DESCRIPTION:
to tune 6-string guitars (low to high)

Tips:
Listen to the pitch given. Play the corresponding string open (no fret closed), and try to match note in unison harmony. Pay attention for overtones in recording. With good tone sound manipulation, one can also reproduce these "angelic voices" that appear from any simple and monophonic "note". Think of every string on your instrument as a voice in a choir. Each has its own responsibility to sound the best in its range. The interval between strings can be anything, like a 12-string's unison to an octave, a second in DAD(GA)D, a third or forth on guitars, fifths like violins, simply, check that the intervals are in check. Sometimes, that means tuning more than just the string. Check your guitar's neck and bridge (the saddles).

Skip around the video, I don't care. If you find yourself tuning the note before the pitch is finished ringing, you don't have to wait to tune the next strings. Use the given note to check the intervals between all the strings in harmony. Play some melodies and chords, rhythmically. vibrate! NO TUNING IS PERFECT. Even after tuning to any recording, one should finetune to the other instrumentalists (if any) and fall into song like a singer in the choir. Even electronic tuners are wrong. Not all instruments are built the same. It's also not meant to be difficult. I'm just saying, play some chords and listen to the harmonies you make. tune the voices in your choir. you may have to compensate, because of key changes or whatever. Just make it work. You'll find that tuning your guitar is actually really easy.

play scales off the note given. treat it as a drone. improvise over it. you'll hear which notes are out of tune, and you can adjust the pitch off playing scales or melodies.

if you're not sure if you're flat (lower in pitch) or sharp (higher) when tuning your open string, don't worry. Don't tune the string, as it could break. check that your string is properly wound around the tuning peg (on the headstock). check it's on the correct side so that all the tuning pegs match direction when tuning (tightening/raising or loosening/lowering pitch). okay, so don't tune the string if you're not sure. play the string, on different closed frets. If you can't find the note to match, you may be too sharp. loosen your string, maybe. If you do find and hear the note on the string closed, then you can tune 'up' to the note. some intervals can sound alike due to confusing overtones. play a scale to make sure. sing the note off the reference and the one off your string. you'll be able to tell which is higher or lower in pitch, because you can feel it singing.

check the harmonics. play the harmonics on the string of the given reference pitch, and hear if it's harmonious. Sometimes, they won't match across the strings, but that's okay! that's not the point of the strings to match in every note. that's not really possible. Like a big adult can't sing the sweet bell-like tones of a small child, the high voice of a young girl/boy can't match the bass of a grown (wo)man. the point is that those strings should just sound good in the overall glory that is God-given music.


peace & love