Almost every beginner on guitar or ukulele runs into the same problem: you place every finger exactly where the chord chart says, but when you strum, it just sounds a little wrong. Most of the time the issue isn't your hands at all. Your strings simply aren't in tune. Tuning is the first skill worth getting comfortable with, because you'll do it every time you pick up your instrument. This guide covers standard tuning for both instruments and three easy ways to get there.
Standard tuning to remember
Before you tune, you need to know which note each string should be.
- Six-string guitar: from the thickest string (6th) to the thinnest (1st), the notes are E A D G B E. A classic way to remember it is "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie."
- Ukulele: from the string closest to your face (4th) to the 1st, the notes are G C E A, often remembered as "My Dog Has Fleas," sung to the four notes.
Most ukuleles use a "high G," meaning the 4th string is actually higher in pitch than the 3rd string. If your top string sounds higher than the next one, that's normal and gives the ukulele its bright, cheerful sound.
Method 1: a clip-on tuner
A clip-on tuner is the most accurate and convenient option for beginners. They're inexpensive and work even in noisy rooms, because they read vibrations straight from the headstock instead of listening through a microphone.
- Clip the tuner onto the headstock and switch it on.
- Pick one string and let it ring, then read the note on the display.
- If the needle leans left (flat), the note is too low, so tighten the string with the tuning peg. If it leans right (sharp), the note is too high, so loosen it.
- Keep adjusting until the needle sits in the middle and the screen turns green.
A handy trick: if a string is sharp, tune it slightly below the target first, then bring it back up. Tuning up to the note helps the gears hold tension so the string doesn't slip flat again.
Method 2: a tuning app on your phone
No tuner yet? A free tuning app works well too. It follows the same idea but listens through your phone's microphone, so tune in a quiet room, hold the phone near the sound hole, and choose the right mode, such as Guitar Standard or Ukulele Standard, so the app knows which note each string should be.
Method 3: tuning by ear with the fifth-fret method
This is useful when you forget your tuner, and it trains your ear at the same time. You use one string as a reference and match each neighboring string to it.
- Guitar: the 6th string at the 5th fret should match the open 5th string. The 5th string at the 5th fret matches the open 4th, and the 4th string at the 5th fret matches the open 3rd. The exception is the 3rd string: press it at the 4th fret to match the open 2nd string. Then go back to the 5th fret on the 2nd string to match the open 1st.
- Ukulele (high G): the 3rd string (C) at the 4th fret matches the open 2nd string (E). The 2nd string at the 5th fret matches the open 1st string (A). The 3rd string at the 7th fret matches the open 4th string (G).
Listen for whether the two notes blend together. When they're slightly off, you'll hear a wobbling "beat" in the sound. As you get closer, the wobble slows down and finally disappears. Keep in mind this method only tunes the instrument to itself. If you're playing with others or along with a recording, tune your first string to a correct reference note before you start.
Why strings go out of tune, and how to prevent it
- New strings: fresh strings keep stretching for a few days. Gently pull each one away from the fretboard and retune several times.
- Heat and humidity: moving from an air-conditioned room into a hot, humid street changes the wood and strings. Retune every time before you play.
- Storage: never leave your instrument in a car or direct sunlight, and keep it in a gig bag or case when you're not playing.
- Change strings regularly: old, rusty strings are hard to tune and sound dull. If you play daily, replace them every one to three months.
Wrapping up
Tuning takes a minute or two, but it instantly makes every chord you practice sound better. Make it a habit before each session, get comfortable with a tuner first, and practice tuning by ear alongside it. Once you're in tune, open your favorite song on Chordcafe and play with confidence.
