5th Fret Method

The fifth fret method is great if you are playing by yourself, but it is a relative type of tuning. This means you won't be able to play with say, a piano in a harmonious manner unless you are exactly in tune.

• Place your finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string. Sound both the 6th and the 5th string together. Adjust the tuner of the 5th string accordingly until they sound the same.
• Place your finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string to Tune the D(4th string).
• Place your finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string to Tune the G(3rd string).
• Place your finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string to Tune the B(2nd string). This is the only string at which you do not use the 5th fret.
• Place your finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string to tune the E(1st string).

Notice that you do not tune the E(6th string) at all. If this string is out of tune, they all will be out of tune from what we know to be an E, A, D, G, and B. But, they will sound harmonious.

7th Fret Method

It is also a relative type of tuning, although they will be displaced precisely one octave.

• Place your finger on the 7th fret of the 1st string. Sound both the 1st and the 2nd string together. Adjust the tuner of the 2nd string accordingly until they sound the same.
• Place your finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string to Tune the G(3rd string). This is the only string at which you do not use the 7th fret.
• Place your finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string to Tune the D(4th string).
• Place your finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string to Tune the A(5th string).
• Place your finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string to tune the E(6th string).

This method tunes everything relative to the 1st string, or "High E."

• Don't store your guitar in a car for a prolonged period of time.
• Don't store your guitar in a basement!
• Don't store your guitar in an attic!
• Don't store your guitar near windows, where it can get heavy exposure to light.
• Don't store your guitar below an anvil being held up with dental floss.

Guitar storage is vital to the importance of keeping your guitar's sound like new. The first thing to remember is that your guitar is made of wood. You need to keep your guitar at a moderate temperature. Too cold it may crack, too hot it may warp. If it gets wet, you are screwed. Keep you guitar in a dry area, at moderate temperature. I do not recommend storing it in a basement or an attic if you can help it.

Some guitarists may tell you not to keep the guitar out in the open, on a stand or hung on the wall. Others may recommend keeping it in a case. From my personal experience, the differences from keeping a guitar in a case versus on a stand or hung on the wall are negligible. The most important factors are keeping your guitar dry, safe, and at a good temperature.

Humidity

Too much humidity will do damage to your guitar over time. It is usually best to keep your guitar any where from 35-55% relative humidity. Remember that too much humidity will warp your guitar, and too little humidity will dry your guitar out. In the case of humidity, it is usually best to have lower humidity than higher.

Some guitars require a specialty humidifier. This is usually the case when the body of the guitar is unfinished. There are devices for helping maintain humidity inside your guitar.

Your strings, pickups, and internal wiring is all made out of some sort of metal. If they become exposed to water, they may oxidize (lose electrons). If this occurs, atomically speaking, the metal components will deteriorate, or rust. Ultimately you will wind up with a worse sound, or a broken guitar.

Options

I recommend keeping your guitar out in the open, on a stand or hung on the wall if the chore of removing it and putting it away in it's case means you playing less. Personally, keeping it out in the open (hung on the wall) makes it more accessible to play, and a functional piece of art too. The following are a few products you might try using.

The makeshift capo is a simple and cheap device used raise the tuning of the guitar by clamping the strings across the fretboard. It's design is based off of a Bill Russel style capo (seen on the left).

Step 1:Get Materials, Assemble

• Hair Ties
• Rubber Bands / Hair Ties / Shoe String
• Wooden Pencil / Bic Pen

You will likely need multiple hair ties or rubber bands to hold the strings down efficiently. Generally classical and electric guitars will only need a few - because they have weaker tension in their strings - but you will need a lot for an acoustic (more than you see in the picture to the right). Alternatively, you could try using thicker rubber bands.

You'll need to get the pen or pencil down to size. This is done to make the device easier to put on and take off. It also prevents the capo from getting in the way. Cut your pen or pencil down to about 4 inches (or 10 centimeters) - just so long as it's a bit longer then the width of your fretboard. If your using a pencil - this is easily accomplished with a pencil sharpener, but whack the tip off to prevent getting poked.

Step 2: Try it Out

At this point you may have everything you need. Lay the pen or pencil down over the fret you want to clamp. Wrap your hair tie, shoe lace, or rubber band over one end, then stretch around back of fretboard and over the other end of the pen or pencil.

Give the guitar a strum, and if you hear any buzzing, add more rubber bands, or hair ties. Shoe laces can be tied tighter.

Step 3: Bundling (For rubber bands)

In general, you should never leave a Capo on when your not playing. Additionally, it may take you a bit of time to get the thing off and on. One option to increase the speed a bit is to bundle the rubber bands or hair ties together at the center (the part that lies behind the fretboard during use) and at the loops (the part that stretches over the pencil ends). This can be done using twist ties for the ends and a rubber band for the back (so as to protect the finish). As always, be careful!

Tips

• Don't use a painted pencil as the paint may rub off on your guitar.
• Never leave the capo on your guitar. It loses tension when stretched out for a long time.

Ready to Buy a Capo? I recommend these Capos

Kyser 6 String Capo, Black

Price: $15.49

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Jim Dunlop 7190 Russell Gtr Capo Reg

Price: $3.75

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8 used & new available from $0.01

Dunlop Trigger Acoustic Guitar Capo Flat (Smoked Chrome)

Price: $14.95

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1 used & new available from $14.95