Aim near the 12th fret
Start 20–40 cm (8–16 in) from where the neck meets the body. Pointing straight into the soundhole can add boom and make the low strings harder to read.
Acoustic guitar tool
Free online Acoustic Guitar Tuner
Tune a steel-string or nylon-string acoustic guitar through your device microphone. Start with standard E A D G B E, then use the placement advice below if the pitch meter will not settle.
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Standard tuning
Acoustic guitar standard tuning is E A D G B E
Tune from the thickest string to the thinnest: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4. After one pass, check all six again because changing one string slightly changes neck and top tension.
String 6
E2
String 5
A2
String 4
D3
String 3
G3
String 2
B3
String 1
E4
Cleaner microphone input
Set up the room and microphone before chasing the meter
A steady acoustic reading starts with a clear fundamental note, not a louder pluck.
Adjust for steel or nylon
Steel strings usually project enough from normal distance. Nylon strings are quieter and warmer, so move slightly closer and use a firm, even pluck instead of striking harder.
Remove competing sound
Mute a TV, fan, backing track, and other ringing strings. Rest a finger lightly on the five strings you are not tuning so the microphone hears one target.
Acoustic workflow
Tune one clean open string at a time
Use small peg movements and let each note settle before deciding it is sharp or flat.
- 1
Allow microphone access and place the guitar at a comfortable playing angle.
- 2
Start on the low E string, mute the other strings, and pluck once near the middle of the string.
- 3
Turn the matching peg in small steps until the pitch indicator centers on the target note.
- 4
Continue through A, D, G, B, and high E, then repeat the full pass.
- 5
Finish with a gentle chord; if it sounds uneven, recheck each open string rather than turning several pegs at once.
If the reading wanders
Fix the signal before retuning
The note jumps around
Move away from the soundhole, pluck more softly, and wait for the attack to pass. The sustained part of the note is easier to measure.
The tuner hears the wrong octave
Acoustic harmonics can be stronger than the fundamental. Pluck closer to the center of the string and avoid touching the string near a harmonic node.
The guitar drifts after one pass
New strings and changing tension can move earlier strings. Stretch new strings gently and repeat the E-to-E sequence until two passes agree.
Acoustic questions
Acoustic Guitar Tuner FAQ
Quick answers for the signal problems that are specific to an acoustic guitar.
Where should I place the microphone?
Start 20–40 cm from the 12th fret, not directly in front of the soundhole. Move closer for a quiet nylon-string guitar and farther away if low notes sound boomy.
Do steel and nylon acoustic guitars use the same notes?
A normal six-string steel-string or classical guitar uses E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 in standard tuning. Nylon strings may need a closer microphone, but the target notes stay the same.
Can I tune an acoustic guitar with a phone or laptop?
Yes. Use the built-in microphone in a quiet room, play one open string at a time, and keep the device close enough for a clear note without pointing it into the soundhole.
Keep tuning
Compare the right tuner and the standard reference
Use the electric guide for a pickup-based signal, or open the standard page when you only need the note sequence and target pitches.