First, learn to hear beats
All ear tuning rests on one physical trick. When two nearly-equal pitches sound together, they drift in and out of alignment and you hear a slow pulsing - wah-wah-wah - called beating. The pulse rate equals the frequency gap: 2 Hz off means 2 pulses per second. As you close the gap the pulsing slows, and at perfect unison it stops completely. That silence-of-the-beats is your bullseye, and it is precise to well under 1 Hz.
Try it right now: play a 110 Hz tone from our tone generator and pluck your open A string. Unless you are already perfectly in tune, you will hear the pulse. Turn the peg slowly and listen to it slow down and vanish.
Method 1: Reference tones (most accurate)
Match each string against its exact frequency using our instrument tuner's guitar preset or the pitch pipe:
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (thickest) | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1st (thinnest) | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
Always tune up to the note: if a string is sharp, drop below the target and come back up. Approaching from below keeps tension consistent through the gears and nut, so the string stays where you put it.
Method 2: The 5th-fret method (one reference, five comparisons)
Tune just the low E string to a reference (an E2 at 82.41 Hz, a piano, or our online piano), then chain across the neck: each string fretted at the 5th fret sounds the pitch of its open neighbor above - except the G string, which uses the 4th fret to reach B:
- E (5th fret) → open A
- A (5th fret) → open D
- D (5th fret) → open G
- G (4th fret) → open B
- B (5th fret) → open E
At each pair, play both notes together and tune the open string until the beating stops. The weakness of this method: errors compound down the chain, so double-check the outer E strings against each other at the end - they are two octaves apart and should sound perfectly consonant.
Method 3: Harmonics (hands-free comparison)
Touch a string lightly directly over the 5th fret wire and pluck - a chiming bell tone (a natural harmonic) rings out and keeps ringing after you lift your hand. The 5th-fret harmonic of each string matches the 7th-fret harmonic of the string above it (E→A, A→D, D→G), leaving both hands free to turn the peg while both notes sustain. Beating between two pure harmonics is exceptionally easy to hear.
Caveat for precision players: the B string pairs (G-B, B-E) don't line up cleanly with harmonics because of equal temperament - tune those two by the 5th/4th-fret method or a reference tone instead. Curious why? Our ear training guide covers intervals, and the interval trainer will have you hearing these relationships everywhere.
Guitar Tuning FAQ
How do I tune a guitar without a tuner?
Three reliable methods: (1) tune each string to a reference tone - play the exact frequency and match your string until the "beating" between them disappears; (2) the 5th-fret method - tune one string to a reference, then fret each string at the 5th fret (4th fret for the G string) to tune its neighbor; (3) harmonic tuning - compare the 5th-fret harmonic of one string with the 7th-fret harmonic of the next, which rings clearly while both hands are free to turn the peg.
What are "beats" and how do I use them to tune?
When two nearly identical pitches sound together, they interfere and produce a slow wah-wah-wah pulsing called beating. The beat rate equals the frequency difference: 3 beats per second means you are 3 Hz off. As you tune closer, the beating slows, and at perfect unison it stops entirely. Tuning until the beats vanish is more precise than most clip-on tuners.
Why does my guitar sound out of tune even after tuning each string?
Usual suspects, in order: new strings still stretching (retune several times the first days), tuning up to pitch from below inconsistently (always approach from below so the string and gears settle in one direction), pressing too hard or behind the fret when checking fretted notes, and intonation - if open strings are perfect but the 12th fret is sharp or flat, the saddle position needs adjusting.
Should I tune to 440 Hz or 432 Hz?
Tune to A = 440 Hz unless you have a specific reason not to - it is the international standard, and everything from backing tracks to other musicians assumes it. Some players experiment with 432 Hz tuning for its slightly lower, warmer feel; if you play alone that is harmless. Just retune to 440 before playing with anyone else.
Is tuning by ear worth learning when tuners exist?
Yes - and not for the rare emergencies. Tuning by ear is ear training disguised as maintenance: matching pitches and hearing beats daily builds exactly the interval-recognition skill that playing by ear requires. Players who tune by ear also catch a drifting string mid-song instead of discovering it after.