How to Tune a Guitar — Standard Tuning & Every String Explained

Q: What are the standard guitar tuning notes?

Standard guitar tuning from lowest to highest string is: E2 (6th string), A2 (5th), D3 (4th), G3 (3rd), B3 (2nd), E4 (1st). The mnemonic 'Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie' covers all six strings.

Q: How do I tune a guitar without a tuner?

Tune by ear using the 5th fret method: the 5th fret of each string matches the next open string (except the G string — use the 4th fret to match B). Start with the 6th string at E by matching it to a reference pitch (piano key, tuning fork, or phone app), then tune each string relative to the one below.

Q: How often should I tune my guitar?

Tune your guitar every time you pick it up. Strings go out of tune from temperature changes, humidity, playing, and string age. New strings stretch and go out of tune faster — retune frequently for the first week after restringing.

Q: What is Drop D tuning?

Drop D tuning lowers the 6th string from E down to D, giving you E A D G B E → D A D G B E. It lets you play a low D power chord with a single finger and is widely used in rock, metal, and folk. The other five strings stay at standard tuning.

Q: Why does my guitar go out of tune so quickly?

Common causes: new strings that haven't been stretched in, worn machine heads (tuning pegs), poorly cut nut slots, temperature or humidity changes, aggressive bending, and a floating tremolo bridge. Stretching new strings, locking tuners, and a well-set-up nut all help with tuning stability.

Tuning is the first skill every guitarist needs and the one most consistently neglected. A well-tuned guitar makes everything sound better — a slightly out-of-tune one makes everything sound worse, no matter how well you play.

This guide covers standard tuning, how to use a chromatic tuner, how to tune by ear, and the most useful alternate tunings.

Standard Guitar Tuning: E A D G B E

Standard tuning has six strings tuned to specific pitches. From the thickest (lowest-pitched) string to the thinnest:

String	Name	Note	Octave	Mnemonic
6th (thickest)	Low E	E	E2	Eddie
5th	A	A	A2	Ate
4th	D	D	D3	Dynamite
3rd	G	G	G3	Good
2nd	B	B	B3	Bye
1st (thinnest)	High E	E	E4	Eddie

The mnemonic "Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie" covers all six strings in order. Notice that the 6th and 1st strings are both E — two octaves apart.

How to Tune Using a Chromatic Tuner

A chromatic tuner is the fastest and most accurate method. The MusoKit chromatic tuner uses your device's microphone and works in any browser — no app download needed.

Open the tuner and allow microphone access when prompted.
Pluck the lowest (6th) string. The tuner displays the detected note and a meter showing whether you're flat (too low) or sharp (too high).
If the needle is to the left (flat), tighten the tuning peg slowly. If it's to the right (sharp), loosen it.
Pluck again and adjust until the needle is centred. A green indicator means you're in tune.
Repeat for each string in order: 6→5→4→3→2→1.

Pro tip: Always tune up to the pitch, not down. If you're sharp, go slightly past flat then come back up. This seats the string at the nut correctly and helps tuning stay stable longer.

How to Tune by Ear (5th Fret Method)

If you don't have a tuner, you can tune relative to any reference pitch using the 5th fret method:

Get the 6th string in tune first — use a piano key (E below middle C), a tuning fork, or a phone.
Press the 5th fret of the 6th string — this plays an A. Tune the open 5th string to match.
Press the 5th fret of the 5th string — plays a D. Tune the open 4th string to match.
Press the 5th fret of the 4th string — plays a G. Tune the open 3rd string to match.
Exception: Press the 4th fret of the 3rd string (not 5th) — this plays a B. Tune the open 2nd string to match.
Press the 5th fret of the 2nd string — plays an E. Tune the open 1st string to match.

Remember: The 3rd string breaks the pattern — use the 4th fret, not the 5th, to match the 2nd string (B). Every other string uses the 5th fret.

Common Alternate Tunings

Once you're comfortable with standard tuning, alternate tunings open up new sounds and chord voicings. Here are the most useful ones:

Drop D

D – A – D – G – B – E

Lower the 6th string from E to D. Single-finger power chords on the bottom three strings. Essential for rock, metal, and modern folk. Easy to switch to from standard — just lower one string.

Open G

D – G – D – G – B – D

Tune to a G major chord. Strum all six strings open and you get a full chord. Beloved by blues and slide guitarists — Keith Richards plays almost exclusively in Open G.

Open D

D – A – D – F# – A – D

Open strings ring as a D major chord. Popular for blues and fingerpicking. Slide guitar players favour this tuning for its resonant, full-bodied sound.

DADGAD

D – A – D – G – A – D

An open Dsus4 tuning. Famously used by Jimmy Page on "Kashmir" and widely adopted in Celtic and folk fingerstyle. The suspended fourth creates an ambiguous, modal sound that works beautifully for acoustic playing.

Half Step Down (Eb tuning)

Eb – Ab – Db – Gb – Bb – Eb

Standard tuning lowered by one semitone. Slightly easier on the fingers, with a slightly darker sound. Favoured by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Slash. Works with standard chord shapes.

Why Does My Guitar Go Out of Tune?

Even a well-maintained guitar needs regular tuning. Common causes of tuning instability:

New strings — they stretch for the first few days. Retune frequently, or stretch them manually by pulling each string gently away from the fretboard.
Temperature and humidity changes — wood expands and contracts, affecting string tension. Leave the guitar for a few minutes to acclimatize after moving it between environments.
Worn machine heads — old or cheap tuning pegs slip. Locking tuners are a cheap upgrade that dramatically improves stability.
Nut slot issues — if strings bind in the nut slots, they can pop sharp after bending. A little graphite (pencil lead) in the slot helps.
Floating tremolo bridge — spring-loaded bridges are sensitive to string breakage and spring tension. They require more frequent tuning and setup.

Free Chromatic Tuner — Works in Any Browser

Tune any instrument using your microphone. No app, no download — just open and play.

Open the free tuner →

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the standard guitar tuning notes?

From lowest to highest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4. The mnemonic "Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie" covers all six strings in order.

How do I tune a guitar without a tuner?

Use the 5th fret method: press the 5th fret of each string and tune the next open string to match. Exception: use the 4th fret on the 3rd string to match the 2nd string (B). Start from a reference pitch for the low E string.

How often should I tune my guitar?

Every time you pick it up. Strings drift from temperature, humidity, playing, and string age. New strings need particularly frequent retuning for the first week.

What is Drop D tuning?

Drop D lowers the 6th string from E to D, giving D A D G B E. It enables one-finger power chords on the bottom three strings and is widely used in rock and metal.

Why does my guitar go out of tune so quickly?

Common causes: new strings, temperature/humidity changes, worn machine heads, nut slot binding, and floating tremolo bridges. Stretching new strings and using locking tuners helps significantly.