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Guitar Tuner Guide: All You Need to Know

Guitar pedals and tuners

A guitar tuner is an indispensable tool for guitarists of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, ensuring your guitar is perfectly tuned is fundamental to achieving the best sound.  This guitar tuner guide delves into the various types of guitar tuners, their features, and how to select the right one for your needs.

The Importance of Guitar Tuning

Proper guitar tuning is essential for playing music correctly and harmoniously.

Even if you’re born with an absolute pitch (perfect pitch), you won’t always have the quiet surroundings to hear your instrument well enough to tune it. Concerts, rehearsals, or just people talking can impose a challenge on getting those strings to a harmonious place.

If you’re a mere mortal, like the rest of us, you’ll need a tuner even if you’re in an acoustic anechoic chamber, and can hear your own blood streaming flowing in your veins.

The precision of tuning directly impacts the musicality of your performance. A guitar that is even slightly out of tune can disrupt chord structures and harmonic relationships, leading to a less satisfying and professional sound.

How Does a Guitar Tuner Work?

There are various types of guitar tuners, but most of them work based on the same fundamental principles. 

The tuner analyzes the pitch of the sound produced by each string. This is typically done by detecting the frequency of the sound waves. The frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), and each string corresponds to a specific frequency when in tune.

If the tune is good, you’ll see some kind of signal, such as a green light, that you should stop twisting the peg.

To analyze the sound, the tuners need to hear it or sense it in a way. But I will explain that in the following section, where I will show different types of tuners.

Types of Guitar Tuners

There are many ways to organize tuners: based on their inner workings, based on the instrument they tune, how they pick up the signal, how they are powered, and so on. The list in this guitar tuner guide encompasses all the common and rare types of tuners that I remember.

If any new type of tuner appears on the market — I’ll add it here.

An image of a clip-on and a pedal, the two most popular options I will present in my guitar tuner guide.

Clip-On Tuners

These tuners attach to the guitar’s headstock and detect pitch through the instrument’s vibrations. They are compact and great for both acoustic and electric guitars.

Each consists of a clip-on and a small display that you can usually twist and turn how you like it to get the best angle. Just make sure that the clip-on is firmly attached and is not touching any strings or machine heads, to make the tuning process easy.

They are also the most popular type of tuners nowadays, as they are easily portable, and their battery lasts a long time.

If you’re at a gig, the cheaper models might not work 100% well, as they might pick up vibrations from other instruments nearby. In the home setting, however, they often do the job.

Best Clip-On Tuners

  • TC Electronic POLYTUNE CLIP Clip-On Tuner — This is an elegant polyphonic clip-on tuner (I’ll explain what polyphonic means below). It features a strobe, and it’s a chromatic tuner with an accuracy of +/- 0.02 cents. It’s probably one of the best in the business, but it comes at a price. According to TC Electronic’s site, Steve Vai and Tommy Emmanuel use it.
  • Fender FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner — Unlike the clip-on above, Fender made a compact version, great for everyday use. It’s set at 440 and ranges B0 – B7. It means you can use it also for bass, ukulele, and violin. This tuner features an automatic tuning mode.
  • Korg Pitchclip 2, Guitar Tuner (PC2) — With a somewhat futuristic look and LED display, this tuner is simple but classy. It’s great for low notes, which some clip-on tuners struggle to pick up, making it a suitable option for bassists.
  • Peterson StroboClip HD Clip-On Tuner — This strobe clip-on is marketed with +/- 0.1 cent accuracy and features a true strobe. It also features custom setups for different instruments, including some rare ones, such as 7-string guitars.

Pedal Tuners 

Popular among electric guitarists, these tuners integrate into a pedalboard and are ideal for live performances, offering mute/tuning capabilities.

I am not going to lie — these are the best when performing, as the signal goes directly into the pedal via the cable. There’s no way for other sounds to interfere in your tuning process. Most pedals offer both power cord and battery options, and batteries last long if you don’t forget to stomp on them to turn them off after tuning your guitar.

Unlike clip-ons, which are super-small, pedals are a bit bigger, but they’re still pretty portable. Even if you have a pedalboard, it’ll be a new addition to your collection.

One more thing — pedal tuners are a bit more expensive overall when compared to tuners.

