Tuner Tutorial
Tune with precision using standard tuning, 17 alternate tunings, capo support, and concert pitch adjustment.
How to Use the Tuner
- Grant microphone permission when prompted (required)
- Play a string on your instrument
- Watch the LED display - the lit LED shows how far you are from being in tune:
- Green center LED: In tune! ✅
- Red LEDs (left): Too flat, tune up
- Orange LEDs (right): Too sharp, tune down
Tune until the green center LED lights up.
Tip: The tuner can be sensitive. Turn tuning pegs slowly and let notes ring out longer before adjusting.
Tuner Accuracy
The Woodshed tuner is accurate to within ±1 cent and responds in under 20 milliseconds, making it faster than most hardware tuners.
It uses professional-grade FFT+HPS algorithms optimized for guitar frequencies. You're considered in tune when within ±5 cents (the professional standard).
Standard Tuning
Standard tuning is the default guitar tuning available to all users:
- E (82.41 Hz) - Thickest string
- A (110.00 Hz)
- D (146.83 Hz)
- G (196.00 Hz)
- B (246.94 Hz)
- e (329.63 Hz) - Thinnest string
This is the most common guitar tuning and works for the vast majority of songs.
Alternate Tunings (Premium)
Premium members can access 17 alternate tunings:
Guitar - Standard & Drop
- Drop D
- Half Step Down
Guitar - Open Tunings
- Open G
- Open D
- Open E
- Open A
- Open C
- Open C6
Guitar - Alternate
- DADGAD
- Rain Song (Led Zeppelin)
- Cross-Note
Bass
- 4-String Bass
- 5-String Bass
- 6-String Bass
Other Instruments
- Ukulele
- Banjo 5-String
How to Change Tunings
- Tap the tuning selector button (shows current tuning name)
- Scroll through the wheel picker to find your desired tuning
- Tap "Done"
- The string indicators will update to show the new target notes
Capo Feature (Premium)
The capo feature adjusts all target frequencies to match your capo position. When you place a capo on your guitar, each fret raises the pitch by one semitone. The tuner automatically calculates the correct frequencies for each string based on your capo fret (1-12).
Example:
Standard tuning with capo on fret 2 means the tuner expects F# instead of E (low string), B instead of A, etc.
Combining Capo with Alternate Tunings
Yes! You can combine any alternate tuning with any capo position. Examples:
- Drop D with Capo 3 = Drop F tuning
- Open G with Capo 5 = Open C tuning
- DADGAD with Capo 2 = EBEAC# tuning
- Open D with Capo 2 = Open E tuning (great for slide)
Concert Pitch (Premium)
Concert pitch (also called reference pitch) is the frequency of the A note above middle C (A4). The standard is A=440 Hz, but different ensembles, historical periods, and musical traditions use different reference pitches.
The Woodshed tuner lets you tune to any concert pitch from 390-490 Hz, including:
- A=440 Hz: Modern standard
- A=432 Hz: Alternative tuning
- A=442 Hz: European orchestral
- A=445 Hz: Some European orchestras
- A=415 Hz: Baroque pitch
When to Use Different Concert Pitches
A=432 Hz: Popular in wellness/healing music, some contemporary artists claim it sounds more "natural"
A=442 Hz: Common in European orchestras, brighter sound, used when playing with orchestras
A=445 Hz: Even brighter, used by some early music ensembles
A=415 Hz: Historical accuracy for Baroque music (1600-1750), required for authentic period performance
Troubleshooting
Tuner isn't detecting notes?
- Check microphone permission in Settings
- Check concert pitch setting (verify you're tuned to correct reference, usually A=440)
- Play louder - strum or pluck the string more firmly
- Reduce background noise - move to quieter environment
- One string at a time - mute other strings while tuning
- Fresh strings - old, dead strings are harder to detect accurately
For electric guitars, plug in with an audio interface for much better accuracy than using the phone's microphone.
Tuner jumping between notes?
- Multiple strings ringing - mute other strings
- Overtones are strong - play closer to the bridge for clearer fundamental
- Action is too low - strings buzzing can confuse the tuner
- Electronics interference - move away from other devices if using electric guitar unplugged
B string seems off even when "in tune"?
The B string (246 Hz) is naturally harder to tune because its fundamental frequency is weak and strong harmonic overtones can fool some tuners. The Woodshed tuner uses enhanced B string detection to handle this.
If you're experiencing issues:
- Pluck the string at the 12th fret position (harmonic node)
- Use a fresh string - old B strings are especially problematic
- Check with a harmonic - the 12th fret harmonic should read B at the same pitch