Tune Each Guitar String to a Clear Target
Choose Standard, an alternate tuning, or a lower tuning before you adjust a string. The tuner shows the six open-string targets for that selection, so every reading is compared with the notes your guitar needs.
Standard guitar tuning is E A D G B E, from the lowest string to the highest. In this tool, those targets are E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4. Select Drop D, DADGAD, or another preset when the song uses a different set of open strings.
- Tuning presets
- 20 six-string sets
- Live reading
- Note, Hz, and cents
- Reference notes
- One for each string

Set the Tuning Before You Turn a Peg
A guitar tuner is most useful when its target matches the song. Select the full tuning first, then work through the six strings against the targets shown on the page.
Choose the complete string set
Standard tuning uses E A D G B E. Drop D changes the lowest string to D, while other presets replace more than one target.
Let one open string ring
Pluck a single string and mute the others so the microphone can follow one pitch instead of competing notes.
Check all six strings again
Revisit the full set after the first pass. Changing string tension can shift a string you tuned earlier.
Compare Standard, Drop D, and DADGAD
A tuning name describes all six open strings. Use this chart to compare the targets before you begin, then load the same tuning in the guitar tuner.
- Target note
- E2
- Target frequency
- 82.41 Hz
- In-tune window
- ±5 cents
Select a string to hear its reference note, or start tuning with your microphone.
Know which strings change
Drop D changes only string 6 from E2 to D2. DADGAD uses D A D G A D. Open D uses D A D F# A D, so several strings must change before the guitar reaches that open chord.
The tool also includes Double Drop D, Drop C, Drop B, Drop A, Open G, Open A, Open C, Eb Standard, D Standard, and other six-string presets. Choose the preset named by the song or arrangement.
| Tuning | Targets, low to high | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | E A D G B E | Common six-string setup |
| Drop D | D A D G B E | String 6 lowered to D |
| DADGAD | D A D G A D | Three targets differ from Standard |
| Open D | D A D F# A D | Open strings form a D-major chord |
| Eb Standard | Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb | Every string lowered one semitone |
Tune a Guitar One String at a Time
Start with the tuning named by the song. Work from string 6 to string 1, let each open string ring clearly, then make a final pass after the six strings settle.
- 01
Select the guitar tuning
Keep Standard selected for E A D G B E, or choose the alternate tuning before you start. The six reference targets update with the selection.
- 02
Start microphone tuning
Select Start Tuning, allow microphone access, then pluck one open string. Mute the other strings while the note rings.
- 03
Read the pitch direction
Tune up means the string is below its target. Tune down means it is above the target. Make small adjustments and pluck the string again.
- 04
Continue through the string set
Repeat the same check for every string, using the targets for the selected tuning rather than assuming Standard tuning.
- 05
Make a final check
Recheck all six strings after the first pass. This is useful after new strings, travel, strong bends, or any larger pitch adjustment.
Use Microphone Feedback or Reference Notes
Use the microphone when you want a live note, hertz, and cents reading. Use a reference note when you want to match a string by ear. Both methods use the same tuning selection and string targets.

Read the Note, Hz, and Cents
Let one open string ring after the first attack. The live reading shows the matched string note, its frequency in hertz, and how far it is from the target in cents.

Choose the Tuning Used by the Song
Changing the tuning updates the full string set. For example, Drop D replaces the Standard low E target with D while the other five targets stay in place.

Play a Reference Note for Any String
Select a string to play its reference note, then bring your open string closer by ear. Select another string or start microphone tuning when you are ready for the next check.
Read Flat, In Tune, and Sharp
Flat means the string is below the selected target, so raise its pitch. Sharp means it is above the target, so lower its pitch. In tune means the reading is within the tool's five-cent target window.
Cents describe the distance from the target pitch. Zero cents is centered. Follow the on-screen direction and recheck after each small adjustment.
Negative cents. Raise the string pitch gradually.
Centered within the five-cent target window.
Positive cents. Lower the string pitch, then check again.

Tune Any Six-String Guitar with a Microphone
Acoustic, electric, and classical guitars use the same string targets. For a clear microphone reading, let one open string ring and reduce the sound from the other strings, speakers, and instruments nearby.
Tune an acoustic or classical guitar in a quieter position with the soundboard facing the device. For an electric guitar, tune unplugged or use a clean sound so the open-string pitch remains clear at the microphone.

| Guitar | Set up the microphone | Avoid while tuning |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic | Face the soundboard toward the device in a quiet place | Other strings ringing or handling the device |
| Electric | Tune unplugged or with a clean sound at moderate volume | Distortion, modulation, delay, and pitch effects |
| Classical | Face the soundboard toward the microphone in a quiet room | Reading only the first pick attack |
Use the Guitar Tuner for Practice, Songs, or Recording
The tuner gives each player the same basic check: choose the intended tuning, tune the six open strings, and recheck before you start playing or recording.
Learning the first tuningNew Guitar Players
Start with the Standard targets E A D G B E and use the visible string labels to check every open string.
Following a song or lessonPlayers Changing Tunings
Choose Drop D, DADGAD, an open tuning, or another listed preset before practice so the guitar matches the song.
Preparing for a takeRecording and Rehearsal Players
Use the note, hertz, and cents reading for a final six-string check before a rehearsal, take, or performance.
Use Your Microphone in the Browser
The tuner processes live microphone input in the browser while you tune. It does not upload or save microphone audio. Give the microphone one clear open string and let the note settle before reading the result.
| Prepare | Why it helps | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One open string | The microphone can follow a single pitch | Mute the five strings you are not tuning. |
| A sustained note | The reading settles after the first attack | Pluck once and let the string ring. |
| A quieter setting | The guitar remains the clearest sound | Move away from speakers, voices, and other instruments. |
| The selected tuning | The pitch is checked against the correct target | Choose Standard or the song's alternate tuning before you start. |
Guitar Tuner FAQ
What are the notes in standard guitar tuning?
Standard six-string guitar tuning is E A D G B E from the lowest string to the highest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4.
Can I use Drop D or DADGAD?
Yes. Select the tuning before you begin. The tuner provides 20 presets, including Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, open tunings, and lower tunings, then updates all six string targets.
Can I tune by ear with reference notes?
Yes. Select a string to hear its reference note, then match your open string by ear. You can use the microphone reading to check the note, hertz value, and cents afterward.
What do flat, in tune, and sharp mean?
Flat means the string is below its target and needs a higher pitch. Sharp means it is above its target and needs a lower pitch. The tuner marks a reading in tune when it is within five cents of the selected note.
Does microphone audio leave my browser?
No. The guitar tuner processes live microphone input in your browser while you tune. It does not upload or save microphone audio.
Tune Your Guitar Online
Select the tuning you need, check each open string with your microphone or a reference note, then make one final pass across all six strings.
Open the Guitar Tuner
