All guitars and especially acoustic guitars are inexact instruments. The setup and tuning of a guitar can change over time or just because of how and where you are playing on the neck. Using a standard A440 guitar tuner is a great place to start. But the tendencies in your own guitar may lead you to use what’s called a tempered tuning. You can slightly alter the tuning on different strings to allow for imperfections in the guitar. Digital tuners like the free Pano tuner or iOS and Android allow you to see a more precise reading called a Cent which is 1/100th of a 1/2 step.

James Taylor has recorded a free video lesson on the subject which he calls fine tuning. He uses a tempered tuning to compensate for his frequent use of a capo, a tendency for the bass strings to ring sharp when played loudly, and general issues with the B String. James tunes his guitar a little flat, tuning down slightly a few cents on each string. E -3, B -6, G -4, D -8, A -10, E -12.

But this is just a starting guide because each guitar is different. You should experiment and see what works for your guitar and even that may change with the age of your strings. You may also find that some new guitars already have a compensated saddle to try and remedy the common issues with the 2nd/B string. It can be helpful to tune using fretted notes or harmonics instead of open strings. Try tuning each string at the first fret and the 2nd string at the 3rd fret and see if you like the results better.

Over time you will notice specific trouble spots your guitar may have tuning. By paying attention, listening, and dialing in specific cent altered tunings, you can correct a lot of problems.

Hat tip to Stratoblogster for both the app recommendation and James Taylor video.

