How to tune a guitar with reference tones
- Start with the low E (6th) string - it anchors the rest.
- Play the reference tone, then pluck your string and let both ring together.
- Out of tune sounds like a pulsing "wah-wah-wah" beat; the closer you get, the slower the beating, until it stops entirely.
- Always tune up to the pitch: if you overshoot, drop below and come back up. Tuning down leaves slack in the peg that slips out of tune.
- Sweep through all six strings twice - tightening one string bends the neck slightly and shifts its neighbors.
Reference tones vs microphone tuners
A microphone tuner tells you when the pitch matches; a reference tone trains you to hear it yourself. Both land in the same place, but ear tuning builds the skill that lets you spot-check tuning mid-song, tune in loud rooms where microphones fail, and notice when a bend or capo throws things off.
For a deep dive on beat-listening technique - including the 5th-fret method and harmonic tuning, which need no reference at all after the first string - see our guide on tuning a guitar by ear.