Tunning

I have trouble running even with the tuner. Any ideas. I am afraid to pop the strings. Can anyone help me

Can your clarify this a bit? I’m not sure if you’re saying you tune by ear or are using an electronic tuner?

I think charr698 might have intended to type "I have trouble tuning even with the tuner"?

Hi charr698.

First, don't be afraid. It's just a guitar string, an inexpensively and easily replacable consumable part. In the unlikely event you do overtighten and break one, the earth won't tilt from its axis. They are pretty tough 'lil critters.[br][br]The way to gain tuning skill is to attempt tuning. Success will bring confidence with it.

First watch Lisa McCormack's tuning vids. Then give it a go.

You will need a base reference for standard tuning, so you will need a tuner. If you don't have one, even plastic pitch pipes are fine, use Guitar Trick's tuner available on this site, or download Fender's Tuner app on Android, or for Mac OS if that's your phone/tablet format. it is FREE. It's straighforward, very convenient and easy to use.

Start by tuning your 6th (fattest) string, the low E. When you pluck it, I suggest using a firm pick. Note the letter displayed on the tuner. It doesn't matter whether the letter is on tune yet or indicating something else. e.g. F That will tell you approximately to which note that string is currently tuned. What you want to see displayed there initially is E, whether off tune high or flat.

Let's say for instance it is displaying F. We know the scale goes up to F, so knowing where you are, you know you have to come down or lower in the scale by loosening or unwinding the string's tension.

First make sure you select and have hold of the correct tuner peg key. Now whilst plucking the string, in a smooth small incremental movement, watch the tuner indication to ensure you are turning the tuner winder the right way until you see the letter change. If you see F# or G, that indicates you are going turning in the wrong direction. E will mean you are turning the winder in the right direction. If no change, you are probably turning the wrong tuner winder. Don't worry. We've all done, and do it. :)

Once you see E on the tuner, the tuner will indicate visually, usually by bars either side or the colour of its background dot whether you are high or low and how far off tune. It's intuitive. Just continue to make small smooth incremental changes until you have the E centered with no to minimal bars either side, or the letter has changed to a green background -Fender's tuner is like this if I remember accurately, depending upon the tuner you are using.

Once you have the 6th string tuned to E, you can then either tune by ear using the previously tuned strings as reference. Easy peasy. See Lisa's lesson on this, or repeating the same method as described above for each string and its respective open note, tune each string with the tuner until you have all 6 strings tuned to EADGBE.

[br]GL & remember to enjoy the journey. There's nothing to fear. It's supposed to be fun. Cheers.