Guitar Tuner

This guitar tuner listens through your microphone and shows how far each string is from its note: tune a guitar, ukulele or bass in standard, drop D or half step down tuning, or tune by ear with reference notes.

Press Start tuning and allow the microphone, or use the reference notes below.

 

Reference notes (tap to hear a string, then match it by ear):

The sound is analysed on your device. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.

How to tune with the microphone

  1. Choose your tuning. Guitar (standard, drop D or half step down), ukulele, bass, or any note.
  2. Start and allow the microphone. Press Start tuning; your browser asks for permission. Use a quiet room.
  3. Play one open string. Let it ring. The tuner shows which string it hears and how many cents it is off.
  4. Turn the peg. Too low: tighten the string. Too high: loosen it. Stop when the needle is in the middle and it says "In tune".
  5. Check again. Tune every string, then check them all once more: changing one string can pull the others a little.

String notes and frequencies

The notes the tuner aims for, at the standard A4 = 440 Hz. Strings are numbered as players count them: the 1st string is the thinnest.

Guitar: standard (E A D G B E)
String 654321
Note E2A2D3G3B3E4
Hz 82.41110.00146.83196.00246.94329.63
Guitar: drop D (D A D G B E)
String 654321
Note D2A2D3G3B3E4
Hz 73.42110.00146.83196.00246.94329.63
Guitar: half step down (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭)
String 654321
Note E♭2A♭2D♭3G♭3B♭3E♭4
Hz 77.78103.83138.59185.00233.08311.13
Ukulele (G C E A, high G)
String 4321
Note G4C4E4A4
Hz 392.00261.63329.63440.00
Ukulele (G C E A, low G)
String 4321
Note G3C4E4A4
Hz 196.00261.63329.63440.00
Bass: standard (E A D G)
String 4321
Note E1A1D2G2
Hz 41.2055.0073.4298.00

Tuning tips

Tune up to the note

If a string is too high, loosen it a little below the note and then bring it up to the note, turning the peg slowly at the end.

No microphone? Tune by ear

Tap a string's reference note and turn the peg until your string sounds the same. Listen for the "wobble" between the two sounds slowing down and disappearing.

Using a capo

Tune without the capo first. A capo can pull strings slightly sharp; check again with it on. The capo calculator shows which key you are in with the capo.

Playing along with a recording

If a song sounds a semitone lower than your chords, it may be in half-step-down tuning: retune, or move your chords down a semitone in the chord transposer, or the recording up with the MP3 transposer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tune my guitar with this tuner?

Choose your tuning, press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Play one open string and let it ring. The tuner shows which string it hears and whether it is too low (tighten the string with its tuning peg) or too high (loosen it). Turn the peg slowly until the needle sits in the middle and the display says "In tune", then do the next string.

What are the notes of standard guitar tuning?

From the thickest string to the thinnest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4 (E A D G B E). The 6th string is the low E and the 1st string the high E, two octaves higher.

What does "cents" mean on a tuner?

A cent is a hundredth of a semitone. The needle shows how many cents the string is above or below its note; this tuner says "In tune" within 5 cents.

How do I tune to drop D?

Choose "Guitar: drop D". Only the 6th string changes: tune it down a whole step from E2 to D2, so the strings are D A D G B E. The tuner checks every string against the new notes.

How do I tune half a step down?

Choose "Guitar: half step down" and tune every string one semitone lower: E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭. Some songs are recorded in this tuning; your usual chord shapes then sound a semitone lower. To play along without retuning, move the chords down one semitone with the chord transposer.

Can I tune a ukulele or a bass?

Yes. Choose Ukulele (G C E A, with a high or low G) or Bass (E A D G). "Any note" shows the nearest note for any instrument or voice.

What is A4 = 440 Hz, and should I use 432 Hz?

440 Hz for the A above middle C is the international standard tuning pitch, and tuners use it unless you choose otherwise. Some players prefer another reference, such as 432 Hz or 442 Hz; choose it under "A4 =" and every note moves with it. Use the same reference as the people you play with.

Is the microphone recording me?

No. The tuner analyses the sound in your browser to find the note and keeps nothing. The microphone is only used while the tuner is on, after you press Start tuning.

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