No Tuner? Learn How to Tune Your Guitar by Ear (using Harmonics!)

Essential Knowledge Tune Your Guitar
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Learn how to tune your guitar without a tuner in this quick lesson using harmonics. Perfect for beginners or anyone tuning by ear.

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This is in the Knowledge lesson group. Link is here (I think):
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/no-tuner-learn-how-to-tune-your-guitar-by-ear-using-harmonics-bites-0001

but there is another below that one here:
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/tune-your-guitar-using-harmonics-tu-004

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fwiw, these methods work good for tuning to a record that may or may not be in pitch, I assume due to the record spinning at close to 33 1/3, but not quite. Too fast and pitch is high, to slow and pitch is low.
I’d find a root note of the song I wanted to play, put the root in tune with the record, then tune the whole guitar to that one, off pitch note. But in the end, the guitar would be in tune with itself and I could play along with the record…

Playing off pitch was not correct, but I could play with the record after tuning using the tune the guitar to itself method Justin is describing.

Or, if your in the forest somewhere, with nothing to tune to.
This method will again get the guitar in tune with itself. Pick any note and tune to that note.
May not be in proper pitch, but it will be in tune with itself.

Thanks for the links Michael… :slight_smile:

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FWIW my tuner is finding Justin to not be at true pitch. Using my tuner, I always seem to line line up with other players or recordings. Lesson is still good tho

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I didn’t see any written documentation in the lesson that covered the steps so this is what I took down. Hope it helps.

To play harmonic place finger on string on top of the fret, not behind it. Pick close to bridge.

Use the 5th string (A) as your tuning reference.

6th string tuning → 7th fret on 5th string with 5th fret on 6th string

1st string tuning → 5th fret on 6th string with open 1st string

2nd string turning → 7th fret on 6th string with open 2nd string

4th string tuning → 5th fret on 5th string with 7th fret on 4th string

3rd string tuning → 5th fret on 4th string with 7th fret on 3rd string

Fine adjust 3rd and 4th string using a chord, like G.

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I usually use the 5th fret method, but start from the D & G strings and work outward. On an electric, adding distortion replicates the “wobble”. Finally I check the tuning using open chords (Em is good)

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Older recordings might be off-pitch because the musicians tuned up among themselves rather than to a concert reference.

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Interesting topic , but with Justin’s guitar a semitone sharp, it’s quite crunchy to play along with!!
I don’t think it’s on purpose, but the note he says is an A is a Bflat - maybe something in the recording has altered the pitch