Tips to keep you in tune!
How to tune a guitar
How to change guitar strings

GUITAR MAINTENANCE
For anyone who notices that your strings wear out prematurely because maybe you have sweaty hands or if you just want your strings to last longer, I've noticed that washing and drying my hands thoroughly before playing really lengthens the life of my strings.

Also, wipe off your strings when you're done.

HOW TO READ TAB
Tablature has 6 staffs, 1 for each string on the guitar. Each staff should either have a dash or a number on it. If there is a dash, you play nothing on that string. If there is a number, you should play the corresponding fret number.

For the full article visit G Man's Guitar Tips

STORING A GUITAR

Remove some but not all of the tension from the strings, clean & polish the guitar, and then put a little lemon oil on the fret board. Put the guitar in its case and store it where it won't get too warm, cold, or humid and won't get bumped around. A good place is an interior closet.

STRING CHANGES

When changing guitar strings, it is best to change them one at a time starting with the thickest. This keeps the tension on the instrument and you will have less trouble getting it in tune because the guitar doesn't have to stabilize again.

TUNING YOUR GUITAR

I'm afraid I break convention on tuning your guitar by using the old 5th fret method. Unless your guitar has perfect intonation, and it probably doesn't, it will only get you in the ballpark.

What I suggest is using an electronic tuner, pitch pipe, or piano, etc.



Sometimes you need to do a quick check and you don't have time to use these things. You have to see very quickly during a performance or something which string is giving you trouble. This is my way that works very well for me, even if the guitar doesn't have the most accurate set up in the world.



Realize please that this is the method to use AFTER the regular tuning is done. These pitches will sometimes be an octave or two higher than the lower string being checked. The lower strings should NOT be overly ened to get to the same octave as the note being played on the 'High E' or other higher string. This is a fine tuning pitch check in different octaves with the exception of the 'B' string.



It's usually pretty easy to tell if your first or 'High E' string is in tune by listening to other instruments or if playing solo, in tune with yourself, and the intonation on most guitars is usually pretty accurate on that string because of the small diameter so I start with that one.



First, play a 'B' on the 'High E' string to check your 'B' string.



Second, play a 'G' on the 'High E' string to check your ' ' .



Third, play a 'D' on your 'High E' string to check your 'D' string.



Fourth, play an 'A' on your 'High E' string to check your 'A' string.



Lastly, play the 'High E' string open and check your 'Bass E' string.





If you have time, one last check for an even better fine-tuning...



Very quickly after some practice of course, play some octaves:



Play 'G' on your 'High E' string to check the ' ' once more.

Play 'D' on your 'B' string to check your 'D' string.

Play 'A' on your ' ' to check your 'A' string.

Lastly, play 'E' on your 'D' string to check your 'Bass E' string.





This may seem complicated reading it for the first time but after you struggle through it once or twice, you'll see it's very easy. The positions are very easy to remember. I figured this method out before I could even read music for the guitar. Each check only takes me about 3 - 6 seconds.



Also another tuning tip:



When you tune a guitar string, always start below the d note and tune up to pitch not down to pitch. This will help prevent the string from going flat during play.



Thanks to Bob at Guitar man Acoustic Guitar Tips for permission to use the above tips...he has a great site full of info.



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