Acoustic guitars have a warm, full sound that many players love, but they require the same tuning care as any other guitar. The good news? Tuning an acoustic guitar is virtually identical to tuning an electric guitar. Whether you’ve got a classical, folk, or steel-string acoustic, this guide will walk you through the process.
Acoustic guitars are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. The wood body responds to humidity and temperature fluctuations, which can affect tuning stability. You might notice your acoustic goes out of tune more frequently than an electric guitar, especially if you’re in a climate with variable weather. This is completely normal and not a sign of a problem—just tune it every time you play.
Acoustic guitars use the same standard tuning as electric guitars: E-A-D-G-B-E from the thickest to thinnest string. The tuning process is identical too.
You have several options for tuning your acoustic:
Step 1: Get a reference pitch. Use your chosen tuning method to get the low E string close to the correct pitch. With a tuner, this is automatic. If tuning by ear, you might use a tuning fork, pitch pipe, or reference tone.
Step 2: Tune the low E string. Adjust the thickest string’s tuning peg until your tuner confirms it’s in tune. For acoustics, you typically turn the peg away from you to tighten (raise pitch) and toward you to loosen (lower pitch).
Step 3: Tune the remaining strings. Move through each string: A, D, G, B, and finally high E. Take your time with each one.
Step 4: Do a final check. Play through all the strings again. Sometimes tuning one string slightly affects the tension on others, so a second pass ensures everything is right.
New strings need patience. Acoustic guitars with new strings may go out of tune quickly for the first few days as the strings settle. This is normal. Tune, play, wait a bit, and tune again.
Humidity matters. Acoustic guitars are made of wood, which swells and shrinks with humidity. If you’re moving between very different climates or your home’s humidity changes seasonally, expect tuning stability to vary. A room humidifier in dry climates can help.
Stretch your strings. Gently pull on new strings at various points along their length to help them settle faster. This speeds up the breaking-in process.
Check tuning frequently. Because acoustics are more sensitive than electrics, tune before every practice session. It becomes second nature quickly.
If you want to develop your ear, try the 5th fret method with your acoustic. The process is identical to electric guitar:
Acoustic guitars have plenty of volume, making this method easier to practice on them than on quieter electrics.
Tuning pegs slipping. Acoustic tuning pegs are mechanical and sometimes slip, especially on older guitars. If this happens repeatedly, the peg may need tightening or replacement by a professional.
Difficulty hearing differences. Acoustics are loud, which can make subtle pitch differences harder to hear. Start with larger intervals and work toward finer adjustments.
Strings going dead. Old acoustic strings lose brightness and can sound dull. If your guitar doesn’t sound right even when in tune, fresh strings might be the answer.
Our free online guitar tuner works wonderfully for acoustics. Since acoustic guitars are naturally loud, the microphone picks up the sound clearly. Just play each string into your device’s microphone and adjust until the tuner confirms you’re in tune.
A well-tuned acoustic guitar is a joy to play. The open strings ring with clarity, chords sound warm and full, and you’ll be encouraged to pick it up more often. Make tuning part of your routine, and you’ll develop a feel for proper string tension that eventually becomes intuitive.
Whether you’re strumming folk songs, finger-picking classical pieces, or experimenting with new tunings, start with standard tuning. Once you’re comfortable there, you might explore alternate tunings that add new dimensions to your playing.
