Give me your best tuning tips

[ratherdashing]

What do you guys do to make sure your guitar is properly in tune, and that it stays in tune while you play?

I'm not talking about which brand of tuning machines, electronic tuners, etc. you use - I am looking for tips that would apply to any guitar.

Thanks!

[RGN]

You know, some of mine stay in tune like a trooper while others always fight me. ALL 6 of my guitars have Floyds. I always leave the locking nut loose for about a day and stretch the hell out of the strings before I lock it down and start going to town with the bar.

[bungalowbill]

Always tune up to pitch. That is best advice I can give.

[firebirdVII]

I don't know if I'm old enough to actually give tips, but I give all of my strings a good bend or two and keep retuning them until they stay resonably tuned.

[Guitarist]

Really stretch the living hell out the string and keep checking for accuracy. Once the string won't leave its fundamental note, move on to the next...and lie that guitar down string side!

FR...same strategy applies, except I hold the 5th fret down and work the string back and forth above the 12th fret. Start from low to high or vice versa, and move in an order like E, G, A, B, D, e; or e, D, B, A, G, E.
It works really well.

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Always tune UP, as well. Never tune down to the selected note.

[seafoamer]

**** tuning! It's rock & roll.

[Zerberus]

Stretch the strings properly, keep the axe well maintained, tune and set up the guitar in the position it´s going to be played in, and always tune UP to pitch.. to drop a note, go lower then the target and bring it back up.

[greendy123]

Stretch the strings properly, keep the axe well maintained, tune and set up the guitar in the position it´s going to be played in, and always tune UP to pitch.. to drop a note, go lower then the target and bring it back up.

I think I remember somewhere I read that your supposed to tune down only if you have locking tuners, correct me guys if this is wrong. Other ideas to keep in mind are using newer strings or at least not rusting, and using something like 3in1 oil or chapstick at all string contact points.

[Gearjoneser]

I aways lower a string in pitch, then give it a tug, then return it up.

[Zerberus]

I think I remember somewhere I read that your supposed to tune down only if you have locking tuners, correct me guys if this is wrong.

Even with locking tuners you go farther down than the target pitch and then raise it... it removes slack and possible tension storage in the tuner gears, the nut and the tailpiece. If you tune straight down you run the risk of storing tension which will be released as soon as you bend a note if not earlier.

[Nite_Maresz_25]

What exactly do you guys mean by 'tuning up'?

[Tom M]

Start at a lower pitch (say Eb) and tune UP in pitch to the note you want (say E)

[stonabus]

What exactly do you guys mean by 'tuning up'?

lets say your tuning the "a" string. and... oops you went too far, its now sharp. dont just loosen the string (down in pitch) until its in tune, loosen it until its way flat, then bring it UP to pitch/in tune. it keeps the tension of the string at its maximus, if you dont do it this way your fiddle, will sound out after a few bendies.

[Frantic_Rock]

Good advice guys!

I watched all the Eric Johnson tapes. In the start of tape 1, he discusses Piano tuners and temperament. Usually piano tuners tune the piano all the way out of tune - but its not really noticeable to the ear over the range of the instrument. He advises to tune the 3 treble strings EVER SO SLIGHTLY sharp of their intended pitch. To tune the d string, bang on. To tune the A string EVER SO SLIGHTLY flat. And to tune the low E, even a little more flat.

I also noticed that when you hit the bass strings harder, they go up in pitch, so tuning them a little flat, will help the guitar sound better.

And offcourse do everything the guys mentioned above.