What this tool does
This guitar tuner plays reference pitch tones for each string across six popular tunings. Click any string to hear its correct frequency, then adjust your guitar string until it matches the tone. No microphone or special hardware is required — just your ears and your guitar.
The tool supports Standard tuning (EADGBe), Drop D (DADGBe), Open G (DGDGBd), Open D (DADFAd), Half Step Down (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb eb), and DADGAD. Each string displays its note name and frequency in Hz so you can understand what pitch you are targeting.
Standard and alternate tunings
**Standard tuning (EADGBe)** is the default tuning for most guitars. From the thickest (lowest-pitched) string to the thinnest (highest-pitched), the notes are E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4. Nearly all beginner lessons and most popular songs use standard tuning.
**Drop D (DADGBe)** lowers only the sixth (lowest) string from E2 down to D2. This allows power chords to be played with a single finger and gives the guitar a heavier, fuller low end. It is common in rock, metal, and folk music.
**Open G (DGDGBd)** tunes the guitar so that strumming all open strings produces a G major chord. It is heavily associated with blues and slide guitar. Many Rolling Stones songs, including Honky Tonk Women and Brown Sugar, were recorded in Open G.
**Open D (DADFAd)** produces a D major chord when all strings are strummed open. Like Open G, it is popular for slide guitar and fingerpicking styles. The tuning lends a warm, resonant quality to acoustic playing.
**Half Step Down (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb eb)** lowers every string by one semitone. This slightly reduces string tension, making bends easier and giving the guitar a darker, slightly thicker tone. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Slash all used this tuning on many recordings.
**DADGAD** is a popular "open" tuning often associated with Celtic and folk music. Strumming all strings open produces a Dsus4 chord. It is widely used by fingerstyle guitarists for its drone-like quality and unique chord voicings.
How to tune by ear
1. Select the tuning you want to use. 2. Click the lowest string (String 6) to hear its reference tone. 3. Play the same string on your guitar and listen carefully to both pitches. 4. If your string sounds lower than the reference, tighten the tuning peg slowly until the pitches match. If it sounds higher, loosen the peg. 5. Listen for "beating" — a wavering wobble in the sound when two slightly out-of-tune pitches are played together. The beating slows as the pitches converge and stops completely when they match. 6. Repeat for each string, working from String 6 (lowest) to String 1 (highest). 7. After tuning all six strings, play through the strings again from the top to confirm they are still in tune, as adjusting one string can slightly affect the tension on others.
Understanding frequency and pitch
Every musical note corresponds to a specific vibration frequency measured in hertz (Hz). The open low E string on a standard-tuned guitar vibrates at approximately 82.41 Hz. The high E string vibrates at 329.63 Hz, almost exactly four times faster.
The Western musical scale divides each octave into 12 equal semitones. Each semitone is a frequency ratio of the 12th root of 2, roughly 1.0595. This means each note is about 5.95% higher in frequency than the previous semitone.
Guitar strings produce a fundamental frequency plus harmonics. The harmonics are integer multiples of the fundamental and give each string its characteristic timbre. This tuner plays a pure sine wave at the fundamental frequency, which provides a clean reference without harmonics.
FAQs
Q: What is standard tuning? A: Standard tuning for a 6-string guitar is EADGBe. From the thickest to the thinnest string, the notes are E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4. It is the most common tuning for acoustic and electric guitars and is used in the vast majority of lessons and music.
Q: What is Drop D tuning? A: Drop D tuning lowers the sixth (thickest) string from E2 down to D2 while leaving the other five strings in standard tuning. The resulting low D2 allows easier power chord shapes and gives the guitar a heavier, deeper sound. It is very common in rock and metal.
Q: How often should I tune my guitar? A: You should tune your guitar every time you play. Temperature changes, humidity shifts, and the natural elasticity of strings all cause pitch to drift between sessions. New strings stretch and go out of tune more quickly and may need retuning several times during a single practice session until they settle.
Q: Why does my guitar go out of tune during play? A: Several factors cause pitch to drift during playing. Strings stretch as you play, especially new strings. Tuning peg slippage can occur if the machine heads are worn or loose. Playing aggressively or using a vibrato bar causes additional pitch shifts. Temperature changes from body heat can also have a small effect.
Q: What is the difference between Open G and Open D tuning? A: Both are "open" tunings that produce a major chord when all strings are strummed open. Open G produces a G major chord and is associated with blues, slide, and Rolling Stones-style rock. Open D produces a D major chord and is common in folk, Celtic, and slide guitar. Each tuning has a distinct feel and different chord shapes.
Q: Can I use this tuner for a 12-string or bass guitar? A: This tuner covers the standard six-string guitar tunings. A 12-string guitar pairs each of the six standard strings with a doubled string, so the same reference pitches apply. Bass guitar uses different strings and octave ranges, so the frequencies shown here do not apply directly to bass.
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