There are three principal ways of tuning your guitar: reference tuning (tuning to another instrument), relative tuning (tuning one string to another), and electronic tuning (matching the notes to beepy noises).

Reference tuning is the process of matching the guitar’s strings to the pitch of another source such as a pitch pipe, piano, or to another guitar. This is especially useful when playing with others, as all instruments need to be in tune with each other. All you need to do is play an open string on the reference instrument and turn the tuning pegs of your guitar to the left or right, moving the pitch of the string up or down until the pitches are exactly the same. This can be very tricky when you start playing, but you will soon get an ear for it.

Relative tuning allows you to tune the guitar to itself, so that each of the notes is at the correct pitch compared to all of the others. This is absolutely fine if you are playing solo, but you will find that if you are playing with someone else that your guitars need to be tuned together. If you play the low E string (the widest string) at the 5th fret, and then play the next string, A, openly, then the two pitches should match. Twist the tuning key of the A string flat or sharp as needed until the two strings ring at the same pitch. Now move down the strings, repeat this process for each string, playing the 5th fret of the string before it. The exception is the second string, B, which should match the 4th fret of the string before it, G, instead.

Electronic Tuning is very easy to do and will be the least frustrating when you are starting out. Electronic tuners are very inexpensive and will tell you when you have located the correct pitch for each note. All of these work the same in principle, detecting what note you are playing and lighting up to show that it is flat or sharp. Gradually change turn the peg until the tuner shows the note as being in tune, and then select the next string.