Originally Posted by: karsenaikensI'm new to playing guitar, I just started a few weeks ago. A buddy was at my house and decided it would be a fun "prank" to turn all of my machine heads in different directions while I was out of the room. I've spent the last couple of days figuring out how to retune it, I've learned the open string and 12th string should be the same tone but I can't get my G string to even tune. I use a tuning app on my phone called "Guitar Tuna" and it says it's +900, so I'm unsure what to do as every guide on tonation starts with actually being able to tune your open strings properly. I use a fender stratocaster bridge and messed with the saddle distance to the neck, but still no luck with tonation adjustments (and I broke my B string, yay). I haven't touched the string height yet, but they're out of whack as well, should that be my next step?
First, stop messing with the physical stuff like bridges and all. Your goal is to get the thing in tune. For actual tuning. Try this process; 'get close' then 'get right'. That is to say:
1) Go somewhere on the internet that has an audio tuner. Meaning, you poke a button and it gives you the note audibly back to you. Do this for your Low E. No need to do the other strings at this point. Get as close as you can of your guitar sounding like the audio note. This is the 'get close'.
2) Take your tuner and tweak the low E string to be exact per the tuner.
3) If you are familiar, do the 'fret at the 5th fret' tuning method. With your low E string more-or-less in tune, to get the A string closed to in-tune, fret the low E on fret 5, leave the A open (not fretted) and strke both strings. Adjust (up or down, as needed) until the the A sounds close to the fretted E. Since the E string fretted at the 5th fret is the note of A, all your trying to do is match the note. When you're getting close to the match, you'll notice a slight wobbly/wavey sound between the two notes. Adjust until the wobbly sound is gone. Repeat this for the remaining strings but, there is one variation, so I'll give the patterern for all strings:
- Tuning the A string: Fret Low E-5th fret > Strike both Low E and open A
- Tuning the D string: Fret the A-5th fret > Strike both A string and open D
- Tuning the G string: Fret the D-5th fret > Strike both D and open G
- Tuning the B string (variation): Fret the G-4th fret > Strike both G and open B
- Tuning the High E string: Fret B-5th fret > Strike both B and open High E
I reads longer than it takes. But essentially you're using in tune notes of the applicable lower string to help you get the others in tune.
4) Now use your tuner to get all the strings exactly in tune. The skill I noted above is not only good to help with a tuning mess but some day you're going to change all your strings and needs to get it back in tune. After you've played for years, you just kinda know when the Low E is close and can start from there. Until then, find an audio tool to get you close like the Guitar Tuna you mentioned.
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As for your guitar set-up and bridges and all of that other stuff, here's a link from Fender on that. You don't want to go crazy on making those adjustments on your guitar unless you know what you're doing. I'd get it back to what the article says and see if that works.