Guide

Standard guitar tuning

Standard tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E from the thickest string to the thinnest. Every chord shape on this site assumes it. Here is what each string should sound like, a way to remember the order, and how to get there with a tuner.

The six strings

StringNoteSounds likeFrequency
6 (thickest)Elow E, two octaves under middle C area82 Hz
5Athe A below middle C110 Hz
4Dthe D below middle C147 Hz
3Gthe G below middle C196 Hz
2Bthe B just under middle C247 Hz
1 (thinnest)Ethe E above middle C330 Hz
Thick to thin. The number is how guitarists count strings: 6 is the thickest.
EADGBeopenEADGBE
The open strings, thin e on top as the player sees them.

How to remember E A D G B E

  • Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
  • Every Adult Dog Growls, Barks, Eats.
  • Or just say the letters to the rhythm of a strum until they stick.

Tip

Both E strings are the same note

The thick E and the thin e are two octaves apart, the same letter higher up. If you tune the thin one, you can check the thick one against it.

How to tune

  1. 1

    Open a tuner

    A free browser tuner works. Let it hear the guitar through your microphone.

  2. 2

    Play the thick E string on its own

    Let it ring. The tuner names the note it hears.

  3. 3

    Turn the peg slowly

    If the tuner says the note is flat (too low), tighten. Sharp (too high), loosen. Small turns.

  4. 4

    Repeat for A, D, G, B, e

    Then play the thick E again. Tuning one string can nudge the others.

Watch out

Tune up to the note, not down

If a string is sharp, loosen it below the note and come back up. Strings hold their tuning better when the last move tightened them.

Now play something

A guitar in tune makes every chord on this site sound like the recording you hear. Out of tune, even a perfect C sounds wrong.

Try it now

Ode to Joy, chords mode

Tune up, then play Ode to Joy in Chords mode. Two chords, and you will hear whether the tuning is right.

Open the song

Questions people ask

What is standard tuning on a guitar?
E A D G B E, from the thickest string to the thinnest. The thick E is low, the thin E is two octaves higher.
How often should I tune?
Every time you pick the guitar up. New strings and changes in temperature push it out of tune within hours.
Do I need a tuner?
A tuner is the fastest way. Any phone app or browser tuner is fine. Later you can tune by ear using the fifth fret of each string.

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