How To Tune A Jazz Guitar

Before you play one, you'll want to learn how to tune a jazz guitar. Having your jazz guitar tuned properly will make your playing along with your singing sound better and more professional. Here are some quick and easy steps that will show you how to tune a jazz guitar.

1. Check to see if your jazz guitar strings need to be replaced. Although you can tune a jazz guitar with old  strings, you may not get the crisp clear tone and great sound you'll want out of old guitar strings. Look to see if your old jazz guitar strings have signs of dirt, oil, or wear and tear. A new set of jazz guitar strings are inexpensive, and the improved sound is well worth the investment.
2. Purchase a reasonably priced, hand held guitar string tuner at any music store or large retail super market. You can usually buy one of these battery operated guitar string tuners for under twenty dollars. They are very easy to use even if you've never used one before. The automatic tuner does most of the work and lets you know when the string is in perfect tune with its indicator needle and light.
3. Changing your jazz guitar strings is very easy to do. Simply loosen up the old string that you are going to replace. Remove the old jazz guitar string and wipe off the entire length of the guitar neck with a soft cloth. Wrap the new guitar string around the tuning key post four times and then thread it through the hole in the tuning post before tightening. Tighten up the new guitar string until it sounds close to what the old string sounded like before you removed it. You can do this by putting your finger on the fifth fret of the new string, and then matching the new guitar string's sound to the old string next to it. Don't be concerned about the new string being in perfect tune right now. Just getting both strings close to sounding alike is good enough for now. Remember to remove one old string and immediately replace it. Replacing your old strings one at a time and wiping the area with a clean soft cloth keeps the neck and finger board clean, and keeps uniform pressure on the guitar neck. Changing the strings one at a time also helps prevent your jazz guitar neck from bowing or warping by removing all six strings at the same time. Continue with the next old guitar string and replace it until your new set of strings are on your jazz guitar. Be sure and carefully cut off any excess length of each guitar string from its tuning post when finished.
4. Easy tuning even for a novice. Place your jazz guitar flat in your lap with the strings facing up. Lay the hand held automatic guitar string tuner flat on the top of your jazz guitar and turn the battery operated tuner on. Pick your first guitar string with your finger or a guitar pick and look at the automatic tuner. The indicator needle on the hand held automatic guitar string tuner will show you if you need to tighten the string or loosen it. When you reach perfect tune, your guitar string tuner will show that the string is in tune. Most of these hand held guitar string tuners have a green light that comes on or a indicator needle that points to the middle of the graph when the string is in perfect tune. Repeat this step for each string until your jazz guitar is in perfect tune.