Guitar Tuning Tips

■	Always tune up - If a string needs to go down in pitch always tune it further down than necessary and then tune it back up (tighter) to the desired note. Doing this will help avoid the string going flat during play. Your final twist of the peg should always make the string tighter. Of all these guitar tuning tips, this is most important since so many people get it wrong.
■	Like everything else, guitar strings stretch and shrink when exposed to heat and cold. Therefore, avoid leaving your guitar in extreme temperature conditions - it will definitely mess up your tuning.
■	When tuning with new strings, be sure to attach the strings correctly. See how to string a guitar.
■	If you use an electric guitar fitted with a tremolo arm you need to tune twice and more regularly. Always work the arm to stretch the strings after tuning, and then tune again.
■	Turn your tuning pegs carefully. Guitars that are regularly played on usually need only fine tuning and this requires slight turns on the pegs.
■	Don't leave your guitar with its neck resting on the ground. Why? Because the tuning pegs will invariably brush up against the surface and make a unsupected twist or turn. Your guitar's neck should always be in the air, even when stored away in a case.
■	Tuning with your ear is good and will help you develop a musicians ear, try and use it as often as possible - except when performing live - then you want to take no chances and use a tuner.
■	In noisy environments use a tuner that can be plugged into your guitar. Get a good electronic tuner with both an internal microphone and the ability to be connected to a guitar with a standard jack cable. Have a look at and consider getting one of these.
■	If you are performing live and playing lots of songs - use an on-stage tuner and always check your guitar's tuning between songs. Most effect pedals have built in tuners for this purpose.
■	Tune regularly! Good practise is to tune your guitar every time you pick it up. Play a chord like E to check if the strings are in tune.