Click Start and allow microphone access when prompted. Play one string at a time — the tuner detects pitch in real time and shows whether you're flat (tune up) or sharp (tune down). When the needle centers and turns green, that string is in tune. You can tap any string peg on the headstock image to lock onto that specific string and ignore others.

Standard guitar tuning is EADGBE — from the thickest (6th) string to the thinnest (1st): E2 at 82.41 Hz, A2 at 110.00 Hz, D3 at 146.83 Hz, G3 at 196.00 Hz, B3 at 246.94 Hz, and E4 at 329.63 Hz. This is the most universal tuning for acoustic and electric guitar and is the reference for the vast majority of lessons, tabs, and songs.

Yes — this online guitar tuner works on any smartphone or tablet with a microphone. Open the page in Safari (iPhone/iPad) or Chrome (Android), grant microphone permission when prompted, and start tuning. No app download is required. For best results, tune in a quiet environment and hold the phone close to the guitar's soundhole or pickups.

You can tune by relative ear using the 5th-fret method: first get the low E string close to pitch using a reference (piano, pitch pipe, or a tuning app). Then fret the 5th fret of the E string — this produces A, which should match your open A string. Repeat: 5th fret of A = D, 5th fret of D = G, 4th fret of G = B, and 5th fret of B = high E. Each fretted note should sound identical to the next open string.

Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E) lowers only the thickest string by one whole step, from E2 down to D2. All other strings stay at standard pitch. To tune to Drop D, start in standard tuning and drop the 6th string until it sounds an octave below the open 4th string (D3). Drop D makes power chords easier — just barre all three bass strings at the same fret — and is widely used in rock and metal.

Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) tunes all six strings so that strumming all open strings produces a D major chord. It is a favorite tuning for slide guitar, blues, and folk music. Because every fret position across all strings forms a major chord, melody and slide playing become much more fluid. Artists including Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Jack White have used Open D tuning extensively.

Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) lowers all six strings by a whole step from Drop D. Start from standard tuning, lower every string by one whole step to D standard, then drop the lowest string one additional whole step down to C2. Drop C is very common in heavy metal, metalcore, and hard rock for its deep, aggressive low end. Bands like Slipknot, Trivium, and Bring Me the Horizon use Drop C tuning.

Half step down tuning (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb) lowers every string by exactly one semitone from standard. The strings produce a slightly slacker feel, making string bends easier and giving the guitar a warmer, darker tone. It was the signature tuning of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Guns N' Roses. To tune half a step down, use our dedicated half step down guitar tuner page.

Electric guitars use the same standard EADGBE tuning as acoustic guitars. You can use this online tuner with your device's microphone, or connect via an audio interface for a direct signal. New electric guitar strings stretch considerably for the first day or two — expect to retune frequently until they settle. After any string change, stretching each string by hand a few times will speed up the settling process.

Acoustic guitars are tuned to standard EADGBE just like electric guitars. The microphone-based tuner works well for acoustics — tune in a quiet room and hold your device near the soundhole for the best signal. Acoustic guitars are more sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, so they may go out of tune more often. Keeping your guitar in a case with a humidity stabilizer will help it hold pitch longer.

This tuner uses the Web Audio API for real-time pitch detection with cent-level accuracy (one cent equals 1/100th of a semitone). It shows flat or sharp deviation up to 50 cents in either direction. For practical playing, being within 5 cents of the target pitch is considered in tune. Accuracy is highest in quiet environments — background noise can cause incorrect pitch readings.

You should tune your guitar every time you play, even if you played the day before. Temperature, humidity, string tension, and the act of playing all cause tuning drift. New strings require extra tuning sessions for 24–48 hours as they stretch and settle. Acoustic guitars go out of tune faster than electrics in changing conditions. Quality tuning machines and a properly lubricated nut will help your guitar stay in tune longer.

The most common causes of tuning instability are: new or old strings that have not stabilized, temperature and humidity changes causing the neck to flex, worn or cheap tuning machines, a poorly cut or dry nut, playing with heavy pick attack or aggressive bends, and whammy bar use without a locking system. Solutions include changing strings regularly, installing locking tuners, lubricating the nut with graphite, and storing the guitar in a stable environment.

A chromatic tuner detects any pitch and displays the nearest note name — not just standard guitar notes. This makes it ideal for alternate tunings, oddly-tuned instruments, and precise intonation checks. Our chromatic tuner mode is available in the instrument toggle at the top of the tuner and works for guitar, bass, and any other instrument.