Guide Note

Electronic guitar tuners can be stand-alone devices (sometimes pedals) operated by batteries or via AC power, or they can come in a more advanced rack-mounted version. A guitarist or bassist plugs into the tuner through a cable, plays a note, and the tuner indicates via a needle or some form of LED display whether the note is flat or sharp. It continues to do so as the player tunes until the note is tuned.

Fast Facts

1. Standard tuning is called A440 after the 440 Hz tone—the tone is an A on the musical scale, specifically the A above middle C
2. A popular no-frills electronic tuner, the Korg Corporation's GA-30, lists for approximately $15
3. A slightly higher-end tuner pedal, the Boss Corporation's TU-2, lists for around $100