Guitar string notes
Frequencies are calculated with the reference A at 440 Hz. If your group tunes to a different reference, such as 442 Hz, adjust it with the − and + buttons next to “A = 440 Hz” and the tuner shifts every note.
| String | Note | Scientific pitch | Frequency (A = 440 Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st string | E | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
| 2nd string | B | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 3rd string | G | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 4th string | D | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 5th string | A | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 6th string | E | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
Why the guitar is tuned E A D G B E
Adjacent strings are a perfect fourth apart (five half steps), with just one exception: from the 3rd string (G) to the 2nd (B) is a major third (four half steps). That exception is what lets the most common chords fit under your hand. It also explains why, when you check by ear, the 2nd string is compared with the 4th fret of the 3rd, not the 5th fret.
| Fret | At fret | Should sound the same as |
|---|---|---|
| 6th string (E) | 5 | Open 5th (A) |
| 5th string (A) | 5 | Open 4th string (D) |
| 4th string (D) | 5 | Open 3rd (G) |
| 3rd string (G) | 4 | Open 2nd string (B) |
| 2nd string (B) | 5 | Open 1st string (E) |
The two E strings are two octaves apart: the 6th vibrates at 82.41 Hz and the 1st at 329.63 Hz, exactly four times faster. When you play them together in tune, they blend into a single sound.
Acoustic, classical and electric
All three are tuned to the same notes. What changes is how the strings behave: the nylon strings of a classical guitar stretch more and take several days to settle, while the steel strings of acoustic and electric guitars settle in faster. On an electric, if the open strings are in tune but notes higher up the neck sound out of tune, the problem is usually the bridge intonation, an adjustment best left to a technician.
Alternate tunings
Many styles retune one or more strings to get a different color or to play chords with fewer fingers. Each tuning has its own tuner with the exact notes:
- Half step down and whole step down: every string lower, with the same fingerings.
- Drop D and Drop C: a lower 6th string for one-finger power chords.
- DADGAD: an open, modal sound, widely used in Celtic and acoustic music.
- Open tunings: Open G, Open D and Open E, which form a major chord on the open strings.
How to tune your guitar with this tuner
- Tap Enable microphone and accept the browser's permission request. The sound is analyzed on your device: it isn't recorded or sent anywhere.
- Leave the tuner on Auto so it recognizes which string you're playing, or tap a note to lock it (tap it again to go back to Auto).
- Play a single open string with medium force and let it ring.
- If the needle is to the left, the note is flat: tune up. If it's to the right, tune down. Anywhere between −5 and +5 cents counts as in tune.
- Once a string stays in tune for a moment, its button gets a green check mark. Keep going until every string has one.
- Use the speaker icon under each note to hear the reference and train your ear.
- Go over every string again at the end: the tension of some strings shifts the others slightly.
Tips for tuning your guitar
- Always tune up to the note: if you go past it, lower the string a little and come back up. That way the tuning peg's gear stays firm and the tuning holds longer.
- Pluck the string with medium force and let it ring; the initial attack always comes out a little sharp.
- New strings stretch for several days: check your tuning more often during the first week.
- After tuning all six strings, go over them all again: the change in tension on some strings shifts the others slightly.
Common tuning problems
- The needle jumps between notes: play a single string, a little more softly, and wait for the sound to settle. The first instant of every note always sounds slightly sharp.
- It doesn't pick up the low strings: phone microphones struggle with low frequencies. Hold your phone closer to the instrument or play the harmonic at the middle of the string (12th fret): the tuner recognizes it as the same string and tells you it sounds an octave higher.
- The open strings are in tune, but what you play sounds off: check that no string is in the wrong octave and that your strings aren't old. If it still sounds wrong, ask your teacher or a luthier to check the instrument's intonation.
- It goes out of tune right away: new strings keep stretching for several days, and changes in temperature and humidity shift the tuning. Tune in the same place where you're going to play.
- The browser doesn't ask for the microphone: check the site permissions in your browser settings and make sure no other app is using the microphone.
Frequently asked questions
What are the guitar's open string notes?
In standard tuning, from the sixth string (the thickest) to the first: E, A, D, G, B, E.
Does it work for electric guitar?
Yes. Play close to your phone's or computer's microphone with the amp at a moderate volume, or unplugged if the sound is loud enough to be heard.
Why does my guitar go out of tune so quickly?
The most common causes are new strings that are still stretching, changes in temperature and humidity, and loose tuning pegs. In our guide to changing strings we explain how to settle them in.
How do I tune my guitar a half step down?
Lower each string a half step: E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B♭, E♭. Use the half-step-down guitar tuner, which already has those notes as its reference.