Guitar Noise

Without a properly tuned guitar, it's nearly impossible to sound good. These are some of the most common questions beginners ask about guitar tuning.

Another new Guitar Noise writer makes his debut with this introduction to the wonders of open C tuning.

A lot of the signature sound of the twelve-string comes from the paired strings being struck together.

This is a terrific piece for those of you interested in the subject of partial capos, which will educate and inspire you.

Graham Merry's written this wonderful step-by-step process for those of you who are unfamiliar with how to tune with a guitar tuner.

Evan may be young but he does get his point across. Here's a lesson that introduces Drop C tuning and even includes a riff from Toxicity by System of a Down.

This is essentially the same as tuning by what we’ll call the “normal” method (tuning the A string to the 5th fret of the E string, etc.). The difference is that you use the harmonic notes to tune between the strings. I’m assuming you know how to do harmonics. The easiest places to produce them [...]

I know a lot of people like to number the strings of a twelve-string guitar from one (high E) to twelve, but I find it much easier to number them as a six-string guitar, that is one through six, adding the designation “a” or “b” to each string as well. “A” means closer to the [...]

This beginner lesson contains step by step instructions on how to tune a 6 string guitar.

Once you know how to tune a floating bridge you will realize it’s a very simple process. We’ll start off by explaining how to do it from scratch.

The third and final part in our look at alternate tunings. Let’s see how they can be used to write songs and we’ll throw a little bit of theory into the mix.

Part two in our look at alternate tunings. We’re going to see how alternate tunings can be used as a tool for arranging and interpreting old familiar tunes.

This is the first of three lessons on alternate tunings. We’ll go over the basics of alternate tunings such as why and how to use them with some great examples.

This is the second of two parts on open tuning. We’re going to learn how to put together a fretboard map and use it to figure out chords in open tuning.

This article is the first of two parts on the use of open tuning. Find out what open tunings are and how to achieve them.