Why Your Guitar Keeps Going Out of Tune (It’s Not the Guitar)

I get this question a lot: “Why does my guitar keep going out of tune?”

Sometimes it’s the tuners or setup, but a lot of the time, it’s actually the player’s touch.

🎸 The Real Reason: You’re Pressing Too Hard

When you press down too hard on the strings, you’re actually bending them sharp without realizing it. Most players, myself included, do this - especially when we’re new.

We all start out pressing hard because we’re trying to eliminate fret buzz. The problem is, we never stop doing it once we improve. Over time, that heavy touch becomes a habit that throws off your tuning and makes chords sound a little off.

🧠 Try This Quick Test

Try this: Play a chord and press like you normally do. Then slowly lighten your touch until the notes start to buzz. Add just a little pressure back until the buzz gone. That’s all the pressure you need when playing.

If you’re pressing much harder than that, you’re probably pulling your notes out of tune.

⚙️ Fret Size Plays a Part

It’s also important to note that not all frets behave the same way. If your guitar has narrow-tall frets, you’ll need to pay attention to your touch a little more. Because the frets are taller, the string stretches more before it hits the fretboard, so even a little extra pressure can throw off the pitch.

Jumbo frets tend to handle a heavy touch a bit better, while narrow-tall frets reward a lighter, more controlled technique.

So if you’ve recently switched to a guitar with taller frets and notice your chords sound a little sharp - it’s probably not the setup. It’s your touch.

🎯 The Fix

• Practice pressing lighter - just enough for a clean sound.

• If your action feels high, get a setup to make it easier to play softly.

• Give yourself time to adjust to your fret size and string gauge.

You’ll be surprised how much smoother and more in tune you sound once your touch relaxes.