New guitars sometimes have to be tuned in order to produce a good sound. If your guitar strings are hard to press or hum when you play, you'll need to change the action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) and the intonation of the guitar. To do this, you can adjust several parts of the guitar, such as the truss rod (a long metal rod embedded in the neck of the guitar), the bridge (the bridge), and the pickup (a device for capturing string vibrations and converting them into electrical signals). By adjusting these parts, you can change the height and length of the strings, as well as how much bends the neck of the guitar should be. This will eliminate any buzzing or bouncing sounds and make the guitar easy to play.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Adjusting the Truss Rod
Step 1. Press the topmost string at the fret closest to the body of the guitar
The frets are square columns on the neck of the guitar that are lined with small metal rods. Press the topmost string (sixth string) at the fret closest to where the neck and body of the guitar meet.
In classical guitar, this is usually the 12th fret. Acoustic and electric guitars have a longer neck
Step 2. Hit the sixth string on the first fret
Use your other hand to press down on the first fret while continuing to press the fret closest to the body of the guitar. By doing this, you can check for any gaps between the neck and the guitar strings.
- You can also use a capo to hit the first fret. A capo is a clamping device used to press the strings against the neck of the guitar.
- Using a capo makes it easy to check the guitar while keeping the strings pressed.
Step 3. Locate and feel for any gaps between the strings and the neck of the guitar
Pay attention to the strings and neck of the guitar. There should be a gap as thick as a business card between the frets on the pressed string. Press one of the frets on the top string with your unused finger. If the strings are moving down a wide distance and there is a high gap, the neck of the guitar is too loose and the truss rod must be tightened. If the strings are not moving down at all and are firmly pressed against the neck of the guitar without any gaps, loosen the truss rod.
Traditional guitars have a slight curve in the neck, known as a concave curve
Step 4. Remove the screw on the truss rod cover on the guitar neck
The truss rod cap is usually located at the top of the neck of the guitar, near the winding knob, in an almond-like shape. This plastic or wooden cover must be removed so you can adjust the truss rod. Use a plus screwdriver to remove the cover by turning it counterclockwise. Once the cover is removed the end of the truss rod will be visible.
Once the truss rod cover is opened, a hole with the truss rod inside will be visible
Step 5. Tighten the truss rod nut if the string gap is large
Use the wrench for the truss rod that came with the guitar or buy a wrench at a music supply store or the internet. Insert the wrench into the truss rod, then tighten it by turning it clockwise a quarter turn. This will reduce the bend in the neck of the guitar and reduce the gap between the strings and the neck of the guitar.
String and neck spacing that is too high will make it difficult for you to play the guitar
Step 6. Loosen the truss rod nut if the gap in the neck of the guitar is too narrow
Insert the wrench into the end of the truss rod, then turn it counterclockwise a quarter turn to loosen the tension on the guitar neck. This loosens the nut on the neck of the guitar and increases the gap. Remember, you have to give some space between the neck and the guitar strings.
If the truss rod is too tight, the neck of the guitar will bend, which will produce a buzzing sound when you play it
Step 7. Replace the truss rod cap and wait one day
The guitar neck takes a while to adjust to the new truss rod setting. Rest the guitar for a day. Check the guitar again by pressing the first string on the fret closest to the body of the guitar and the first fret. The neck of the guitar will be slightly concave.
The strings should be slightly lifted from the neck of the guitar
Method 2 of 4: Raising and Lowering the Strings on the Bridge
Step 1. Measure the distance between the strings and the neck of the guitar at the 12th fret
The distance between the neck and the guitar strings at the 12th fret should be about 1.5 mm, or the thickness of a coin. Place the end of the ruler on the neck of the guitar and measure the distance with the string.
- If the string spacing exceeds 1.5 mm (the action is high), you will need to lower the guitar bridge.
- If the string action is low, or is less than 1.5 mm from the neck of the guitar at the 12th fret, raise the bridge.
