My Guitar Setup

Diagnose

What's going on with your guitar?

Pick the symptom that sounds most like yours. We'll list the likely causes, most common first, and say which ones are safe to fix at home.

S-style · Change

Likely causes for

Chords sound out of tune higher up

  1. Intonation not set DIY

    The saddles aren't at the right distance, so fretted notes drift sharp or flat higher up.

  2. Old strings DIY

    Worn strings lose their even mass and won't play in tune, however well the guitar is set up.

  3. Action very high DIY

    Pressing a high string down stretches it, which pushes notes sharp.

Not sure? Start with the first cause. Each guide checks it before you change anything.