would be pretty beneficial to build a clip to snap that fork into while its sounding. Then as its clipped in tune up your E string.

[@terrygray8858]

good tip but skip ahead to 5:00 to avoid the irrelevant monologue

[@johnskerlec9663]

Nice tute Jon. I've always worked from low to high and found there are problems. Right at the start when setting up, I check the intonation (with an electronic tuner) on each string and tweak the bridge to get the best fit. If the fretting is good, and the scale for the strings is dialed in, the result should be good. I have noted there will always be some slight drift. I then test against all the same notes on separate strings to check. Small discrepancies don't really matter with moving chords and riffs, especially when your playing style involves bends and ghost notes. Thanks for the upload.

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

That is a great way to tune. I have never seen that before. Thank you.

[@Snakefinger1000]

I've been doing this for over 50 years. The clip on tuners' batteries never go flat because the clip breaks before they go flat. Tuning forks are the best

[@jamesraymondsmith]

good advice ...I tend to use a TC electronic tuner (pedal) You can strike all of the strings at once and it will light up shiwing you which one is out of tune. your method works great if you were the only stringed instrument. But if you play with another guitar player and an acoustic player also and the bass player they have to be on the same wave length to do it your way and everybody has to have a really good ear so if you have a really good ear and some other players don't have a really good Things may be off. A really good ear is a blessing And a curse I guess because I can hear one note or one string out of tune and it sticks out and it really annoys me when one string is out of tune. Thank you for posting

[@johncarlo7395]

Yeah, I'll go with that.

[@jcruisioso5975]

I do the same. It’s poss slightly quicker than say , a boss . Like it a lot

[@hirkkammett6342]

Holy crap that’s great man!!!!

[@DavidGatto]

A good little trick is to press 1 and 2nd string free of string tree to release them tunes faster and more accurate than just waiting for bind and slippage.

[@lesteubes-r1t]

Excellent method. Thank you.

[@bertrumrumrum8797]

Nice one 🎸👍

[@zeillion]

Interesting. I've always tuned the D string to a tuner first. Then I play the D & A strings open together (and check w/ a simple A chord 2 strings) then I tune the E string to the A string open and check w/ a simple E chord (E & A strings) G string is tuned open w/ the D and simple D chord to check. Then a D chord and tune the B to that. Finally the high E open with the B and then in the D chord. Is fast and flawless.

[@Mikex0123]

This is a great idea, tuning to one string. High E rarely matches low E when I do it the way I was taught.

[@MAP448]

So many people don't believe they can tune to their own ears. I was 1 of them. I remember before they had these clip on tuners. I was lucky though. I had a Father who was a professional musician & I would take my guitar to him when it got too far out of tune & I would ask him to please tune it. He would sometimes get a little upset & tell me that if I can't tune it then I shouldn't be playing it. This went on for years, I would beg, he would get upset & tell me that & then he would take a minute & tune it & hand it back to me. I was in my teens one day & I was at school when someone brought in a beautiful JV Stratocaster. The teacher let us play with it but it was badly out of tune. So it was either put this killer guitar away in its case or I had to tune it. This is the day I found out that I can tune to my own ear & absolutely get it in tune, very well I might add. I was able to do it because I sat down & took a few mins to actually do so. My dad had shown me how so many times, but I never really tried b/c I didn't believe that I could do it. Thank you Dad for showing me how to do this so many years ago. Also if you're a parent & your child comes to you like I did my dad, please be patient with them. Sometimes it takes years to develop an ear. Sometimes it may only take a few mins of them sitting down & really wanting to really tune something & having no other way of doing it except for their own ear

[@Seraphiqueband]

Nice! When I use the tuning fork (since 1979 :-D), I match it with the natural harmonic on the A-string, 5th fret. But I'll try your wy, too.Thanks!

[@BryanM362]

Great tips for those of us not born with a natural ear, but still love music and playing!

[@rogermoore2798]

But as you tune the other five strings you will be slightly moving the 1st string out of tune. My main guitar holds tune pretty good but after a while, when tuning other strings the 1st string changes pitch slightly.

[@SD-nj1cy]

I hate to add more comments because it helps this hack, because it adds to his algorithm, but for anyone who reads comments and is looking for help tuning. 1. dont buy cheap chinese tuners and it'll last > than a week. This dude either buys the worst ones made or throws them against a brick wall because he cant play in tune. 2. I've always tuned to 5ths (6th string open and fret the 2nd string at the second fret(B note) and so on ). Theres a harmonic resonance that happens that to my ears anyway, thats easier to hear. I've been tuning that way since day one. No one showed me, its just the very 1st thing i learned on guitar was a blues shuffle(Zep bring it on home), so my ear developed to hear that sound

[@a1guitarmaker]

I was taught to never strike a tuning fork on a hard surface. I was afraid you were going to do that, so I cringed a little bit when you did.

[@bart2019]

He did hit the stem to the surface, not the actual fork. He should be good.

[@a1guitarmaker]

Side note, I still have the same A440 tuning fork that got in 1971.

