How to Tune a Guitar

Sometimes a new guitar needs tuning in order to have a smooth sound. If the strings are difficult to press or crack while playing, you will have to adjust the string tension and correct pitch. To do this, you can adjust various guitar parts such as truss rod, bridge, and pickup to change the pitch of the strings. , length and curvature of the neck. This will help correct the hissing or howling sound and make the instrument easier to play.

Table of Contents

Truss rod adjustment

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Press the fret closest to the body on the top string. The frets are squares or rectangles on the fretboard. You will press the closest fret where the body and neck meet on the top string, aka the 6th string ^{. [1] X Research Source}

This key is usually the 12th fret on a classical guitar. Electric and acoustic guitars have longer necks.

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Press the first fret on the 6th string. Use your other hand to press the first fret while continuing to press the fret closest to the body. This will help you see if there is a gap between the strings and the neck. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can also use a capo to hold down the first key. Capo is a tool to hold the strings on the neck.
If you use a capo, it will be easier to test the guitar by holding down the strings.

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Look with your eyes and touch the strings to find the gap between the strings and the neck. Look at the strings and neck. There will be a gap about the thickness of a business card between the frets on the string you are pressing down. Use one finger to press one of the frets on the top string. If the strings move a lot and have a large gap, the tuning rod is too loose and you have to tighten it. If the strings don’t move at all and are close to the neck, you’ll have to loosen the tuning. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The traditional way of tuning the guitar is to tune it so that there is a very small curvature on the neck.

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Remove the screws on the tuning fork cover on the guitar neck. The neck cap is usually located on the top of the neck, near the frets, and is almond shaped. You must remove this plastic or wooden cover to adjust the lever. Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise and remove the cover. Now the tip of the adjusting rod will be exposed. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

After removing the lever adjuster cover, you will find a hole with the rod adjuster inside.

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Tighten the lever adjuster if there is a large gap. Use the available neck tuner when you buy the guitar, or buy one at a guitar store or online. Attach the lock to the tip of the lever and turn clockwise 1/4 turn to tighten. This will reduce the curvature of the neck and draw the strings closer to the neck of the fret you are pressing. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If the gap between the strings and the neck is too large, it will be harder for you to play.

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Loosen the tuning fork if you don’t see a gap between the strings and the neck. Attach the neck crown and turn the knob counterclockwise ¼ turn to loosen the tension in the neck. This will move the strings away from the neck. Remember that the distance between the strings and the neck is very small. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If the neck tuner is too tight, it will cause the neck to bend and may cause a crackling sound when playing.

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Re-screw the crown cap screw and wait a day. It may take some time for the neck to adjust to its new position. Wait a day, then test again by holding down the fret closest to the body and the first fret on the same string. The guitar neck will have to sag slightly. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The strings will be slightly away from the neck.

Raise or lower the strings on the bridge.

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Measure the height of the strings above the 12th fret of the neck. The standard distance between the strings and the neck at the 12th fret would be about 1.6mm, or about the thickness of a ten-cent coin. You can place the tip of the ruler close to the neck to measure the height of the strings. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If the string is more than 1.6 mm away from the neck, you need to lower the bridge.
If the string height is less than 1.6 mm at the 12th fret, you will have to raise the bridge.

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Use the hex wrench to raise or lower each string on the bridge. There are small holes that can fit the hex wrench on the bridge. Insert the wrench into the corresponding hole on the string you want to tune and turn it 2-3 turns to raise or lower the bridge. If the string is too high, you will turn it clockwise to lower it; If the string is too low, turn it counterclockwise to raise it. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Adjust each string until there is a clearance of about 1.6 mm at the 12th fret. Continue raising or lowering the bridge on each string until the height of the strings is about 1.6 mm. Strum each string while hitting the 12th fret. If the string hums when plucked, it’s too close to the fret. In this case, you will have to raise the bridge by turning the hex key clockwise at the hole corresponding to that string. Conversely, if it’s hard for you to press down on the frets on the fretboard, it’s possible that the strings are too far away from the frets. ^{[10] X Research Source}

The “height” or distance between the strings and the neck will vary from player to player, but 1.6mm is the standard height for most guitarists.

Change the length of the strings by adjusting the bridge

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Tune your guitar with an electric tuner. The bridge lengthens or shortens the length of the strings. If it is not tuned properly, the notes on the neck will be too low or too high. Strum the top string next to the tuner and adjust the clef to match the note E (mi). Tune the remaining strings to the standard notes E, A, D, G, B, E. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Strum the 6th string while holding down the 12th with the tuner. When you hold down the 12th fret, the string will emit a note of the same pitch as the note when plucking the string without pressing any keys, also known as the open position. Press the 12th fret of the top string, also known as the 6th string, and pluck the string. The output will be the note E (mi). If it’s not an E, you’ll have to adjust the bridge. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Turn the screw on the bridge clockwise if the note sounds too high. If the note on the 12th fret sounds too high, the string is too short and you need to loosen it up to make it longer. Look at the bridge and find the screws on the bottom of it. Locate the position corresponding to the wire that you need to adjust. Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn the screw clockwise. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Turn the screw on the bridge counterclockwise to shorten the string. If the note comes out too low or lower than the E, you’ll need to lengthen the string. Turn the screw under the bridge counterclockwise to shorten the string. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Check the note on the string while holding down the 12th fret. Turn on the tuner and press the 12th fret on the string you just tuned. Look at the note displayed on the tuner. If the note does not appear correctly when you press the 12th key, you will have to make further adjustments until the note matches the note played on the string in the open position. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Repeat the above process to tune the remaining 5 strings. Repeat the steps above for the rest of the strings, making sure that the note on the 12th fret and the opening note are equal. Adjust all the strings on the bridge so that the notes are the same.

The second string from the top will be the A note, the third string from the top will be the D note, and so on.

Adjust pickup (sound catcher)

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Press the key closest to the pickup on the top string. The frets are the squares on the neck and the pickups are the small rectangular bars attached to where you pluck the strings. Press the key closest to the pickup on the top string (6th string) so you can determine if the strings are the correct distance from the pickup. ^{[16] X Research Source}

If the strings are too close to the pickup, it can cause unwanted howling or boost.
If the strings are too far from the pickup you may not get the full sound of the guitar.

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Measure the distance between the pickup and the strings. Hold the tip of the ruler close to the pickup face while continuing to press the keys. Measure the clearance between the pickup and the strings. ^{[17] X Research Source}

This distance will be about 1.6 mm.
If this distance is already 1.6mm, you do not need to adjust the height of the pickup anymore.

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Turn the top screw on the pickup so that the clearance is 1.6 mm high. The height adjustment screws are usually located next to the pickup. Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn the top lock clockwise to raise the pickup near the top wire. Turn the screw counterclockwise to lower the pickup. Adjust the height of the pickup until it is 1.6 mm from the string. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Repeat the above process for the remaining wires. Press the bottom string on the fret closest to the pickup and measure the distance. This time, you will adjust the bottom screw to raise or lower the lower fret position. Adjust until the string is also 1.6 mm away from the pickup. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Things you need

Phillips screwdriver
Tuning the fretboard lock
Hex wrench
Ruler
Electronic guitar tuner

Steps

Truss rod adjustment

Raise or lower the strings on the bridge.

Change the length of the strings by adjusting the bridge

Adjust pickup (sound catcher)

Things you need

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