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02 / 04 · Strings and tuning

How to tune a guitalele: ADGCEA explained

The two A strings share a name, but they belong in different octaves.

Choose strings for your instrument

Check the instrument maker's recommended string set, scale length and tuning. Use a compatible six-string nylon or synthetic set; do not fit steel acoustic-guitar strings to an instrument built for nylon. Wound bass strings in a nylon set are normal: the metal winding does not make them steel-core acoustic strings.

Replace one string at a time

Work on a stable surface with the instrument supported on a soft cloth. Keep the new strings in their labelled packets until needed. Replace one at a time so the remaining strings show the routing and the saddle stays in place.

1. Loosen the old string fully before removing it from the tuning roller and bridge.
2. For a traditional six-hole tie-block bridge, pass the replacement through the bridge hole, leaving enough tail to tie it. Loop the tail around the long section and tuck it through the loop; plain treble strings generally need extra wraps to prevent slipping.
3. Seat the final tuck behind the rear edge of the tie block, not on top. Protect the soundboard from a loose string end and check the maker's illustrated knot instructions before adding tension.
4. Pass the other end through the matching tuning roller. Secure it using the maker's recommended loop, then wind neatly with enough slack for a few turns. Avoid crossed coils and contact with adjacent strings.
5. Bring the string gradually toward its target pitch. Check that it follows its saddle and nut position and that neither attachment slips. Trim excess ends only after the string is secure.

Ball-end, pin and multi-hole bridges use different attachments. Follow the instructions for your actual bridge rather than adapting the tie-block knot. If a knot or roller attachment is unfamiliar, have a repair shop demonstrate it before tightening the string.

The tuning used on this site

For standard guitalele tuning, work from the lowest string to the highest: A, D, G, C, E, A. Check your instrument and string manufacturer’s guidance before changing from a different setup.

The number after the letter identifies the octave. String 1 vibrates four times as fast as string 6: A4 is two octaves above A2. A display that says only “A” does not establish that the string is in the correct octave.

Use the microphone tuner

1. Open the guitalele tuner and select the string you intend to tune.
2. Start the microphone and allow access. Pluck the open string gently and mute the others.
3. If the reading is low, increase tension slightly; if high, reduce it slightly. Make small adjustments and pluck again.
4. Check all six strings a second time after the first pass.

The tuner measures the difference in cents: 100 cents equals one semitone. Its “In tune” indication allows a small margin of five cents either side of the target. The display first shows the detected note and octave, with guidance to raise or lower the pitch. The cents meter appears when you reach the selected note and octave. A2 is 110 Hz, not 220 Hz; check the octave before adding more tension.

Why guitar shapes have different names here

A guitalele in ADGCEA has the same interval pattern as a guitar in EADGBE, raised five semitones. You can think of the pitch relationship as a standard guitar with a capo at fret 5. The shapes transfer, but their sounding chord names change.

Our library labels the chord that actually sounds. When playing with another musician who asks for C, look up C here rather than automatically using the guitar C shape.

If the reading keeps moving

Move away from background music, play one string at a time and wait briefly after the initial pluck. New strings may need repeated tuning as they settle. A rattling or very faint string can also make detection less reliable. If microphone access fails, check browser permissions and open the site over HTTPS; you can still use the reference tones to compare by ear.