Best Pedal Tuners

  • Peterson StroboStomp HD Guitar Tuner — This is probably the best pedal tuner in the market. It features a 100% silent, true-bypass operation mode, meaning no signal is lost when it passes through the pedal. It also comes with a range of Peterson Strobe Tuner features, such as buffered mode, guided tunings, and more. Read the Strobostomp Mini review, the mini version of this tuner.
  • Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal with Bypass — This is what I like to call THE PEDAL TUNER. It has been a standard for me. Even though it might not be as sophisticated as Peterson’s, it’s still a great buy, and it’s used by millions thanks to its simplicity. Apart from the Guitar/Bass modes, it also has the Chromatic mode. Read a detailed TU-3 review.
  • D’Addario Guitar Tuner Pedal — D’Addario is more known for its strings, so this type of tuner is a novelty from them. I liked it because it’s super-easy and beginner-friendly. Just press, tune, press again – done. It’s much smaller compared to other pedals, so if your pedal board is packed, you could play a bit of Tetris to fit this nice piece of equipment somewhere in there. Read a detailed review of this pedal.
  • Korg Pitchblack Advance — With the tuning accuracy of +/- 0.1 cents and a sleek design, Korg really tried to create a different pedal tuner. Visually, I don’t like it. However, it does a fantastic job. It allows switching between four modes: standard, stobe, half-strobe, and mirror, each mode made to fit different play styles. Read Korg Pitchblack X Mini review, a small-scale version of the popular Pitchblack tuner.

Chromatic Tuners

Chromatic tuners have nothing to do with how they receive sound or are attached to your guitar. Instead, a chromatic tuner can detect and display all 12 notes of the chromatic scale. They are the most common type, and sometimes you can even switch between chromatic and non-chromatic modes when using tuners.

Most tuners I discussed above are chromatic.

This means it’s versatile enough to handle any pitch, whether it’s a standard note like C, D, E etc., or even the sharps and flats in between.

Here’s how a chromatic tuner typically works: when you play a string on your guitar, the tuner will analyze the pitch and show you whether the note is in tune, sharp, or flat. It usually has a display that indicates the note you’re playing and a needle, LED lights, or some other visual representation to guide you toward the correct pitch.

Chromatic tuners are especially handy when you’re dealing with alternate tunings or if you want to fine-tune your instrument for specific musical requirements.

Strobe Tuners

The principle behind a strobe tuner involves the rotation of a disc and the interaction of its motion with the input signal from your guitar.

Here’s how it typically works: When you play a note on your guitar, the strobe tuner’s display will have a moving pattern. If your pitch is perfectly in tune, the pattern will appear stationary. However, if you’re slightly sharp or flat, the pattern will start to rotate in a direction, and the speed of rotation corresponds to how out of tune you are.

Strobe tuners are renowned for their exceptional accuracy, making them a favorite among professional musicians, luthiers, and guitar techs. They are particularly useful for fine-tuning instruments, achieving accuracy within fractions of a cent.

While strobe tuners might seem a bit more advanced, they are user-friendly and offer an unparalleled level of precision. Some models may come with additional features like different tuning temperaments, calibration settings, and the ability to tune multiple instruments.

Desktop and Handheld Tuners

Desktop tuners, characterized by their larger design and stationary placement on flat surfaces like tables or amps, are favored in studio settings, practice spaces, or on-stage performances where players have a designated area for tuning. 

These tuners often feature larger displays for clear visibility from a distance and may include extra functionalities such as metronomes and tone generators. On the other hand, handheld tuners are compact, portable devices designed for musicians on the go, offering convenience for live performances or practicing in various locations. With smaller form factors, clear displays, and user-friendly controls, handheld tuners are practical for those who prioritize mobility and simplicity

Sound Hole Tuners 

Soundhole tuners are compact tuning devices designed specifically for acoustic guitars. These tuners attach to the soundhole of the guitar and provide a discreet and convenient way to tune your instrument. Typically, soundhole tuners are magnetic and adhere to the soundhole without any need for additional mounting or modification to the guitar.

They use the same technology as clip-ons — they pick vibrations, it’s just that they are more discrete, and some people prefer it that way. The only difference is that clip-ons are also used with electric guitars, while sound hole tuners require… well, a hole.

I had a chance to use D’Addario, but will definitely explore more options in the future.

App-Based Tuners

These tuners are software applications that you can download and install on your mobile device, turning it into a convenient tuning tool. App-based tuners utilize the device’s built-in microphone to capture the sound of your instrument. Then, they provide visual feedback on the screen, guiding you to the correct pitch.

I don’t enjoy using this — only when I have to, which is when someone gives me their guitar and I don’t have any tuners around.

These tuners will do the job, but it all depends on the quality of the microphone that your device has. If it’s bad, it would be more difficult to pick up the signal. If you’re trying to tune a bass guitar this way — good luck.

The best thing about app-based tuners is that they’re free of charge and there are hundreds available online. I won’t mention any here. Just type: online guitar tuner, and start finding the one that suits you.

