How To Tune the Classical Guitar-A Comprehensive Approach-Part 1

Guitarist, composer, and luthier Peter Oberg demonstrates his method for tuning the classical guitar.

[Jabbaerwocky]

Thank you, Peter.This is very helpful. I've wondered about it a long time now. You made it crystal clear. onwards to Part 2.

[sirrahnod]

I would enjoy learning more about your method. Thank you for this video. Having spent time with piano tuning and time wrestling with guitar intonation on recording sessions, I find your take very interesting.

[gmscot]

Fantastic video, any chance of seeing part 2 anytime soon?

[edadpops]

Man wheres part 2.... Dying to get your method completed

[joelpenazzo]

Hi Sir.. Very good explanations!!!
But we wait for second part 🙏

[jeffhildreth]

Great stuff Peter. I really enjoy your videos, thanks for the one on French Polishing.
I feel like a fool for having tuned my guitar in what now seems to be a rather crude and inaccurate way. I did so thinking there was no practical way of getting it all correct. Thanks so much.

Please could you do a follow up video, I enjoy the technical part which leads to a practical end.

I also note Khasab's method.. is this a short cut to getting it right?


I have been messing about with diatonic accordeons for a few years and submerged in the various way to tune those. It is amazing and fascinating how many styles of tuning there are.

The only time I use a "just" tuning is on the simpler one row 10 button two base accordeons which are often called "Cajun" accordeons though invented by an Armenian Immigrant to Austria in 1829.

[oldetownerez]

This is terrific. You’ve got a new fan. I kind of surmised the rest, but I’d still love to see part two and can’t find it.

[steinhalvorsen_]

Hi Peter, this video was excellent. Is part two coming soon?

[ricardoemanuel]

What about the 4th and 1st string ? Excelent video, hope you planing to post part 2.

[pontusandersson]

Interesting video. Where can one find part 2? Thanks.

[silvermoonbeam]

This is interesting and I appreciate the detail. Christopher Berg’s “Mastering Guitar Technique” (Mel Bay, mid-1990s) has a section where he discusses the compounding problems introduced by comparing 5th and 7th fret harmonics, which is still used by novices. I wonder if your part 2 proposes (will propose?) a solution similar to his.

[vedranradonja]

Hello, your video is great. But I have a guestion. Is a guitar playable at all if it is not intonated, if guitar does not have total intonation. For example, if we have optimal action and guitar is in tune in open string position, is that enough, or we need that also in 12th fret? Thanks a lot.

[rjlchristie]

At 4:37 yes the diagram is misleading, it depicts (with allowance for freehand drawing) two notes that are out of phase but have the same frequency.
Beating is the product of frequency differential, not phase differential. I think you use the wrong terminology.

[MusicMotivator]

wow, so in my 1/2 hr lessons we can tune for 20 min! lol. just kidding, this is hvy stuff- the true understanding of what is in tune. A good tuner will get you there roughly, then it's important to hear and tweak these idiosyncrasies. Thanks man!

[FriendM]

Okay, I’m gonna have to take off my ass hat and put on my thinking cap for this video. Not for my 10:30 pm brain, will try at my 9:39 am brain. 🤓🤘🥳

[Ana_crusis]

too complicated and unnecessary for people to tune their guitars. get a tuning fork E=329.6 tune the E strings and the E on the 2nd fret of the 4th string first then tune the other strings to those strings. (don't use harmonics on the 7th fret)