Know the six target notes
Standard tuning from the thickest string to the thinnest is E, A, D, G, B, E. The two E strings are an octave apart, so the low one sounds roughly twice as low as the high one.
- 6th (thickest) โ low E
- 5th โ A ยท 4th โ D ยท 3rd โ G
- 2nd โ B ยท 1st (thinnest) โ high E
Always tune up to the note
If a string is sharp, loosen it below the target and then bring it back up. Tuning down leaves tension on the wrong side of the peg, and the string slips flat within a minute of playing.
Turn the peg in small movements and check after each one. Big turns overshoot, and overshooting is what breaks strings.
Get a clean reading from a microphone tuner
Pluck one string at a time with a clear, unhurried stroke and let it ring. A tuner needs a single steady pitch; two strings ringing together or a very quiet pluck makes the display jump.
Play in a quiet room, keep other strings muted with the side of your hand, and give the note a moment to settle before judging the reading.
When the reading will not settle
Jumping readings usually mean background noise, a dead battery in a clip-on tuner, or a very old string that will not hold pitch. New strings stretch, so expect to retune several times in the first few days.
If one string keeps dropping, check that it is wound neatly around the peg rather than crossing over itself.