Nothing makes practice more discouraging than an out-of-tune guitar. Beginners often blame their fingers when a chord sounds wrong – but very often, the guitar is the real culprit.

Tuning is the first skill every guitarist needs, and the good news is that it takes about two minutes once you know how. It’s one of the very first things we cover in beginner guitar lessons at Manhattan Music, and this guide walks you through everything: what the strings should be tuned to, the easiest ways to get there, and why your guitar keeps drifting out of tune in the first place.

Standard Tuning: The Six Strings Explained

From the thickest string to the thinnest, a guitar in standard tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E. The thick low E is called the sixth string, and the thin high E is the first string – so when you strum downward, you’re moving from string six to string one.

A memory trick helps it stick. Two favourites among our students: “Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie” and “Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears”. Pick whichever makes you smile – you’ll never forget the string names again.

The Easiest Way: Use a Tuner

For beginners, an electronic tuner is the way to go. It takes the guesswork out entirely and trains your ear at the same time, because you hear what “in tune” sounds like every session.

Clip-On Tuners

A clip-on tuner attaches to your guitar’s headstock and reads the vibration of each string, which means it works perfectly even in a noisy room. They’re inexpensive, small enough to live in your guitar case, and our most recommended option for new players.

Tuner Apps

Free tuner apps use your phone’s microphone and work well in a quiet room at home. They’re a great zero-cost starting point – just expect them to struggle when the TV is on or siblings are nearby.

Built-In Tuners

Many acoustic-electric guitars have a tuner built into the preamp, and most multi-effects units and some amps include one too. If your gear has one, use it.

Whichever tuner you choose, the process is the same. Pluck the low E string on its own and let it ring. The tuner shows which note it hears and whether you’re below or above the target – turn the tuning peg slowly until the needle sits in the centre (most tuners glow green when you’re there). Then work through the remaining strings in order: A, D, G, B and high E.

Tuning by Ear: The Fifth-Fret Method

Once you have a little experience, it’s worth learning the classic ear method. Press the low E string at the fifth fret – that note is an A, the same note as your open fifth string. Play both and adjust the fifth string until they match. Repeat the pattern up the strings, with one exception: to tune the B string, press the G string at the fourth fret rather than the fifth.

You’ll need at least one string in tune as a reference – a piano, keyboard or tuner app can give you that starting pitch. Don’t worry if matching pitches feels hard at first. It’s brilliant ear training, and it gets easier every week.

Why Does My Guitar Keep Going Out of Tune?

All guitars drift, and a few culprits cause most of it. New strings stretch for the first few days of playing, so they’ll need constant retuning at first – gently pulling each string away from the fretboard a few times after fitting speeds up the settling. Temperature and humidity swings make the wood expand and contract, which Melbourne weather provides in abundance. Old, worn strings hold pitch poorly and sound dull. And every knock against a doorframe or music stand nudges the tuning pegs.

None of this means anything is wrong with your guitar. It means you should tune every single time you practise – professional players do exactly that. And if your strings are more than a few months old with regular playing, a fresh set is cheap and makes tuning easier and the whole guitar sound brighter.

What About Drop D and Other Tunings?

As you explore songs online you’ll come across alternate tunings – Drop D is the most common, where the low E string is tuned down a tone to D, giving rock songs a heavier sound. They’re real, they’re fun, and they can wait. As a beginner, stick with standard tuning: every chord shape, lesson and diagram you’ll encounter assumes it, and switching tunings constantly makes strings unstable and progress slower. Once your fundamentals are solid, alternate tunings will still be there.

Tuning Tips That Make It Easier

Always tune up to the note rather than down: if a string is sharp, drop it below the target and come back up. This keeps tension on the tuning mechanism and helps the string hold its pitch. Make small, slow turns – a little goes a long way. Keep plucking the string while you turn so you can hear it move. And once all six strings are done, check them all again – bringing the whole set up to tension shifts the neck slightly, so the first strings you tuned may have drifted a touch.

In Tune? Here’s What to Learn Next

Now that every chord will sound the way it should, the fun starts. Look up any shape you need in our free interactive chord chart, get comfortable reading chord diagrams, and put it all together with some easy songs every beginner should learn first.

Want a Head Start?

A teacher makes the early stages dramatically easier – checking your tuning, fixing small technique issues before they become habits, and keeping you moving forward. Manhattan Music School in Eltham North has been teaching guitarists of all ages across Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs for over 20 years, with fully accredited teachers and a supportive, family-run environment.

Call us on (03) 9439 4800 or learn more about professional guitar tuition at Manhattan Music to book a trial lesson.