How to tune a guitar (without fighting it)
Standard tuning on a 6-string guitar is E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 — from the thickest string to the thinnest. Memorize it as a sentence if it helps: Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
Tune UP to the note, not down
Strings hold pitch better when the last movement of the peg was upward in pitch. If a string is sharp, drop it clearly below the target and come back up. This single habit removes most of the "it slipped again" frustration.
The fastest workflow with an online tuner
- Open the guitar tuner and allow the microphone.
- Play the low E string, let it ring near the soundhole.
- Watch the needle: below zero means tune up, above zero means tune down.
- Stop when the meter turns green (within ±5 cents) and move on.
- After all six strings, re-check the low E — tension changes shift the neck slightly.
Why new strings will not stay in tune
Fresh strings stretch for a day or two. Pre-stretch them: fret at the 12th, pull the string gently upward a centimeter, retune, repeat two or three times per string.
When to tune by ear instead
If the room is loud, tap the string card in the tuner to hear a reference tone and match it by ear. Beating (a slow wah-wah between your string and the reference) slows down as you get close, and disappears when you are in tune.