What Is The Best Tuning Method?

The most accurate tuning method is by using an electronic tuner.  This will provide a consistent reading and allow you to tune the same every time.  You can also perform a relative tuning where you tune 5 of the strings relative to the 6^th string.  This works well if you are playing by yourself.  If you are playing with one or more people, you will want to make sure your guitar is in tune with the other instruments, usually the piano/keyboard or other guitars.

How to Tune

The method we are going to provide here is relative tuning the 1^st thru 5^th strings to the 6^th string.

Step 1: Tune the 6^th string, which is the largest string, to a E.  If you are playing with a group, use the piano or another guitar to tune this string.

Step 2: Tune the 5^th string to an A by playing the 6^th string at the 5^th fret.  The two notes should sound the same.  If they do not, tighten or loosen the 5^th string, to raise or lower the note until the two notes sound the same.

 Step 3: Tune the 4^th string to a D by playing the 5^th string at the 5^th fret.  The two notes should sound the same.  If they do not, tighten or loosen the 4^th string, to raise or lower the note until the two notes sound the same.

Step 4: Tune the 3^th string to a G by playing the 4^th string at the 5^th fret.  The two notes should sound the same.  If they do not, tighten or loosen the 3^th string, to raise or lower the note until the two notes sound the same.

Step 5: Tune the 2^th string to a B by playing the 3^th string at the 4^th fret.  The two notes should sound the same.  If they do not, tighten or loosen the 2^th string, to raise or lower the note until the two notes sound the same.

Step 6: Tune the 1^th string to an E by playing the 2^th string at the 5^th fret.  The two notes should sound the same.  If they do not, tighten or loosen the 1^th string, to raise or lower the note until the two notes sound the same.

At first it may seem difficult to hear the difference in the two notes but with practice this will get easier.

Check out JGuitar.com and leave some comments here about helpful resources you have used.

No Time to Practice Guitar

Do you have a problem “fitting in” practice time?  When I first started playing guitar (and still sometimes today) I had a problem taking the time to practice.  Guitar is one of those things where you must practice to get better at playing.  One and a half hours of practice the night before your lesson does not equal fifteen minutes a day for six days when it comes to practice time.  At the time I thought it did.  I could come up with many excuses such as:

I’m too tired to practice

My fingers hurt

It takes too long to get setup to practice

I don’t know what to practice

I don’t have time

Most of the excuses would have taken care of themselves if I had only practiced each day.  The rest can be taken care of with a little planning and organization.

Guitar Practice Tips

First of all, no one has enough time but we do all have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day 7 Days a week.  That is fixed.  What we can do is utilize the time we have available a little better.  One of the things that helped me to start practicing every day is to set my guitar either on a stand or in the case close to where I sit in my home.  This made it easy for me to reach over pick up the guitar and spend a little time practicing.

Second, have some items to practice set out close to the guitar that you want to practice each week.  This can be a song you are learning, chords you are practicing, technique exercises, or something pertaining to your lesson that week.  This will help you spend less time deciding what to practice and more time actually practicing.

As I mentioned earlier, one and a half hours of practice the night before your lesson does not equal fifteen minutes a day for six days when it comes to practice time.  Consistency will help multiply your improvement.  Plan to practice at least fifteen minutes each day and you will on your way to seeing some improvement.  You can build up to more practice time as you get better at utilizing your time.   If you have a problem finding that fifteen minutes, do like I did.  I had plenty of time to watch television, and play video games so instead of spending all my time doing those things I re-prioritized.  Instead of watching that movie I have seen fifty times I practiced a little.  Instead of playing Guitar Hero again, I would be the hero and practice my guitar.  You can do this too.

Share in the comments what has helped you practice guitar.

Desire to Learn

The first thing you need is a desire to learn to play guitar.  Obviously you have this to a certain degree or you would be reading this article.  You need more than a casual thought that playing guitar would be cool.   This casual thought will just leave you with a guitar setting in the closet or in the corner.     Understand that at first your fingers will be sore from pressing the strings, it will seem impossible to move from chord to chord, and the music you’re playing will not seem to sound correct.  You have to decide that you want to play.  Play through the sore fingers; the soreness will stop.  Play through the difficulty moving from chord to chord; it will get easier.   Keep playing the music; it will start to sound better.   Have that desire to learn.

Buy a Guitar

The second thing you need is a guitar.  This can be an acoustic or electric guitar.  Each has their own good and bad points but the most important thing is to get the type that will keep you motivated to play.  If you want to play rock guitar, an electric may be best.  If you want to play country, an acoustic could be best.  It all depends on the sound you want.

There is a large variety of brands, styles and prices that are available.  Which one should you buy?  Whether you get an acoustic or an electric, a dreadnought or a strat, Gibson or Martin; buy a good middle of the road priced guitar ($300-$600).  Do NOT get the $49 dollar special because you will be disappointed.  The higher priced guitars are an option but you can always upgrade later.  A middle of the road guitar will give you good sound and you will usually be able to get your money back if you decide to upgrade.   While you can always find good prices at online stores, you should visit your local guitar store to hear several different guitars being played.

Something to Play

The third thing you need is something to play.  Most of the time, this is a series of lessons that you can get from Amazon.com Guitars and Accessories, many online sources or a local guitar instructor.  In the future, Beginner Guitar Made Easy will also offer lessons.   Until then, please make use of these other sources.   You can also start learning chords and notes that will allow you to start playing songs and start conditioning your fingers.

Now all you need to do is to get started.

• Yes if you are having trouble learning a chord, a lesson, or a technique.
• Yes if playing guitar is hard for you.
• No if playing guitar comes easy for you.
• No if you can already play and want to start a band.
• Yes if you want to play with your friends, family, or for yourself.
• Yes if you want to learn to play guitar but life gets in the way.

This site is for the young and old who need tips and techniques to help you learn guitar.   This site will help you if you have arthritis or another difficulty that makes playing guitar hard.   This site is for you if you want to learn to play guitar so you can play Christmas carols with your family.  Beginner Guitar Made Easy is here to help you learn guitar even when you think it is impossible.

Are you one of the people that have a guitar in a closet to get it out of the way?   This site is for you.    Do you want to learn to play guitar but it seemed too difficult?  This site is for you.     Maybe you started learning but life happened and you don’t think you have time to learn or time to practice.   This site is for you.   Is it possible that you are just starting and you want to start right?   This site is for you.

This is Beginner Guitar Made Easy.  I want to help you learn to play guitar.   I want to give you ideas how to brush the dust off your guitar and start to love playing again.  I want to help you find ways to get that practice in without taking large amounts of time away from family, friends, work or school.

Why???

I have been there.  I started wanting to play guitar at age 10 but life happened.  Guitar wasn’t an option so I learned to play the string bass in an orchestra.   I played sports and later also played baritone in a beginner band.  During my first year of college, I finally had my opportunity.   I paid for group lessons, bought a guitar and started strumming with everyone else.   Life happened again and I was the one with a guitar collecting dust in a closet.  As life went on I finally made time for private lessons even though I had a job, was in school, leading music at my church and trying to have a social life as well.  Practice most of the time was for half an hour right before my next week’s lesson.  That is not the best way to learn.

What about now??

I’m an everyday guitarist who plays everyday guitar.  I have been playing for 15 years but life still happens. Time still fills with other stuff.  I have a wife and son and love to spend time with them.  I work at least 40 hours a week at my job.  I play in a praise and worship band at church.  I love to sit around playing guitar with friends.  I have also found that playing guitar can be very relaxing when life is stressing.

What can you do?

Send me your questions or suggestions.  You can do this by using the form on the contact page.