How To Tune Your Guitar The Right Way   by Steven Smythe

in Entertainment / Music    (submitted 2011-03-01)

Once you are familiar with the parts of your instrument, the next step is one of the most important things to do before you start to play, and that is to tune your guitar. You can purchase a tuner, or you can use a pitch pipe, tuning fork or even use an online tuner that can play the notes through the speakers on your computer. After using one of these devices to find the E note, follow these steps to complete the tuning process.

- Start with the 6th string, turn the tuning key until the guitar sounds like the E note you just played on the tuning device.

- Press on the 5th fret of the 6th string, and then play the 5th string open. These should sound the same, and if they don't, turn the key until they do.

- Next, press the 5th fret on 5th string, and play 4th string open. Turn the tuning keys until they sound the same.

- Next, press the 5th fret of the 4th string, and then tune the 3rd string to this same note.

- Now, press down on the 4th fret of the 3rd string, and tune the 2nd string to this note.

- Lastly, press the 5th fret of the 2nd string, and tune the 1st string open until they sound the same.

Once you have completed tuning, you can start practicing strumming patterns. When playing, make sure that you are strumming directly over the sound hole, and that when you strum down and up, the sound is at the same volume. When you strum too hard on the strings this produces an unpleasant rattling sound, and when you strum too softly you are left with an empty, vacant sound. Make sure that the instrument is positioned securely on your knee, and when you strum keep your elbow steady and swing your arm without having to pause. Do not keep your wrist stiff, be sure you are rotating your wrist as you play.

Once you have a feel for your instrument, and it is in tune, you can start to learn and understand the musical alphabet. This is very similar to the regular alphabet, except that the musical alphabet starts at A and ends at G. The letters represent the fret where you place your fingers, and there is a blank fret between each letter except between B and C, and E and F. When you start at A, the notes get higher as you progress to G, but when you loop back around and start again with A, the notes do not drop lower, they continue to get higher. Along with the musical alphabet, it is vital to learn chords, because they are the foundation of every piece of music. Basic information to remember is that two notes played together are called a double stop or interval, any 3 notes from the major scale are chords, and there are seven possible combinations for three note chords.

Having an understanding of the instrument you want to play will help speed the process of guitar for beginners. These tips are actually important aspects and skills that you need to learn and remember anyway. When you take the time to learn these things beforehand, it will be easier to concentrate on scales and chords, and making the music that you love.

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If you want to learn more about how to improve your playing drastically, check out these videos about learn how to play guitar and also online guitar lessons here.