Guitar Tips - How to Tune an Electric Guitar

Great Review Guitar Tips - How to Tune an Electric Guitar

Tuning an electric guitar presents an whole new set of problems that you don't encounter with acoustic guitars particularly if your electric guitar has a tremolo arm fitted.

Before we get right into the specific methods of tuning we need to run through our intonation checklist to be certain we can get our electric guitar performing at an optimum performance level.

Intonation checklist

New strings: It's pointless spending time trying to tune your guitar if your strings are old or worn; how often you should change your strings will depend on:

(a) the chemical makeup of your perspiration;

(b) whether you wipe your strings down after you finish playing and

(c) the quality of strings you use.

Quality strings: Always use a quality brand of strings such as D'Addario, Gibson, SIT or Fender. I personally prefer D'Addario they are very consistent with their quality control and are quite reasonably priced; if you are playing a standard Stratocaster type guitar I recommend D'Addario's EXL120 set these strings are nickel wound and feature the following string gauges.

1 =.009
2 =.011
3 =.016

4 =.024
5 =.032
6 =.042

Check harmonics: Next check your individual string harmonics at the twelfth fret. It's a good idea to use your electronic tuner to help you with this...

step 1: tune your open sting with an electronic tuner

step 2: play the harmonic on the twelfth fret

step 3: compare the fretted note on the twelfth fret with the harmonic on the twelfth fret

step 4: if the fretted note is sharp increase the string length by adjusting the bridge saddle with a screw driver, we want the bridge saddle to move closer to the tailpiece to lengthen the overall string length.

If the fretted note is flat decrease the string length by adjusting the bridge saddle so that the bridge saddle moves closer to the neck of the guitar.

Remember to check and re-tune your open string if necessary each time you make an adjustment to the bridge saddle.

How to tune an Electric Guitar

Tuning tip #1: tune the open strings in this order:

stings

1 = E,

6 = E,

2 = B,

5 = A,

3 = G,

4 = D,

We tune the strings in this order to evenly distribute the tension over the neck of the guitar.

Even though electric guitars have a truss rod in the neck to prevent warping because the truss rod is round it does not prevent the neck from twisting side to side when additional tension is created by tuning the strings consecutively; this method of tuning is particularly important if your electric guitar has a Floyd Rose of Kahler tremolo system fitted; you will save an enormous amount of time tuning your instrument if you use the string tuning sequence described above.

Tuning tip #2: tuning by harmonics

* Compare the harmonic on fret five, string six with the harmonic produced on string five, seventh fret.

* Check the harmonic on fret five, string five with the harmonic produced on string four, seventh fret.

* Compare the harmonic on fret five, string four with the harmonic produced on string three, seventh fret.

* Check the harmonic on fret four, string three with the harmonic produced on string two, fifth fret.

* Compare the harmonic on fret five, string two with the harmonic produced on string one, seventh fret.

Tuning tip #3: tuning by octaves

* play the sixth string open and check that note with the fifth string, seventh fret.

* compare the fifth string open with the fourth string, seventh fret.

* play the fourth string open and check that note with the third string, seventh fret.

* compare the third string open with the second string, fret eight.

* play the second string open and check that note with the first string, seventh fret.

It's a good idea to use a combination of these methods to be certain you are in tune in every key all over the fretboard of the guitar.