Free Online Electric Guitar Tuner
Pluck a string into your microphone and the tuner instantly identifies the closest standard string, the exact Hz, and whether you are sharp or flat — no app or tuner pedal needed.
Click Start Tuner and pluck a string…
Related Free Music Tools
How to Tune an Electric Guitar
- Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access.
- Set your amp to a clean channel — distortion masks the fundamental frequency and confuses pitch detectors.
- Pluck one string at a time near the bridge pickup and let it ring clearly.
- The highlighted box shows the closest standard string (E2–E4). The cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are.
- Adjust the tuning peg until the meter centers on green (±5 cents). Repeat for all 6 strings.
Standard Electric Guitar Tuning Reference (EADGBE)
Standard EADGBE tuning is used across all electric guitar styles from blues to metal. The target frequencies below are the same whether you tune plugged in or unplugged.
| String | Note | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (thickest) | E2 | 82.41 Hz | Low E — deepest string, typical bass riff root |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz | A string — root of A power chords |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz | D string — root of D power chords |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz | G string — middle of the range |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz | B string — only non-perfect-fourth interval |
| 1 (thinnest) | E4 | 329.63 Hz | High E — two octaves above low E |
Reference pitch: A4 = 440 Hz (concert pitch standard)
Popular Electric Guitar Alternate Tunings
Alternate tunings are especially popular in rock, metal, and blues electric guitar playing. Use this tuner then adjust strings to the target notes shown below.
Drop D
Rock, metal, easy power chords🎵 Everlong — Foo Fighters · Killing in the Name — Rage Against the Machine
Open G
Blues, slide guitar, Rolling Stones🎵 Brown Sugar — Rolling Stones · Start Me Up — Rolling Stones
DADGAD
Folk, Celtic, fingerstyle🎵 Kashmir — Led Zeppelin · Bron-Y-Aur Stomp — Led Zeppelin
Half-Step Down (Eb)
Easier bends, Hendrix, SRV🎵 Purple Haze — Jimi Hendrix · Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan
Open E
Blues, slide guitar, ZZ Top🎵 Dust My Broom — Elmore James · Jumpin' Jack Flash (slide covers)
Drop C
Heavy rock, metal, detuned riffs🎵 Before I Forget — Slipknot · Tears Don't Fall — Bullet for My Valentine
Open D
Blues, folk, slide guitar🎵 Big Yellow Taxi — Joni Mitchell · Death Letter — Son House
C Standard
Metal, heavy rock, Korn🎵 Blind — Korn · Freak on a Leash — Korn
Tips for Accurate Electric Guitar Tuning
Use a clean amp channel
Distortion, overdrive, and fuzz pedals add harmonics that confuse pitch detection. Always bypass effects and set your amp to clean before tuning.
Pluck near the bridge pickup
The bridge pickup produces a brighter tone with a stronger fundamental frequency — ideal for the tuner to lock on accurately.
Tune unplugged if needed
Solid-body electrics are quiet unplugged but produce enough sound for the tuner. Hold the guitar close to your device microphone and pluck firmly.
Tune up from below
Always approach the target pitch by tuning upward. Strings that are tuned down slip flat faster due to string tension dynamics.
Avoid reverb and delay
Long reverb tails and delay repeats create pitch ambiguity. Bypass time-based effects during tuning for a clean signal.
Check tuning at the 12th fret
If the 12th fret harmonic is out of tune with the open string, your guitar may need intonation adjustment — a job for a guitar technician.
Tuning an Electric Guitar: Plugged vs Unplugged
Standard EADGBE tuning applies whether you tune plugged in or unplugged. The difference is in technique and signal quality.
Plugged In
- Set your amp to a clean channel — no distortion or overdrive.
- Bypass all effects pedals (distortion, wah, chorus, reverb, delay).
- Use the bridge pickup for the clearest fundamental frequency.
- Keep amp volume moderate — too loud causes mic clipping in the browser.
Unplugged
- Hold the guitar body close to your device's microphone — solid-body electrics are quiet.
- Pluck each string firmly and keep the room quiet for best detection.
- Semi-hollow and hollow-body electrics are louder and easier to tune unplugged.
- Tune before plugging in — strings can shift slightly when you connect the cable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access. Set your amp to a clean channel. Pluck one string at a time and the tuner shows the closest standard string (E2–E4), the Hz reading, and cents deviation. Adjust your tuning peg until the meter centers on green.
Heavy distortion adds harmonics and overtones that mask the fundamental frequency. A pitch detector reads the strongest frequency — with distortion that may be a harmonic rather than the true note. Always use a clean channel when tuning.
Standard EADGBE tuning from string 6 to string 1: E2 (82.41 Hz), A2 (110.00 Hz), D3 (146.83 Hz), G3 (196.00 Hz), B3 (246.94 Hz), E4 (329.63 Hz).
Eb (half-step down) tuning lowers all 6 strings by one semitone: Eb2, Ab2, Db3, Gb3, Bb3, Eb4. It reduces string tension making bends easier and is used by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Drop D lowers string 6 from E2 to D2 (73.42 Hz). All other strings stay at standard pitch. It is widely used in rock and metal for deep, heavy riffs and easy one-finger power chords.
Yes. Solid-body electric guitars produce enough acoustic sound for the browser microphone. Hold the guitar close to your device microphone and pluck each string firmly. Semi-hollow and hollow-body guitars are even easier to tune unplugged.
Once the page is loaded, the tuner runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API — no internet connection or server is needed. No audio is ever uploaded or stored.
Tuning sets the open-string pitch. Intonation ensures the guitar plays in tune all the way up the neck — if the 12th fret note is sharp or flat compared to the open string, the saddle position needs adjustment. Intonation is set by a guitar technician.
Drop D is the easiest — only the lowest string (string 6) changes from E2 to D2 (73.42 Hz). All other strings stay at standard pitch. It opens up one-finger power chords used in countless rock songs.
No. Most alternate tunings are achieved by re-tuning existing strings. However, very low tunings like C Standard may benefit from heavier gauge strings (11s or 12s) to maintain proper tension.
Ready to Tune Your Electric Guitar?
Clean channel, bridge pickup, standard EADGBE — plug in or play unplugged, tune in seconds.
Open Electric Guitar Tuner