Tuner

Whether you are just starting to play a guitar or have played for a while you know that tuning your guitar is a necessity. Playing a guitar, or any instrument, that is out of tune is not a good idea.

Nowadays you can find tuners, not only at music centers, but also at you local Wal-Mart store. So finding a tuner should not be a problem.

For those that do not know, the standard way of tuning a guitar is to go from the lowest note (the thickest string) to the highest note (the thinnest string):

You will be tuning in this order E-A-D-G-B-E.

There are many ways that you can tune your guitar. In all probability, the fastest and easiest way is to buy an electronic guitar tuner. These cost between $15 and $40 for an easy on the pocket model.

For a little bit more money you can get a better model, which will let you tune to any note in the chromatic scale which is helpful if you get into alternative tuning later on.

Most tuners will come with a built in microphone, and should include a standard guitar cable jack. This will allow you to tune either an electric or acoustic guitar.

All you really need to do is to turn the tuner on and then strum the 6th string. Then continue to strum the guitar every so often while adjusting the tuner knob. You continue to do this until the string is tuned properly. Then move onto the next string.

Make sure that you always read and then follow the directions with the tuner.

If you are low on funds and would like a tuner but can not afford it there is a Free Interactive Online Guitar Tuner that you can use. Just click on this link to get to the website.

http://www.8notes.com/guitar_tuner/

The tuner will start by playing the E chord as soon as the page loads. If it does not load then you can just refresh the page but if that does not help then go to their help page to rectify the problem.

Once you can hear the note and have your E chord in tune you just simply click on the chord letter above the picture of the guitar neck to go to the next chord.

If you do not want to have to get online every time you need to tune your guitar then you could simply record each note for enough times, approximately 5-7 notes, then repeat for each note. Now you will have a handy recording of each note that you can use to tune your guitar any time and anywhere.

Looking for free tuners for other instruments? Here is a list and the links to get you there: Violin tuner http://www.8notes.com/violin_tuner/ Viola tuner http://www.8notes.com/viola_tuner/ Cello tuner http://www.8notes.com/cello_tuner/

Piano http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=onlinetuner

Note- The above site will also have links to free tuners for several other instruments such as: Shepard Harp Limerick Harp Studio Harp 31 String Gothic Harp Regency Harp Mountain Dulcimer Baritone Ukulele Tenor Guitar Teardrop Mandolin Irish Bouzouki

When you have your guitar all tuned and are ready to play, then here is a great site that has FREE sheet music for you.

http://www.webterrace.com/guitar/music.htm

They have all types of music from classic country to modern country, classic rock to modern rock, heavy metal, classical and much more!

Have fun playing your new sheet music on your perfectly tuned guitar.