Q&A for How to Tune an Acoustic Guitar

Intonating the guitar requires adjusting the saddles at the bridge. Tune the string to pitch, then play the twelfth fret while checking the tuner to make sure the note is accurate. If the note is sharp, move the saddle backwards. If the note is flat, move the saddle forwards.

You can always search "standard tuning examples" on a site like Google or Youtube. Then, listen to the guide track and tune the specified string until it matches the tone you hear.

One easy way is to check your intervals. You can do this by strumming a chord or playing a few different notes. For example, play a G chord to make sure the guitar sounds right. If the chord sounds off, double-check your tuning.

I suggest you listen carefully to the notes while using an electric tuner. Over time, you can train your ear to detect the correct tuning.

No, the top (first) string should be tuned to E. The one below the top (second) should be tuned to B and the one two below the B string (fourth) should be tuned to D. You are perfectly in tune!

Non-classical guitars are meant to have tension on the necks at all times. This is the same reason why you change the strings out one at a time. The wood is tempered in such a way as to always have tension. Over time, if there is no tension on it, the wood of the neck will warp and potentially alter the sound of the instrument itself.

If the string that you are trying to tune is much lower than the correct tuning, slowly tighten the string. If you jerk the tuning pegs too fast the string may not have time to stretch and could possibly snap. The strings are made to last, and should not break unless they have been tightened too quickly or been tuned to a higher pitch than they should be.