[Linkin_AxeMan]

i have a Yamaha acoustic...nice guitar sounds alright, but i dont have a tuner, so i tune my guitar manually. my buddy played it the other day and said i have it tuned to high, but when i drop it down a bit, the sound quality also goes down. any suggestions on manual tuning so i can get my guitar to the right tone?

[Nimzi]

2 words... tuning fork

[billy16]

All you need to really do is get that low E tuned right. Learn to get that by ear, because then, you can go to any tuning. Once you have your E tuned, just follow the formula to get it into standard.

There are a few places online to tune your guitar. But I don't know any of the sites. If you have a piano, you can use that, or another guitar.

[AxSlinger]

The reason the sound quality goes down, is because it's probably not tuned right. I suggest you get the E-string tuned perfectly, actually I sometimes tune the A string, then tune from there on.

The problem if you tune each string individually with out using a tuner to read the tone, some notes might be a little sharp, and the others a little flat (that is, when you are a beginner, and aren't used to tuning).

The best advice I can give you is to tune up. That means never lower the tension of the string to get it in tune. So if you tighten it a little sharp, start all over. If not, your chords almost ALWAYS will go flat again.

[haggis]

Get a tuner...they don't cost much, and it'll save you a whole lot of trouble in the long run....your ear will become accustomed to an "in-tune" instrument, and eventually you'll be able to tune it without the need for "outside help"..

[dadfad]

There is "standard tuning" whereas the strings are based on the A-string being at 440 (880 actually I think) and the others around that. There is also "relative standard" where the strings are all tuned PROPORTIONALLY (or relatively) to another vibrational pitch. Same relationship, just starting from a different base-pitch. If you are playing solo, you don't necessarily need to be in a certain standard (or if the instrument(s) you'll be playing with are tuned to the same "relative" pitch as yours), and relative-standard is fine. Although A=440 is considered "standard" and most guitars are made to be tuned generally to that standard, you'll find some guitars perform better when tuned slightly higher or lower. There are also other considerations for not using "standard". Vocal range for example, or just the "feel" of a tune. For a higher range, jst a capo is usually used. For lower you must tune below standard. I typically prefer a guitar that is tuned below standard, for my vocal-range and just because I prefer a bassier sound. I'll typically be tuned anywhere from a half-step to two-steps below "standard". There is no "right" or "wrong" way. Just one that has become more accepted as "standard".

[Linkin_AxeMan]

ok thanks. i've pretty much always just used my hands and ears to tune, the only bad thing is that when i tune my guitar, the way i like it to sound is actually way higher pitched than standard tuning. oh well guess ill buy a tuner. thanx

[guitarooman34]

Get a tuner...they don't cost much, and it'll save you a whole lot of trouble in the long run....your ear will become accustomed to an "in-tune" instrument, and eventually you'll be able to tune it without the need for "outside help"..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, get a tuner. Like he said they dont cost very much, I got mine for 4 bucks at Guitar Center.