How to Tune a Guitar

Steps

1. 1
   

   
   Know which note each string on the guitar plays.
   
   Note that there are two E strings on the guitar. The thickest string is the bottom E (or low E) and the thinnest string is the top E (or high E) .

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2. 2
   

   
   Know which tuning keys correspond with which strings.
3. 3
   

   
   Find a way to listen to an E note. This can be done using a (properly tuned) piano, a pitch pipe, a tuning fork, or a recorded E note found on the web as a .wav or .mp3 file. Can use the A note of an A440 tuning fork for reference pitch.
4. 4
   Put the guitar on your lap in a comfortable playing position.
5. 5
   

   Plucking bottom E string
   Pluck the bottom E string (the thickest string) while listening to the E note from some other sound source (i.e. tuning fork, piano, pitch pipe). The bottom E string is good to begin with because its thickness makes it less likely to detune.^[1]
6. 6
   

   Tuning bottom E string
   Turn the tuning key for the bottom E string until your guitar's bottom E string sounds the same as the known E note. Turning the key so that it tightens the string will make the pitch higher, while loosening the string will make the pitch lower.
   
   When the string is slightly out of tune, the E from the guitar will combine with the E from the sound source (i.e. piano), and cause the sound to "waver" in pitch. This is dissonance. As you tighten the guitar string, you should hear this wavering slow down; the two strings are in tune if the wavering has stopped. If you go too far, the wavering will increase again.
7. 7
   

   Fifth-fretted bottom E string
   Push down on the fifth fret of the bottom E string that you just tuned and pluck the string. This will be referred to as the fifth-fretted bottom E string.
8. 8
   

   Plucking A string
   Pluck the A string and compare it to the sound of the fifth-fretted bottom E string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously.
9. 9
   

   Tuning A string
   Turn the tuning key for the A string until it sounds the same as the fifth-fretted bottom E string.
10. 10
    

    Fifth-fretted A string
    Pluck the D string and compare it to the sound of the fifth-fretted A string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously.
11. 11
    

    Tuning D string
    Tune the D string to the fifth-fretted A string.
12. 12
    

    Fifth-fretted D string
    Pluck the G string and compare it to the sound of the fifth-fretted D string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously.
13. 13
    

    Tuning G string
    Tune the G string to the fifth-fretted D string.
14. 14
    

    Fourth-fretted G string
    Pluck the B string and compare it to the sound of thefourth-fretted G string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously.
15. 15
    

    Tuning B string
    Tune the B string to the fourth-fretted G string. Note that this is the only time the fourth fret is used.
16. 16
    

    Fifth-fretted B string
    Pluck the top E string and compare it to the sound of the fifth-fretted B string. Pluck the two strings in succession and then simultaneously.
17. 17
    

    Tuning top E string
    Tune the top E string to the fifth-fretted B string. Be very careful when tightening this string as it can break easily.

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    Source : www.wikihow.com