Before you can rock your guitar, you need to learn how to tune it first!
Why Tune Your Guitar?
If you don’t know how to tune your guitar, no amount of guitar lessons will help you sound good because an out-of-tune guitar sounds like a mewling cat on a hot summer night! For that reason, learning to tune your guitar is the first guitar lesson every beginning student should master.
The Names of the Open Guitar Strings
In order to tune your guitar, you’ll need to know the names of the open guitar strings. The thickest string closest to the ceiling is the low E-string while the thinnest string nearest to the ground is the high E-string.
Most kids learning to play the guitar with the Rock Dojo in Portland, OR, find the mnemonic device Eddie-Ate-Dynamite-Good-Bye-Eddies helps them to remember the names of the open guitar string.
The Musical Alphabet
Now that you know the names of the open strings (E-A-D-G-B-E), you’ll also need to know the notes of the musical alphabet. Luckily, the natural notes of the musical alphabet are easy to remember because they’re also the first seven letters of the alphabet: A-B-C-D-E-F-G.
Flats: The flat symbol looks like a lowercase “b.” A flat note is a half-step below a natural note. For example, Ab is a half-step below A in the musical alphabet. When tuning, a flat symbol is telling you to tune up a bit.
Sharps: The sharp symbol looks like a hashtag “#.” A sharp note is a half-step above a natural note. For example, A# is a half-step above A in the musical alphabet. When tuning, a sharp symbol is telling you to tune down a bit.
Tune Your Guitar with an Electronic Tuner
Tuning the guitar by ear is tricky. Fortunately, electronic tuners making tuning the guitar a cinch! While there are many different models of electronic tuners available today, I highly recommend Planet Waves Clip-On Headstock Tuners
Sign Up for the Rock Dojo Afterschool Group Guitar Lessons Today!
If you’re interested in signing up your son or daughter for afterschool group guitar lessons, download the appropriate registration form (ACCESS Academy, Beverly Cleary, Laurelhurst School, or Irvington School) and mail it along with a check made payable to Rock Dojo to the address listed on the form.
If you live in Portland, OR, and your son or daughter’s school isn’t listed above, contact the Rock Dojo today to host afterschool group guitar lessons in your home at school!
