How to Keep Your Guitar in Tune

Hi guys,

A common problem with many guitarists is staying in tune. Many guitarists often complain about massive tune drops after a few chords etc. Many attribute this problem to the guitar thinking that the tuning keys are loose or the guitar is just bonkers. But the truth is that most of the time, the problem is with the strings as opposed to the guitar.

THE MAIN REASONS FOR TUNE DROP

-       -Old strings hold tune VERY BADLY! Even if the strings have been installed recently, if you sweat more when playing (which causes the strings to rust), the strings can be considered unfit for use. The only remedy is getting new strings. Having said that, you can prevent rusting (to a small extent) by wiping strings after playing.

-      - Sadly this is not the main reason as to why many guitars fail to stay in tune. The MAIN REASON is due to bad installment of guitar strings. Due to this, one yank on any string will cause it to drop profusely. More on that below in the remedies section.

-   -Other times it may be due to a faulty guitar or other reasons which are very uncommon.

QUICK AND EASY REMEDIES

-      -For old strings, the remedy is quite obvious. Getting new strings. Preventing rusting in strings will also help you use strings longer. Cleaning them after playing with a dry cloth will help. Depending on how much you sweat while playing, you have to change strings.

-       -Now addressing the main issue with installing strings. After actually inserting them tune it. After that, YOU MUST pull each string (directly perpendicular to the fret board because pulling sideways will damage the nut of the guitar). This will cause the tune to drop as it is a new string set. Then you tune it back. You have to do this numerous times till the tune does not drop after each pull on the string. Failing to do this when inserting new strings will cause tune problems.

-       -For problems actually caused by the guitar, you must consult an expert. Terminal measures are rarely needed.

ALSO NOTE

For you to keep a guitar in tune, you need to have a guitar that you can bring to tune and keep it that way (intonated guitar). This means that all chords from the 1^st to last frets must be in tune. For this you must have the distance from the nut to the 12^th fret equal to the 12^th fret to the bridge. An easy way to do this is to play the open string and then the 12^th fret harmonic, which must both, be equal in note. If they are not same you can adjust the distance from the bridge to match. You can do this to strings individually, but some bridges (in steel string and classical guitars) don’t have the feature. Also remember that if your tremolo guitar doesn’t have a double locking feature, you must be very cautious of tune. They must usually be always kept in one specific tune. Also frets and pickups play a part in tune troubles once in a while. Action (distance of the string from the fret) is also a factor. If it is too far, the open string and the 12^th fret harmonic will not match.

Sorry I can’t explain in detail regarding all of these problems. If you think you have an action or fret or pickup or tremolo or nut or any problem which I couldn’t explain in detail, mail me and I’ll find you a solution.

Hoped this helped. Take the advice and prevent your guitar from dropping it’s tune. This had been a major problem for me too. Cheers guys,

Visal.

I almost forgot. Here is the guitar fun fact of the day!

In 2001, an Englishman named Chris Black married his Fender Stratocaster.