6 String Guitar Tuning Chart

The widget is a virtual reference tuner for the six-string guitar. It offer clean, consistent tones in a standard tuning and seventeen popular alternate tunings. You can tap or click on items on the screen to interact with it. Alternatively, you can use your computer keyboard to make navigating easier.

Your tuning selector is actualy the first row of buttons. Simply click on whichever button corresponds to the tuning you wish to use: Standard, Drop D, Open G, etc. You’ll see a brief description of what that tuning sounds like in the music. Your active tuning are also highlighted so you can easily see which mode you’re in.

How to Use the Guitar Tuner

Look directly under the tuning selector and you’ll find a row of six rectangular cards; each one represent a string of your guitar. From left-to-right, they’re ordered from the thickest string through to the thinnest string. To play back a reference pitch for each string in whatever tuning you’ve selected, just click on a card. The note name is displayed in large text; any variation from standard tuning show up in smaller text beneath. This lets you quickly check visually what strings has changed.

Below this there is an option for using the fret method if you do not want to use note names visually and instead prefer to tune by ear. Here are the steps to match each open string to the same note on the next lower string using a fret. Click on any of these steps to hear the desired pitch played twice. This replicates how strings is traditionally tuned to one another, providing an audible way for your ear to identify the right intervals.

The Play all button sounds every string, starting at the lowest note of the currently selected tuning. This can help get an idea of what that particular tuning sounds like before getting started.

The Volume Slider adjusts how loud the reference tones are played back. Moderate setting is recommended so as not to distort sound on your device’s speaker(s).

The Fullscreen button (click for a bigger look) will expand the widget so that it fills your entire screen. That’s useful when displaying the page from a tablet or projector.

And then there’s the Help panel, with a short summary of how the controls work. Turn it on or off as needed; and remember what you can use. If you have a keyboard available when playing, it’s possible to tab around the interface to change between method steps, string cards and tuning buttons. Then just hit Enter or Space on whatever you want to use. It means you don’t need a mouse to operate system. A ring will show around whichever item you are focusing on.

Tune from the bottom string upwards to ensure maximum accuracy. Listen to the reference notes and set your sixth string to match the reference note. Tune the rest of your guitar by ear to that note. If you’re using the fret method, be sure to start by tuning first string.

Try some of these tunings to see how they alter the sound of the guitar. In drop tunings, the chord shapes is easier to bend and heavier. With open tunings, you can play a chord using one finger placement. Listen to these changes in the widget then give them a go on your own guitar.

Turn it down just enough that you don’t clip, but still have it on comfortabley enough not to hurt your ears. Just turn the slider back a bit if you’re getting distortion or cutting out. Make sure there is no beating as you match your guitar’s tone with the reference tones. They should be clean and steady.

The ability to rapidly change from one tuning to another will also enable you to hear the effect of different pitches on a single string. In Drop D, for instance, the sixth string is D compared to an E in Standard. The more you listen to both versions, the better you remember that this is an interval difference. This will improve your relative pitch with time.

The widget works offline once loaded, so you don’t need an internet connection to operate it. The idea was that this could have served as a quick reference device rather than replace a proper clip-on tuner. It is a way to learn some different pitches and also double-check your own tuning.

If you’re unfamiliar with the interface, begin with Standard tuning. Press on the card of the sixth string and listen for a low E note. Tune this to the corresponding string on your guitar. Continue to the next string repeating as you go. When comfortable, experiment with Drop D or even Open G. The more you use this method, the better your ear will be at it.

I have highlighted the steps of the method in yellow. This shows you the point where the fretting is not on the fifth fret as normal. If you are tuning the B string, this visual clue will help avoid mistakes.

If the text is difficult to view, use the fullscreen mode. This will give you a bigger interface to see the note descriptions and names. It also allows more room for string cards (which may prove useful on smaller screens).

Keep in mind, however, that this is a reference pitch tool; it’s not giving you any form of real-time feedback. This means that you have to continue using your ears to align the tones yourself. The widget offers up target and then you offer up the match. Try to take your time when tuning, particularly in a noisier environment. It’s much easier to pick out the fainter beats as you tune from your string to the reference tone when there are no other sounds around you. Slowly turn your tuning peg until you lose the wavering sound.

You can switch between tunings even in the middle of a session. This is useful when you’re working on several songs with different tunings. Switching causes the widget to reset the reference tones right away. So you have accurate pitches every time.

Feel free to experiment with the lesser known tunings available in the selector. Some provide interesting sonic textures such as Open A or Nashville high-strung. The widget might spark some new songwriting and/or playing ideas based off what you hear.

Once you’re good to go and want to tune up, feel free to close the help panel. It removes visual clutter and allows you to focus only on the strings. If you’d like to remember how something works, you can always open it again.

The interface is fast and easy to use, so there’s no need to read a manual to get going. Click, listen, and adjust. Each part of the tuning process is guided by visual feedback. Try this widget to add to your usual tuning routine. You can use it to learn new tunings easily without trial-and-error or to verify some tricky pitches. Regular use will result in better accuracy and speed when tuning your instrument.

Listen carefully to the reference tones. The tones are created to be pure and consistent. This provides a solid way to compare sounds on your instrument. From slide to folk to rock; there’s a tuning here for you. Pick one that matches your current project and start playing today. Let your ears follow the reference tones. When all the strings is in tune, your guitar will sound its best.