Get Close   Before you use a tuner, you should tune the strings by ear so that they are close to the correct pitch. If you are comepletely new to this, don't worry. You'll get the hang of it quickly. Tune your guitar by ear with the Free Tuning Page Download.

Tune A Little Flat   You should tune each string so that it is a little lower than your target pitch. This way, you tune up to your pitch instead of down to your pitch.

If you watch, many professional guitarists do this when they tune. First they lower the pitch, then slowly tune up to the note. The guitar string stays in tune better this way. If you tune down to a note, it's likely to go out of tune.

Stabilize Pressure On The Neck   Another reason to tuning all of the strings slightly flat is that this stabilizes the pressure on the neck. You must have even tension on all of the strings before you try to fine tune any one string. It will not stay in tune otherwise.

There is more than one note that the tuner will track.   This is something many people don't know. Maybe you've found this out the hard way by cranking a string up until it breaks. The setting for 'E' may also appear to give you an 'in-tune' reading if you tune it to 'A' or 'B' above that.

If you're tuning by sight, you may be really tuning a note that is much higher than the one you think you're tuning. I have seen people break strings trying to tune with an electronic tuner because they are reading the wrong note. If you can get the strings tuned close to the correct pitches, the tuner can help you to fine tune.

The problem:   The needle on your tuner, or the row of colored lights, wont give you a consistent reading telling you if your note is in tune or not. The indicator dances around. It seems to read a note for a split second, then it goes crazy.

Solution # 1   Switch to your front pickup. When you're tuning an electric guitar, the tuner has an easier time reading a note from your front pickup than your bridge pickup. I don't know why.

Solution # 2   Change the knob settings. Many times the problem is simply that the tuner is getting too much signal. It's being overloaded by an electric signal that is too strong. (Use this in conjunction with Solution # 1)

Turn your volume knob down to about 6, play a note, and see if you get a consistent reading. If not, bring the volume up to 7 and play another note. Most tuners work pretty well with the volume setting in this position. Also, turn all tone knobs to full bright, clockwise facing the guitar.

Loud Room   Sometimes tuners can react to a very loud room. In a loud bar, for instance, you sometimes can't get a consistent reading. This is especially true for acoustic guitars. The solution can be to get away from the noise.

Random Factors   Sometimes, for no good reason, a tuner that usually works just doesn't want to work at that moment. It just happens occasionally with cheaper tuners. Could be radio interference, sunspots - who knows? The high E string is most difficult to get a good reading on.

Decent Value   A $10 or $15 tuner is a good investment. They are usually reliable, if you follow the guidelines I listed above. More expensive tuners are more reliable, but an appreciably better tuner starts at about $150.

One More Trick   Here's an old trick early American colonists learned from the Indians: If your tuner is getting a bad reading on a string, try to get a reading on the 12th fret harmonic. If you're still getting a bad reading, play the harmonic, but leave your finger in place, lightly touching the string above the 12th fret. This can stabilize the reading on the string. Works better on wound strings. May not help get a reading on your high E.

If you ever do get the thing in tune, get it welded.   just kidding