How to make your guitar stay in tune

How to make your guitar stay in tune
Nice guitar, but is it in tune? (Image credit: Future)

As guitarists, we are forever chasing the next best thing in gear. It could be the latest drive pedal, or maybe some reverb – hey, you can't live without it. But the most important thing is that we are in tune.

Yes, we know there are a number of examples – on record, no less – where great music has been made with out-of-tune guitars, but being in tune is just ideal. If you are playing to an audience, well, it is just good manners. And if you are playing in the house alone then consider it good hygiene. Tuning up your guitar is like putting on clean underwear in the morning. Without it, you are simply not ready for the day.

But sometimes we tune our guitar and it won't cooperate. You'll play a few chords and then that's it, back to the tuner. Before you go writing the thing off and start shopping for a new guitar, let's take a look at some basic steps that can improve the tuning stability of your guitar. 

There are many lessons that promise "you will sound better now!" but this one really might just do that. Put it this way: no-one sounds worse by being in tune. 

1. Check your strings

Over time, strings stretch out and lose some ability to stay in tune. It goes without saying that if the strings are starting to corrode, they need to go!

2. Wind them well

Neatly-fitted strings not only help hold their tension more consistently, but you won’t have to risk losing an eye every time you play either! Aim for three neat coils around your tuning peg and try to avoid kinks. Trim the string back, leaving a few mm spare.

3. Stretch them

With your fresh strings fitted, help them settle more quickly by gently stretching them in by hand. Tune up, and pull the strings away from the guitar by about an inch wherever there are pressure points (bridge, nut, etc).

Detail of the Tusq nut on a Suhr Classic Pro electric guitar with an Olympic White finish

(Image credit: Joby Sessions/Future)

4. Apply some lube

Friction from your guitar’s hardware can affect tuning stability, so to combat this try applying some graphite from a pencil to your guitar’s bridge saddles and nut.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Chris Bird

Chris has been the Editor of Total Guitar magazine since 2020. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years. He's a former guitar teacher with 35 years playing experience and he holds a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. Chris has interviewed Brian May three times, Jimmy Page once, and Mark Knopfler zero times – something he desperately hopes to rectify as soon as possible.