Chromatic Tuner for Guitar and Other Instruments

Looking for a quick and easy way to tune your guitar? you are in the right place! Our free online tuner works directly through your device’s microphone and is perfect for both acoustic and electric guitars. It can also help you tune other instruments when needed.

How to Tune Your Guitar

A chromatic tuner lets you tune your guitar quickly and accurately, whether you are a beginner or an experienced musician. It detects the note you are playing and shows how close it is to the correct pitch.

To start tuning, follow these simple steps:

1. Click the “TURN ON” button below the tuner.
2. Allow your device to access the microphone.
3. Play a single string — the tuner will display the note name, frequency in hertz, and deviation.
4. Adjust the tuning peg until the tuner shows the string is in tune — the indicator will turn green.

Guitar String Names for Beginners

In standard tuning, the guitar is tuned as follows (from the thickest string to the thinnest):

• 6th string — E, 82.41 Hz.
• 5th string — A, 110.00 Hz.
• 4th string — D, 146.83 Hz.
• 3rd string — G, 196.00 Hz.
• 2nd string — B, 246.94 Hz.
• 1st string — E, 329.63 Hz.

You can remember it with the letters: E-A-D-G-B-E — the most common tuning used in nearly all songs and tablatures. When holding the guitar in a playing position, the bottom, thinnest string is the first, and the top, thickest string is the sixth.

Common Tuning Mistakes

If you are just starting out, it helps to be aware of frequent tuning mistakes — most of them are easy to avoid:

• Tuning the wrong string — be extra careful, especially if you are not looking.
• Mixing up string numbers — remember: sixth is at the top, first is at the bottom.
• Turning the peg the wrong way — turn slowly and listen carefully.
• Ignoring small pitch deviations — even a slight inaccuracy can make your guitar sound off.
• Not double-checking after tuning all strings — adjusting one string can affect the others due to overall tension.

Custom Frequencies and Tuning Accuracy

By default, the tuner is set to 440 Hz — the modern standard tuning frequency. This is the pitch of the note A4, from which all other notes are calculated.

If needed, you can manually change this value, for example, to 432 Hz. This is sometimes preferred when playing with classical instruments, in certain genres, or simply based on personal taste. The tuner will remember your selected settings and apply them automatically next time you use it.

Keep in mind that tuning accuracy depends on your device’s microphone quality and the noise level in the room.

What Do ± Cent Deviations Mean

Cents are units used to measure how far a note deviates from its ideal pitch. One semitone equals 100 cents.

• If the tuner shows +20 cents, the string is slightly sharp (too high).
• If it shows –20 cents, the string is slightly flat (too low).

Your goal is to reach 0 cents. At that point, the tuner will detect the correct pitch, and the indicator will turn green.

How Often Should You Tune Your Guitar

Regular tuning is essential — it’s part of proper instrument care. Even if you don’t play often, your guitar can go out of tune due to temperature changes, humidity, or simply over time.

You should tune your guitar:

• Before each playing session.
• After changing the strings.
• If you've been playing for more than an hour.
• If the guitar has been unused for more than a week.

Even slight deviations can affect the sound of chords and melodies.

Why Use a Tuner If You Have a Good Ear

Many beginner guitarists think a tuner is just a “crutch”. In reality, even professional musicians use tuners during rehearsals, recording sessions, and live performances.

Here’s why a tuner is essential:

• Tune quickly and accurately.
• Check your tuning in noisy environments.
• Be confident in your pitch precision.
• Save time compared to tuning by ear.

Having a good ear is definitely a plus — but a tuner is a reliable tool that simply makes the process easier and more precise.

Popular Alternative Tunings

Once you are comfortable with standard tuning, it’s worth exploring new possibilities. Alternative tunings unlock fresh sounds and new techniques:

• Drop D — lowers the 6th string to D, great for riffs and power chords.
• Open D — makes the guitar sound like an open D major chord which is ideal for slide playing and improvisation.
• DADGAD — popular in Celtic, acoustic, and fingerstyle guitar music.

Learn more in the article: Unusual Guitar Tunings for Fingerstyle: Try Them Yourself

Works Offline — Anytime, Anywhere

You can install the tuner as a Progressive Web App (PWA) and use it even without an internet connection. This is especially handy while traveling, at the cottage, or anywhere without access to other tuning tools.

On Android and tablets:

1. Open the site in Chrome browser.
2. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Install app” or “Add to Home screen”.
4. Confirm the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.

On desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux):

1. Open the site in Chrome or Edge.
2. If available, click the “Install” icon in the address bar.
3. If not, open the menu (three dots) and choose “Install”.
4. The app will open in a separate window and appear in your Start menu or Applications folder.

You can also simply bookmark the site to keep the tuner just a click away.