Why Your Guitar Keeps Going Out of Tune

Is Your Guitar Constantly Going Out of Tune?

You tune it up… start playing… and five minutes later, everything sounds off. It’s so frustrating!
Let’s break down the three most common causes of tuning issues.

🎯 1. Your Touch Might Be the Issue (and That’s Okay)

Believe it or not, tuning problems often come from the way you play - not the gear itself.

If you're pressing down too hard on the strings, you might be bending the note sharp without realizing it. This is super common when you're just starting out or switching to a guitar with low frets or light strings.

Fix: Focus on pressing just hard enough to get a clean note. As your touch develops, tuning will naturally get more consistent.

🧵 2. Your Strings May Be Old

Old strings don’t hold pitch well. They stretch unevenly, get dirty, and lose their tension. Even if you’re tuning regularly, your guitar will drift out of tune faster once the strings are worn out.

Fix: If you can’t remember the last time you changed your strings, it’s time. New strings are a simple fix that make a big difference in tuning stability, tone, and playability.

🛠 3. Your Intonation Might Be Off

Even if your guitar is perfectly in tune when open, it might sound out of tune when you play chords up the neck. That’s an intonation issue - caused by a misaligned bridge or string height that needs adjusting.

Fix: Intonation can be adjusted at the bridge. An experienced tech and tech can give you a set up in no time?

🔧 Need Help Keeping Your Guitar in Tune?

At Morris Guitar Company, we help beginners and experienced players troubleshoot issues like this every day.