Also, just stating the obvious, but: app-based tuners are totally not a good thing for live performances.

VST Plugin Tuners

A sub-group of app-based tuners are VST plugin tuners, which are plugins for music and recording software. Some of these are great, and I’ll cover them in one of the articles. They also pick up your signal directly, as you’ll be plugged in when recording, so the signal that it picks up is the signal you’re recording in your software.

The downside is that these are usually paid, as opposed to simple app tuners, most of which are free.

Rack Tuners

Rack tuners are specialized electronic tuners designed for use in professional audio setups, typically in recording studios or stage setups where multiple instruments need to be tuned quickly and efficiently. These tuners are mounted in a standard 19-inch rack enclosure along with other audio equipment like amplifiers, signal processors, and other rack-mounted devices.

I will write a separate blog post on these. The point is: they are for professionals and not at all portable.

On the other hand, rack tuners are probably the most precise option you can get.

I am not that familiar with different rack tuners. But, the one option that keeps popping up, and that I had an opportunity to test is Korg Pitchblack X Pro Rackmount Tuner. You cannot make a bad purchase when buying a Korg tuner, and that’s the case with its rack option.

Polyphonic Tuners

Unlike traditional tuners that require you to tune each string individually, polyphonic tuners can analyze the pitch of all strings at once, making the tuning process faster and more intuitive.

Essentially, you strum all your strings, and it detects which are out of tune — cool.

These are quite new, and I had an opportunity to test one — TC Electronic POLYTUNE CLIP Clip-On Tuner. In time, I will definitely create a list of the best ones, after researching more and trying several others.

Automatic Tuners

Automatic tuners, also known as motorized or self-tuning systems, revolutionize the tuning process by incorporating motorized mechanisms directly into the tuning pegs. These systems automatically adjust string tension to achieve precise tuning without manual effort.

ROADIE 3 is the one I am most familiar with. The way it works is simple: you put it on your peg and pluck a string. It will sense the vibration and turn the peg to make it reach the tone you selected on the display. Yes, there’s a display with various options, that might seem slightly confusing at first.

I really dig ROADIE 3, and overall I think automatic tuners are a great idea. But do we REALLY need them? I mean, even when I had to quickly tune my guitar between songs, good pedal tuners did wonders.

I imagine the best use case for them is for guitar teachers that have several students at once and just don’t want to waste any time tuning each student’s guitar manually. Or guitar store owners who want to keep all their guitars in tune all the time.

A Quick Guitar Tuner Guide for Choosing a Tuner

There’s no one-size-fits-all for tuners. 

  • Accuracy — Essential for fine-tuning, with most tuners offering accuracy within ±1 cents.
  • Display — A clear, easily readable display is crucial, preferably with a backlight for different lighting conditions.
  • Tuning Modes — Some tuners offer different modes for various instruments or tuning standards. But if you’re going to tune just your guitar or bass guitars, most will fit.
  • Durability and Portability — Consider whether you’ll be using the tuner at home, in the studio, or on the road.
  • Battery Life — Important for electronic tuners, especially for those frequently on the move.

Best Guitar Tuner for You? According to This Guitar Tuner Guide

As I said in the beginning of this article, nobody can find the magic tuner that works wonders for all guitar and bass players in all environments. So here are some specific use cases.

  • Beginners practicing at home — A clip-on is your best bet here, as it’s not a big investment, and they work on all types of guitars. Just make sure not to lose it, because I did. Several times. These guys just disappear after gigs magically.
  • Touring musicians — While clip-on is a good solution, I’d go for the pedal here, as most guitar pedals automatically mute your sound so that you don’t have to turn the knobs on your guitar or go to the amp to press the mute button (if there’s one).
  • Recording at a studio — If you want a true studio experience, go for the rack tuner. Alternatively, you can use a VST Plugin tuner or even one of the high-quality pedals. 
  • Bass player — Every tuner works fine for bass. I would just avoid online tuners, as there is a chance that it won’t be able to pick up low frequencies well if your device has a poor mic.
  • Acoustic guitar player — Either a clip-on or a soundhole tuner will do.
  • Guitar teacher — Automatic tuners would definitely speed things up, but using clip-ons is enough as well.
  • Guitar tech — Here, all options are open, as long as they are high-quality, as making and fixing guitars requires next-level tuning.

Conclusion

A reliable guitar tuner is a key component in every guitarist’s toolkit. Understanding the different types and features of tuners can greatly enhance your tuning accuracy and overall playing experience. 

Whether in a studio, at home, or on stage, a well-tuned guitar is the foundation of great music.

Stay in tune and play on!