Step 2. Use an Allen key (commonly called an L key) to lower or raise each string on the bridge
There is a small hole in the guitar bridge that an Allen key can be inserted into. Insert the Allen key into the hole of the string you want to adjust, then turn it 2-3 times to lower or raise the bridge. If the string spacing is too high, lower the bridge by turning the Allen key clockwise. If the string action is too low, turn the Allen key counterclockwise.
Step 3. Adjust all the strings so they have a gap of 1.5 mm at the 12th fret
Continue raising or lowering the bridge for each string until it reaches 1.5 millimeters in height. Strum each string while pressing the 12th fret. If the string hums when plucked, it means it is too close to the fret. If this is the case, turn the Allen key in the string hole clockwise to raise the bridge. If the strings are hard to press against the neck of the guitar, they may be too far from the frets.
Action (distance between the neck and guitar strings) for each person will be different. However, 1.5 mm is the standard distance for most guitarists
Method 3 of 4: Adjusting the Bridge to Change the String Length
Step 1. Tune the guitar with a digital tuner
Bridges can lengthen or shorten the strings. If not adjusted properly, the notes pressed against the neck of the guitar can be flat (too low) or sharp (too high). Pick the topmost string near the tuner and turn the string knob until the note is E. Tune the guitar with the standard settings of E, A, D, G, B, E (from top to bottom).
Step 2. Strum the sixth string while pressing the 12th fret near the tuner
The strings pressed at the 12th fret should produce the same note when you plucked them without being pressed against the neck of the guitar (this is known as the "open position"). Press the topmost string (sixth string) at the 12th fret, then pluck the string. The resulting note should be E. If the note is not E, adjust the bridge.
Step 3. Turn the screw on the bridge clockwise if the pitch is too high
If the pitch of the string on the 12th fret is too high, the string is too short and should be extended. Look at the bridge and look for the screws located at the bottom. Find the screw for the string you want to adjust. Turn the screw clockwise one full turn using a plus screwdriver.
Step 4. Shorten the strings by turning the screw on the bridge counterclockwise
You should shorten the string if the pitch is lower than E. Turn the screw on the back of the bridge counterclockwise one full turn to shorten the string.
Step 5. Check the pitch of the strings while pressing the 12th fret
Turn on the tuner and hit the newly adjusted string at the 12th fret. View the tone displayed by the tuner. If the note is still out of tune when you hit the 12th fret, you'll need to readjust the guitar bridge until it's the same pitch as the openly plucked string (without being pressed against the guitar fret).
Step 6. Repeat this process on the other 5 strings
Do the same process for the other strings, and make sure the pitch of the string on the 12th fret and open position is the same. Adjust all the strings on the bridge until the pitch is the same.
The 2nd string from the top must be an A, the 3rd string from the top is a D, and so on
Method 4 of 4: Setting Up the Pickup
Step 1. Press the topmost string on the fret closest to the pickup
The frets are the square columns on the neck of the guitar, and the pickups are the square-shaped devices (which pick up the vibrations of the strings) where you strum the guitar strings. Press the topmost string (sixth string) on the fret closest to the pickup, to make sure that the distance between the strings and the pickup is correct.
- If the strings are too close to the pickups, the guitar will bounce or not sound as intended.
- If the strings are too far from the pickup, the resulting sound will not be full and loud.
Step 2. Measure the distance between the strings and the pickup
Place the end of the ruler on the top of the pickup while keeping the frets pressed. Measure the gap between the strings and the pickup.
- The distance should be approximately 1.5 mm high.
- When the distance has reached 1.5 mm, the pickup height does not need to be changed.
Step 3. Turn the top screw on the pickup until the gap is about 1.5 mm
The screw that can be used to adjust the height is usually located on the side of the pickup. Turn the screw clockwise using a plus screwdriver to raise the pickup near the top string. Turn the screw counterclockwise if you want to lower it. Adjust the height of the pickup until it is about 1.5mm away from the strings.
Step 4. Repeat this process on the bottom string
Press the bottom string on the fret closest to the pickup and measure the distance. This time, adjust the bottom screw to lower or raise the pickup at the bottom. Make adjustments until the bottom string is about 1.5 millimeters from the pickup.
