Free Online Guitar Tuner
Tune your guitar in seconds, right here in your browser. Tap Start tuning, allow your microphone and play one string at a time. The tuner tells you which string you’re playing and whether to tune up or down. It’s free, there’s nothing to install, and it works on your phone, tablet or laptop.
How to tune your guitar with this tuner
- Start the tuner. Tap Start tuning and allow microphone access. Your sound is processed on your own device and is never recorded or uploaded.
- Choose your tuning. Standard tuning (E A D G B E) is selected by default. Pick another one from the Tuning menu if you need it.
- Play one open string and let it ring. In Auto mode the tuner works out which string you’re playing. In Manual mode you tap a string to lock it and hear how it should sound.
- Turn the tuning peg slowly. The tuner shows Tune up when the string is flat (too low) and Tune down when it’s sharp (too high). When it says In tune, move on to the next string.
- Go round once more. Tuning one string changes the tension on the neck a little, so check all six again at the end.
Standard guitar tuning: E A D G B E
Most songs use standard tuning. From the thickest string to the thinnest, the notes are E, A, D, G, B and E. A handy way to remember them: Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (thickest) | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 (thinnest) | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
These frequencies use the usual reference pitch of A4 = 440 Hz. If you play along with a piano or a recording that’s tuned slightly differently, you can change the reference between 432 and 446 Hz in the tuner settings.
Alternate tunings
The tuner also knows these tunings. Pick one from the Tuning menu and it tunes each string to the right note.
- Drop D (D A D G B E): the low E drops to D. Great for heavy riffs and one-finger power chords.
- D Standard (D G C F A D): every string a whole step down, for a darker, heavier sound.
- Half-step down (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭): popular in rock and blues, and a little easier on your voice and fingers.
- Open G (D G D G B D): strum the open strings and you hear a G chord. A favourite for slide and blues.
- Open D (D A D F♯ A D): a big open D chord, great for slide and fingerstyle.
- DADGAD (D A D G A D): the classic folk and Celtic tuning.
- Bass standard (E A D G): for four-string bass guitar.
Tips for tuning (and staying in tune)
- Tune up to the note. If a string is sharp, go a little below the note and come back up. The string settles better and is less likely to slip.
- Keep it quiet. Tune in a quiet room and rest your hand lightly on the other strings so only one string rings.
- Electric guitar? An unplugged electric is quiet, so hold your phone or laptop close to the guitar, or play through your amp.
- New strings stretch. Fresh strings go flat quickly for the first day or two. Retune often, or gently stretch them after fitting.
- Weather matters. Changes in temperature and humidity move the wood and strings, so a quick check before you play is always worth it.
Guitar won't stay in tune?
If you’re retuning every few minutes, the tuner isn’t the problem. Old strings, sticky nut slots, slipping tuning pegs or a neck that has moved with the seasons will all pull a guitar out of tune. A proper setup fixes most of this, and your guitar will play better too.
I set up and repair electric, acoustic and bass guitars in Zandvoort, for players in Haarlem and Amsterdam. Book a guitar setup, or pick up fresh guitar strings or a clip-on tuner from the shop.
Frequently asked questions
Is this guitar tuner really free?
Yes. There’s no sign-up and nothing to install. Just open the page and start tuning.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in up-to-date browsers on iPhone, Android, tablets and computers. Your browser will ask for permission to use the microphone the first time.
Is my microphone recorded?
No. The sound is analysed on your own device to find the pitch. Nothing is recorded, stored or uploaded.
Can I tune an acoustic, electric or bass guitar?
Yes, all three. Acoustic guitars are easiest because they’re loud. For an unplugged electric, hold the microphone close. For bass, choose Bass standard (E A D G) in the Tuning menu.
Why does the tuner jump around?
Usually other strings are ringing along, or there’s background noise. Pick one string firmly, mute the others and let the note ring for a second or two.
Can I learn to play here too?
Yes. The tuner is part of GuitarBuddy Play, a free app with a chord library, a metronome and beginner guitar lessons.
More free guitar tools
All of these tools are part of GuitarBuddy Play, a free app with beginner guitar lessons too.