My acoustic guitar came from the shop tuned a step down. I could get one of those clamps and just follow the lessons one fret further towards the body, and I do really like the lower D on the sixth string, it sounds fantastic. As an absolute beginner, do you think this is a viable option? I have a pretty good ear and am sure I can tune it a step up, as I had to retune it after it sat unused for a decade anyway, but I would love input on whether this is necessary.
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Hi Constance, @ConstanceClaire
Welcome here and I hope you have a lot of fun… 
It’s good when you start practice (and often even desirable) to tune it (or check if it’s in tune) every time you pick up your guitar… and at the beginning of your guitar journey I think it’s best to put your guitar in to have the standard tuning (EADGBE) to get used to this… Do you have a tuner, otherwise you can use your phone in the beginning …(or do I misunderstand you?)
Greetings,Rogier
Edit: I forget this put in between EADGBE what @jacksprat say`s
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Oh, thank you for the swift reply, Roger!
I do not have a tuner yet, I just did it by ear using a video on youtube. I will buy one but for the time being I’m pretty decent at matching pitch so I feel confident I can change the tuning. (Plus, if I leave it for too long waiting to get to a music shop, I’ll lose confidence and pack it away again, knowing me.) I saw that the step-down tuning was very popular, enough that it was tuned that way in the shop, so I thought I’d better check in about it.
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If I understand you correctly, you want to tune your guitar to drop-D tuning and use a capo to allow you to use the open chord shapes in the lessons? If so, I think that is a recipe for disaster.
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It’s already in drop-D, I just wanted to check in with folks who have more experience as to whether I should learn with it like that, or tune it to standard. You’re the second person to say it’s probably not a good idea, so I’ll be tuning it to standard for sure!
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Interesting thread.
Much has been said already, but I want to throw my 2 cent in here.
I’ve tuned many different ways, to a piano, to a record, to other instruments.
Now adays, with the new high tech. I use a snark clip on.
What I’ve found is.
Even when the tuner says I’m zeroed out, and right on pitch, for any string. I’ll play a few different chords behind the tuning. In my experience, many times the guitar still seems out of tune. So I’ll go back to ea. string and play a few fretted notes of that string. Most of the time I find the fretted note to be sharp. Doing this helps keep in my mind that as I fret said note, I can make it sharp just by pushing down hard on the string. So when playing, I’ll try to keep in mind not to press to hard. Many times, I also will go back and tune that string, usually towards going flat. I find that many times putting my tuner just at the point where to open string goes flat is my best place for being in tune when I play.
I find that a open C chord is very enlightening as to whether I’m in tune or not. If C chord sounds in tune, many times I am in tune.
One last observation.
When I tune, I play a bit prior to tuning. I find cold strings, that have sat for a bit of time, stings that have not be vibrating. These cold strings will tune a bit different than strings that have been played, stings that have been vibrating for a few min., strings that have warmed up a bit by vibrating will generally be flat compared to a cold string that’s sat stagnate for a few hours.
I’m thinking cold strings contract and get tighter, thus go sharp. Warm strings that have been vibrating loosen and then go flat as they get looser do to being warm and more flexible.
Don’t know for a fact about what I say, but I find it to be pretty consistent for when I’m tuning up.
As for using a capo. I seem to generally have to retune after I put the capo on if I want to be in tune. Granted I just got a cheapo capo.
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Constance, these statements about tuning refer to two different tunings. Drop D means that the low E string is tuned a full tone, or two steps, down while the other strings remain in standard tuning ie ADGBE. Tuned a step down implies to me that each string is tuned a semi-tone lower ie E to Eb, A to Ab, etc.
From a beginner’s perspective, the advantage of tuning a step (semi-tone) down reduces the tension on the strings, making it easier to fret notes. Nothing else changes and as suggested you can place a capo on at the first fret to play open chords at the same pitch as standard tuning in order to play along with an original recording or the Musopia App.
Later this can also help with learning how to play the F barre chord.
I think it is OK in the early stages but once you have developed your callouses, dexterity, and necessary strength (which is not extraordinary if playing with good technique on a well setup guitar) I’d suggest tuning up to standard tuning.
Drop D requires specific understanding of how to play certain chords from a bass note perspective. Probably not something to be exploring in the really early days.
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Oh, yes, I got them mixed up but basically it was tuned to DGCFAD. I’ve tuned it to standard, and found using the app tuner that my tuning was always a tiny bit flat, according to that. Within the lines around the note, but still.
I’m not sure I trust it fully as my phone is a little old lol. (Also, the app always thinks my second string isn’t ringing true during chord practice, but it’s fine when tuning, even though it sounds fine to me during practice as well.)
But, I did find it interesting that it was consistently flat, because often when I hear people sing live, and sometimes when I pay attention to myself when I’m singing, I hear notes ring a little flat as well. I’m wondering if my perception of sound is slightly off. At some point further in the grades I’m sure I’ll get that down pat.
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I once had to restring my G string and when I started the tuning process… it snapped off scaring the beejezus out of me.
