There are many things you can do when it comes to your guitar. A beautiful Strat can be purchased with a quality amp and many sound effects. One thing is more important than all of them in order of importance: keeping your instrument tuned. This is essential because you will not be able to play any advanced instrument, regardless of your training. A guitar that isn’t in tune can be even more frustrating for musicians.
These are some tips to keep your guitar in tune. They were inspired by Len Johnson, a guitarist tech with 45+ years of experience working on artists’ guitars.
How to keep a guitar from getting out of tune
Stretch the strings
Incorrectly stretched strings are a common problem that many guitar service businesses run into. According to Paul Reed Smith (PRS Guitars), the following is a list of reasons you should stretch your guitar strings.
String quality is important.
Using high-quality guitar strings, your guitar must stay in tune for as long as possible. PRS’s guitar techs are not afraid to find bent or kinked strings right out of their boxes. These strings can be difficult to straighten, which can cause frets and buzz. It is also more difficult to stretch the heavier gauges properly.
String size matters
Size matters in many aspects of life. String size is no exception. Please take note of the size string that came with your guitar when you buy it. You might need to re-cut the strings and adjust the truss rod if you want to change that size. One gauge difference in strings will not be noticeable. You should not jump up to two gauges or greater, as you might have binding around the Nut. It might be worth considering an intonation adjustment if you are looking to adjust your intonation. The factory-designed size is the best to keep your guitar in tune for as long as possible. Consult a professional guitar service provider if you need to change the size of your guitar to maintain your ability to play a tune.
When restringing, lock the strings
Locking your string at the tuning pin is a great habit when restring. This will ensure that your guitar doesn’t move during restringing and prevent it from going out of tune.
Check the Pickup Height & Bridge
Sometimes, tuning problems can be caused by a pickup height problem or a bridge problem. You should inspect the bridge to ensure the intonation screws are not loosening. Your pickup height may be too high. This can cause the pickup magnet to pull on your strings slightly and your notes to drift out of tune. This issue is usually only noticeable when you play higher than the 12th fret.
The Player’s Touch is Important
Although it may seem obvious, you don’t have to be a strong player. If you push too hard on the fretting hand, you can cause your chords and notes to become out of tune. It would help if you did not use too much force when playing larger frets. You can test your touch by switching on your tuner and plucking notes.
The Nut is improperly Seated.
Your guitar nut could be the problem. Too narrow a nut can cause pinching, leading to tuning problems. It can also cause premature breakage of your strings if it is not perfectly flat. You can prevent this issue by filing the Nut.
Do not forget the intone
This is especially true if you use chords with open or fretted notes on the neck. An unintentionally-intoned guitar won’t sound right and is not always perfectly tuned. This can be fixed by adjusting the metal truss rod running down the middle of the neck.
Climate Change Can Cause Tuning Turmoil
While the above tips are valid reasons to tune your guitar, they could also be due to your climate. Your tuning ability can be affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Tuning issues can occur if you take your guitar outside and bring it back inside. Tune your guitar as often as possible and limit the temperature changes it is exposed to.