I am having problems tuning when I don't use tuner

I use YouTube most of the time when tuning, but what if I don't have internet? I've tried tuning my guitar without the tuner. I press the fifth fret lower e string and hit the a string and listen to it until it's sounding the same as the lower e string I'm fretting. The problem is, what if my lower e string is out of tune?

Originally Posted by: FieryGuitarist123

I use YouTube most of the time when tuning, but what if I don't have internet? I've tried tuning my guitar without the tuner. I press the fifth fret lower e string and hit the a string and listen to it until it's sounding the same as the lowere string I'm fretting. The problem is, what if my lower e string is out of tune?

Sounds good. You can check that 6th string E using a pitch pipe, can be a useful thing to have in your guitar accessories. I like to tune mine by the relative tuning method, like you've been doing, just to 'wake-up' my ear a bit, but often do just check them through to a digital tuner afterwards, or failing that a pitchpipe where the batteries dont run out.

....or just buy a clamp on tuner and keep it in your guitar case. I actually saw a video that stated that using a tuner is the only accurate way to tune a guitar. I suspect that perfect pitch would also do but that is harder to come by.

I don't have a clamp on tuner and I won't go to the music store just for my safety because of COVID-19.

That's a good question. You're tuning your guitar relative to itself. Nothing wrong with that as long as you're playing alone. When I first started playing (long time ago) I used an A440 tuning fork. Just looked and saw you can buy them for 5 or 6 dollars. The epitome of being off the grid. No electricity No batteries required.

There are also tuning apps for your smartphone, in the old days from before the smartphone you lifted off the horn of a landline telephone and the tone that you heard was A440 hz or the 5th string.

Originally Posted by: davem_or

That's a good question. You're tuning your guitar relative to itself. Nothing wrong with that as long as you're playing alone. When I first started playing (long time ago) I used an A440 tuning fork. Just looked and saw you can buy them for 5 or 6 dollars. The epitome of being off the grid. No electricity No batteries required.

Yes definetely wrong, by tuning your guitar every time before you play it you develope a kind of perfect pitch to, even if you don't realise it.

As to music stores and not wanting to get exposed to the Covfefe Plague... You could order a tuner, or a tuning fork, or a pitch pipe from somebody like Musician's Friend and have it shipped to your house. If you want further security, let the package sit for a week and that should render it safe. Covfefe doesn't seem do well outside the body where it has nothing to prey on.

Just download tunings for your 6 strings on your guitar as mp3's to play on your computer or phone to tune against. Get mp's of E, A, D, G, B and high E and your set. There has to be hundreds of places on the web to get these for free.

I'm sure I have hundreds on my computer Every course from TrueFire has them. (I know. shouldn't mention that here!) Every issue of Guitar Techniques magazine has them on the included CD. There has to be some on YT that you can download.

There is a reference tuner in the toolbox on here.

I've tried a lot of tuning apps and the one I like best is ProGuitarTuner. It does not require the internet to use.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Fender tune is awesome. Get it on your phone and it's all you'll ever need.

I love and use the Snark SN1 tuner. It can be had on Amazon for $12.

I'm sure I have hundreds on my computer Every course from TrueFire has them. (I know. shouldn't mention that here!) Every issue of Guitar Techniques magazine has them on the included CD. There has to be some on YT that you can download.

Fender tune is free to download to your phone...has manual and auto tune options..all the open tunings etc too. Don't need anything else if you have a phone.