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Welcome to the community, Phil! If you have a few minutes, do pop over here and tell us more about yourself.
I’ve not had a string break yet…I sometimes wonder if I’m missing a rite of passage for guitar players! 
One piece of luck for me - I wear eyeglasses, so hopefully that reduces my risk of injury when a string does inevitably snap. 
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Hey there! as an absolute beginner I am starting the program by following the basics module, but seem be in a rut as i’m unable to get my low E tuned, and so, I can’t even go past the Em practice since the app doesn’t even recognize the E string played right.
It shows tuned on a clip on tuner I have, also on another tuner app, and it really does sound ok to me. I even restringed that one string and removed the case from my phone. Also tried to restart the app, regranting the mic permissions, etc.
I have an old epiphone amped with a mini Marshall.
It’d make sense if I couldn’t be able to tune the low E anywhere, but it’s ok on the clip on and the other tuner app, so I really don’t know how to move forward.
Any ideas?
PS. Also note that while on Automatic mode, all of the strings tune ok but when it comes to low E, it’s picked as a perfect B, then I play B and it tunes ok ?
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Hi Sandra @NaGuerau, welcome to the forum!
To be honest, I never used the automatic counting in the app - I just counted the changes myself (and still do). There were too many misses with the auto detect feature. Also, on my phone, the app says I’m slightly out of tune when my clip on tuner and another app (both chromatic) say I’m perfectly in tune.
2 things though I noticed:
- Tuning worksbetter when working with the sound of the strings themselves instead of the sound of the amp (and not just with the JG app).
- Using my thumb instead of a pick for tuning gives less variation when hitting the string several times, and thus makes reliable tuning easier. Depending on how you hit the string, the pitch can change a bit, and it’s fat easier to hit the string badly with a pic than with your thumb.
I also quickly switched from using the app for following the lessons and the practice modules to the website, as the site has some additional information underneath the videos and each lesson has its own forum thread, which contains a lot of useful information and allows you to ask questions (as you have discovered 
)
What the app is great for however, is the karaoke style play along feature. It’s just loads of fun and allows you to train your chord changes in a fun way.
So, my advise would be: if the auto count doesn’t work for you, just don’t bother and learn to count to somewhere between 30 and 60 if you can’t yet (but I’m confident you can 
) and count the changes yourself. It will save you some frustration and will allow you to get past that Em.
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Hi and thanks!
I’m not sure what automatic counting is?
I think the issue is not being able to get E on tune:
(see how it picks it as B, but if I play B then it tunes perfectly)
Then the problem is when I get to the practice part, I can’t advance because it will never recognize the first string and I can’t get past this point:
Which at the moment seems silly, but made me question how and will I be able to continue with other practice checks?
Also, I mentioned I have the guitar amped to a mini Marshall, but I get the same result unplugged.
I just plugged it because I read a note that mentioned that in order to tune electric guitars, it would be necessary to amp them. (As seen on the Module 0, how to tune for beginners: " 
Tuning an electric guitar? If you’re using an app, you’ll have to amplify it so it works well. You won’t have to plug an electric guitar if you’re using a clip-on tuner! ;)"
Just posting everything in case anyone else finds themselves on the same situation.
Anyway, I looked up the Help and Support section on the App and there’s a bug report on the tuner not picking up E… SO I guess I’ll take on your advice and continue to follow the website, and the app where it’s working for me in a way that I can get feedback, and hope for the issue to get fixed.
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@ConstanceClaire Hello and welcome to the community.
I don’t know why they would sell it like that unless you asked for it.
I could get one of those clamps
Called a capo.
As an absolute beginner, do you think this is a viable option?
I would not recommend it. Go to standard A440 tuning EADGBE.
Use a different tuning method.
Justin’s audio files.
https://soundcloud.com/justinguitar/sets/guitar-tuning-notes
A clip on tuner.
You can practice without the app in listening mode. Use your ears to listen and play. Some people do report a glitch in the listening functionality of the app on occasion. Do not let it hinder your progress.
I hope that helps.
Cheers 
| Richard | JustinGuitar Approved Teacher, Official Guide & Moderator
Hello. This week I have left my guitar tuned after done. I have found it easier to start right into it the next day. Should the guitar be untuned after done for the day? TIA.
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Welcome to the forum Javier
Your guitar is made to be in tune. There is no need to detune a guitar after playing. I have a guitar that are over 70 years old and it is alway tuned to pitch.
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Hello @javierf and welcome to the Community.
As @stitch says, keep it in tune and ready to play.
Always check the tuning before playing. Always play a guitar that is in tune.
It only takes a minute, you may need to tweak it a little and it will help train your ears and help you learn to tune your guitar so it becomes automatic and quick when needed.
I hope that helps. Cheers | Richard | JustinGuitar Approved Teacher, Official Guide & Moderator
how do i tune a classical guitar ?
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The same way you tune a steel string guitar. A clip on tuner or an app on your phone will work.
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