Tuning
This page will help you tune up your guitar.
All you need to do is tune one note, say...the lowest string. Tune it
to standard tuning, an "E", by means of a piano, other guitar, or an
electric tuner. If you have an electric tuner, I suggest you don't
even read this.
Ok...You made it this far. Now you need to tune it up. You should
have the first note, and E, tuned already. This will be the string
that's closest to you. The next string will be an A. Move your left
finger to the 5th fret of the lowest string. Pluck the string with
your pick. You are playing an A. That's funny. That's the same open
string we're trying to tune. Do you see where I'm going? Hit the
first two strings at the same time. If they don't match up, which
they probably won't, you have to "TUNE IT". :) The tuning knobs are
located at the top of the guitar neck. Turning them clockwise loosens
the strings, and causes the string to become a lower pitch. Turning
them counter-clockwise will cause them to become a higher pitch. Keep
strumming the two notes together while turning the 2nd tuning knob
counter-clockwise. Continue to turn SLOWLY until you reach the point
where both notes sound like one. If it's still out of tune, you
should hear some vibrato. The strings will sound "wavy". If you
tighten, and it gets out of tune worse, then loosen the strings. Do
this on the next two strings...Then the next two. Once you tighten
one, You must use the freshly-tuned string with the next highest open
string. Remember to keep one of your right fingers on the 5th fret of
the lower string. (I use both my middle and ring fingers). Now, DO
NOT tune the 5th string this way. Once you exceed the 4th string, the
pattern on the fretboard stops. You must now repeat the steps for the
5th string, but utilizing the 4th fret. This is VERY IMPORTANT. After
tuning the 5th string, tune the 6th string the same way you tuned 1
through 4...Using the 5th fret. After this, you'll learn your first
chord G. This will go by quick, so pay attention. Place your left
middle finger on the 3rd fret of the lowest string. This is a G.
Place your left first finger on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string. This
is a B. Leave the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings OPEN. Place your left
ring finger on the 3rd fret of the highest string. This is another G.
Strum all of the strings with the right hand, and you should have a
nice G chord. If not, RETUNE!!! :)
