Select a string, play it, and follow the needle. Standard tuning: E A D G B e
How pitch works: Each guitar string vibrates at a specific frequency measured in Hz (cycles per second). Lower numbers = lower, deeper pitch (like bass). Higher numbers = higher, brighter pitch (like a whistle). When a string is too loose, it plays flat (too low). When too tight, it plays sharp (too high). Tune by turning the tuning peg — tighten to raise pitch, loosen to lower it.
🔌 Playing electric guitar unplugged? Electric strings are quiet without an amp, so the laptop/phone mic may struggle to hear them clearly. Either plug into an amp at low volume and place the mic near the speaker, or hold the mic close to the strings/pickups if playing unplugged. Acoustic and nylon-string guitars are loud enough on their own — no adjustment needed.
E2
6th string (thickest)
A2
5th string
D3
4th string
G3
3rd string
B3
2nd string
e4
1st string (thinnest)
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Play a string to begin
♭ Too low — loosen pegIn tune ✓♯ Too high — tighten peg
Microphone off
Reference tones — tap to hear
Play each reference tone, then pluck your string and match it by ear.
E2
82.4 Hz · 6th
A2
110 Hz · 5th
D3
146.8 Hz · 4th
G3
196 Hz · 3rd
B3
246.9 Hz · 2nd
e4
329.6 Hz · 1st
Music Basics
Everything you need to understand before playing chords
Notes & Pitch
Music uses 12 notes, cycling over and over at different octaves (higher or lower versions of the same note). They are:
CC#/D♭DD#/E♭EFF#/G♭GG#/A♭AA#/B♭B
The amber ones are natural notes. The others are sharps (#) or flats (♭) — in-between notes.
💡 Pitch = frequency. Higher pitch = more vibrations per second (Hz). A string vibrates faster when it's shorter (pressing a fret shortens it) or tighter. Lower pitch = slower vibrations, deeper sound.
On a guitar, moving one fret up raises the pitch by a semitone (one step in the 12-note scale). Moving two frets = a whole tone.
Rhythm & Beats
Music is divided into bars (also called measures). Each bar has a fixed number of beats. Most songs use 4/4 time — 4 beats per bar.
Count out loud: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4... Each number = one beat. Tap your foot on each count.
Tempo is how fast the beats are, measured in BPM (beats per minute). 60 BPM = 1 beat per second. 120 BPM = 2 per second. Most beginner songs are 70–100 BPM.
A strumming pattern tells you when to strum down (↓) and when to strum up (↑) across the beats. A simple beginner pattern:
↓ · ↓ · ↓ · ↓
One down-strum on each beat. Simple, steady, easy.
What is a Chord?
A chord is three or more notes played at the same time. On guitar, you press several strings at specific frets so they all ring together in harmony.
The two most important types:
Major chords — bright, happy sound. E.g. C major, G major, D major.
Minor chords — darker, more emotional. E.g. Am, Em, Dm.
🎯 Start with these 5 open chords — they use open strings (you don't press all strings) and are the foundation of hundreds of songs: G, C, D, Em, Am
A chord progression is a sequence of chords that forms the backbone of a song. For example: G → Em → C → D is used in countless pop, rock, and folk songs.
Reading Chord Diagrams
A chord diagram is a grid showing the guitar neck head-on. Here's how to read it:
🎯 Where exactly do I put my finger? The neck is divided into sections called frets, separated by thin metal strips (fret wires). Counting starts at the headstock end: the first gap after the nut (the ridge right before the tuning pegs) is fret 1, the next gap is fret 2, and so on toward the guitar body. To play "2nd fret," press your fingertip into the space between fret wire 1 and fret wire 2 — just behind the 2nd wire, not on top of it. Pressing close to the fret wire (not in the middle of the gap) takes less effort and sounds cleaner.
Example above: green dot on the B string at fret 1 (finger 1 / index), and on the D string at fret 2 (finger 2 / middle). The fret number in the diagram on the left tells you how far down the neck to go — count the gaps from the nut.
Vertical lines = the 6 strings (left = thinnest e, right = thickest E)
Horizontal lines = the fret wires (top = nut, where the headstock is)
Filled dot = press in the gap right behind that fret wire (number = which finger)
Open circle at top = play that string open (no fret pressed at all)
X at top = don't play that string
Fingers: 1 = index · 2 = middle · 3 = ring · 4 = pinky · T = thumb
Chord Practice
Select a chord to see the diagram, hear it, and check your playing
Song Practice
Simple songs to practice chord changes with a backing beat
Chord sequence
Tempo:70 BPM
Voice Practice
Tune your singing to match the chords you play
How singing with guitar works: Each chord has a root note — the note it's named after. When you sing a song, your melody notes should generally fit within the chord being played. The key of a song tells you which set of chords and notes fit together. Singing too high = your voice is straining above the chord. Too low = it sounds muddy. The sweet spot is where your voice and the guitar ring together.
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Sing into your microphone
LowMidHigh
Microphone off
Singing key guide
Choose a song key that fits your voice range. If a song feels too high or low, you can capo the guitar (clip onto a fret to raise all strings) or just pick a different key.
Key of G
Good for most voices
Chords: G · Em · C · D
Key of C
Natural, mid-range
Chords: C · Am · F · G
Key of D
Slightly higher
Chords: D · Bm · G · A
Key of Am
Minor — deeper feel
Chords: Am · F · C · G
Vocal warm-up exercise
Play each note on guitar and sing along to match it. Start from the middle and move outward.