Free Online Guitar Tuner
Pluck a string into your microphone and the tuner instantly identifies the closest standard string, the exact Hz, and whether you are sharp or flat — no app needed.
Click Start Tuner and pluck a string…
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How to Tune Your Guitar
- Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access.
- Pluck one string at a time and let it ring clearly — do not touch other strings.
- The highlighted box shows the closest standard string (E2–E4). The cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are.
- Turn the tuning peg slowly. Tune up to pitch from below rather than down — it stays in tune longer.
- When the meter centers on green (±5 cents), the string is in tune. Repeat for all 6 strings.
Standard Guitar Tuning Reference (EADGBE)
Standard tuning is the most common guitar tuning, used in all styles from classical to metal. Each string's target frequency is shown below. When using this tuner, the highlighted string box indicates which string your current pitch is closest to.
| String | Note | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (thickest) | E2 | 82.41 Hz | Low E — deepest, most common bass note |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz | A string — root of A chords |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz | D string — root of D chords |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz | G string — middle of the range |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz | B string — only non-perfect-fourth interval |
| 1 (thinnest) | E4 | 329.63 Hz | High E — two octaves above low E |
Reference pitch: A4 = 440 Hz (concert pitch standard)
Popular Alternate Tunings
Alternate tunings change the pitch of one or more strings to achieve different chord voicings, easier fingering, or a unique sonic character. Use this tuner then manually adjust strings to the target notes shown below.
Drop D
Rock, metal, easy power chords🎵 Everlong — Foo Fighters · Killing in the Name — Rage Against the Machine
Open G
Blues, slide guitar, Rolling Stones🎵 Brown Sugar — Rolling Stones · Start Me Up — Rolling Stones
DADGAD
Folk, Celtic, fingerstyle🎵 Kashmir — Led Zeppelin · Bron-Y-Aur Stomp — Led Zeppelin
Half-Step Down (Eb)
Easier bends, Hendrix, SRV🎵 Purple Haze — Jimi Hendrix · Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan
Open E
Blues, slide guitar, ZZ Top🎵 Dust My Broom — Elmore James · Jumpin' Jack Flash (slide covers)
Drop C
Heavy rock, metal, detuned riffs🎵 Before I Forget — Slipknot · Tears Don't Fall — Bullet for My Valentine
Open D
Blues, folk, slide guitar🎵 Big Yellow Taxi — Joni Mitchell · Death Letter — Son House
C Standard
Metal, heavy rock, Korn🎵 Blind — Korn · Freak on a Leash — Korn
Tips for Accurate Tuning
Tune up from below
Always approach the target pitch by tuning upward. Strings that are tuned down tend to slip flat faster due to string tension dynamics.
Pluck clean single notes
Mute all strings except the one you are tuning. Sympathetic vibration from adjacent strings can confuse the pitch detector.
Tune in a quiet environment
Background noise can interfere with pitch detection. Use headphones to monitor yourself while keeping the room quiet.
Tune after playing
New strings go out of tune quickly. Tune your guitar again after 10–15 minutes of playing — the strings need time to stretch and settle.
Tuning an Acoustic vs Electric Guitar
Standard EADGBE tuning applies to both acoustic and electric guitars — the target frequencies are identical. The difference lies in technique and signal quality when using a microphone-based tuner.
Acoustic Guitar
- Position the soundhole a few inches from your device's microphone for a clean signal.
- Pluck each string firmly near the soundhole — acoustics project the fundamental frequency cleanly.
- In a noisy room, cup your hand around the soundhole to direct sound toward the mic.
- New strings go sharp as they stretch — re-tune after every 10–15 minutes of play.
Electric Guitar
- Set your amp to a clean channel — distortion masks the fundamental and confuses pitch detectors.
- Tune unplugged if your amp is unavailable; solid-body electric projection is quiet but sufficient.
- Use the bridge pickup for a brighter, stronger fundamental — ideal for tuner accuracy.
- Avoid heavy reverb or delay effects during tuning — they extend the note and create pitch ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access. Pluck one string at a time. The highlighted box shows the closest standard string (E2–E4) and the cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are. Adjust your tuning peg until the meter shows green.
Standard EADGBE tuning from string 6 to string 1: E2 (82.41 Hz), A2 (110.00 Hz), D3 (146.83 Hz), G3 (196.00 Hz), B3 (246.94 Hz), E4 (329.63 Hz). This covers 12-string, acoustic, semi-hollow, and electric guitars.
The target notes (EADGBE) are identical for both. For acoustic guitars, pluck near the soundhole for a clean signal. For electric guitars, use a clean amp tone with no distortion — heavy distortion masks the fundamental frequency and confuses the pitch detector. You can also tune an electric guitar unplugged.
Set your amp to a clean channel (no distortion, reverb, or heavy EQ). Pluck the string close to the bridge pickup for a clear fundamental. You can also tune unplugged — hold your guitar near your device microphone and pluck firmly.
Once the page loads, the tuner runs entirely in your browser. No internet connection is needed and no audio is ever uploaded or stored — 100% private.
Drop D lowers string 6 from E2 to D2 (73.42 Hz). All other strings stay at standard pitch. It's popular in rock and metal for its deep sound and easier one-finger power chords.
Yes. A 12-string guitar uses the same 6 note names (EADGBE) but doubles each string — the lower 4 pairs add a string one octave up, while the top 2 pairs are tuned in unison. Tune each pair individually using this tuner.
This tuner is optimized for the 6 standard guitar strings. For bass, ukulele, violin, or other instruments, use our Free Online Chromatic Tuner which works across the full note range.
Drop D is the easiest — only the lowest string (string 6) changes from E2 to D2 (73.42 Hz). All other strings remain at standard pitch. It instantly opens up rock and metal power chord shapes with a single finger.
No. Most alternate tunings are achieved by simply re-tuning your existing strings. However, very low tunings like C Standard may benefit from heavier gauge strings (11s or 12s) to maintain proper string tension and avoid a floppy feel.
Bass guitar uses EADG tuning — the same note names as the lowest 4 strings of a standard guitar, but one octave lower. Use our Free Online Chromatic Tuner which covers the full frequency range including bass guitar frequencies.
Ready to Tune Your Guitar?
Standard EADGBE tuning in seconds — strum a string, see the note, play in tune.
Open Guitar Tuner