[@davidmacleod9313]

How else would you get it to ring?

[@a1guitarmaker]

@@davidmacleod9313 Strike on firm but padded surface.

[@davidmacleod9313]

@@a1guitarmaker Maybe, but I’ll stick with wood. (Soft wood. Compromise? Lol)

[@BarneysBullit]

This video SHOULD'VE started at 5:13 mark. jeez louise.

[@geemac7267]

I tune the low E to G at the third fret and the A string to C at the third. I think it sounds better than tuning to the open E or A on those strings. I'm using a tuner pedal to do this btw. Tuning without a tuner is a headache.

[@DanzoSrife]

Not sure how to do this with a Floyd Rose, as the recommended technique you gotta tune it Low E, then high E, B, A, then G then D. As the counter balance the strings are constantly shifting.?

[@soto44123]

I usually tune to the keyboard because I want perfect tuning. Our horn section tunes to the keyboard as well as the bass player. NO room for guessing.

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

I'll try it. I've been playing for decades and I've been thinking of just taking private lessons with a pro just to sit and learn how to get in tune. I can get a guitar in tune EVENTUALLY after a million check points and matching up various chords to KZbin videos lessons on chords. So frustrating, especially playing open chords on electric. I use the clip ons and keep them on while I'm fretting to see if I maybe pulling a string sharp. After playing exclamation acoustic for many years which I find much more forgiving, I've had develop a much lighter cleaner touch with my electrics. Nice topic, thanks

[@jhandle4196]

Part of the problem might be that the guitar is not set up correctly, for instance if the action is too high, it makes fretted notes play sharp because the string is being bent more. Take your instrument to a skilled luthier, . . . or you might just need a better instrument.

[@psulux]

I use the 440 tuning fork but put it your mouth a grip it with your teeth. Then I use harmonics to tune up the rest. Super quick.

[@spacemissing]

Tuning by ear has to be learned. Some will learn faster than others. I use an E329.6 fork when I want a reference. So far I have not used an electronic tuner.

[@onlyrick]

When using a tuner I tune the string open except for the "B" string, which I tune to the 3rd fret "D". Sounds more intune-er.

[@llsweden65]

Tip, if no one said it before: If you want to hear the tuning fork even better, set it to your own skull rather than the guitar.

[@laxbro7ify]

Ike Clanton called and wants you to return his hat.

[@TheLadsBandLive]

I’ve always used and still use a pitch pipe. My method, for better or worse, has never changed: I tune the A string to the pitch pipe and then tune the rest of the strings off the A. I’m sure it’s a horrible method but it’s never not worked.

[@Psycho-sw6eh]

I tune using octaves as well. I do start with the fork.

[@indyvin]

Great method Jon. Another method is to play harmonics on the 5th and 7th frets and listen for the beats instead of the tone. When the pulsing stops and the tone is even, that is perfect tune. This is the way pianos are tuned.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Oscilloscope or other electronic tuner maybe.

[@carlosfernandez3565]

I never use a tuner for my B and high E strings, I tune them to the rest of the guitar. There are many videos on the internet about why that is, but also learnt it on myself with an acoustic guitar that would only sound OK that way.

[@tfdharley1360]

You aren’t going to get a guitar in playable tune up and down the fretboard properly unless setting the intonation is part of the process. This should have been mentioned.

[@NWTMasterWolf]

I have a Snark and I love it. But I will admit being able to tune by ear is best.

[@maxkelter3561]

Yes, to me the octaves check is really the key to fine tuning your instrument. Thanks for sharing.

[@jasonmurdoc9533]

Doesn’t harmonic tunning make more sense than this? This seems equally as difficult as just tuning from the 5th fret.

[@WstlR]

This is good when it’s a little out of tune. When your guitar is horribly out of tune or on a 12 string, your neck tention will change while tuning a lot and detune your reference string. So perhaps you should repeat this procedure another time

[@flouisbailey]

You got to tune your Teles every year or so.

[@tylerellington8796]

Danny Gatton suggested when you don't have a tuner use the dial tone of a telephone, which is F.

[@paulshirer]

Nice idea. Tuning to one string makes a lot of sense. ... And I don't understand why so many people are not acknowledging this simple idea in the comments and instead sharing their complicated ideas LOL.

[@williamjeffreys2980]

Pick a couple of songs you know so well you can hear them clearly in your head. "Back in Black" for me is my E reference and "You Shook Me All Night Long" is my G reference. Tune the low E, then tune the high E to that. Tune the "E" note on each of the other strings to either of your open E strings.

[@cr4wl1ngcha0s2]

Nothing else matters was always my go to tuning song

[@ajkauly3682]

Fork is a good idea. How about even a single fork used for each string? instead of just once. You could use an A fork, or E, or D, or almost any! Because as you change tension in strings, the neck moves and ALL strings change a bit. The heavier strings perhaps influence the other strings more.

[@DavidStokesTX]

Thanks! I could never get the tuning fork method to work for me until now.