A quality guitar tuner can help us achieve the desired pitch, which is essential for playing in tune and creating harmonious music. But can it also help achieve versatility to experiment with different sounds? Yes, it does! A quality tuner can enhance the overall playing experience. To offer you the best guitar tuner for intonation, I’ve scoured the market and tested more than 20 tuners based on accuracy, display, type, and more. Let me guide you through an in-depth review of the 5 best guitar tuner for intonation and help you choose the perfect one. Let’s get started.
List Of The Best Guitar Tuner For Intonation
1. TC Electronic POLYTUNE 3 (Best Overall)
Key Features
- Style: Compact
- Bypass Type: Switchable
- Item Weight: 9.5 ounces
- Battery: 9V
- Product Dimensions: 4.76 x 1.77 x 2.87 inches
The TC Electronic POLYTUNE 3 is a polyphonic tuning pedal with extreme accuracy of +/-0.5 cents! But it offers beyond just tuning capabilities; it’s a versatile tool that allows you to switch between different tuning modes, including chromatic, polyphonic, and strobe. If you have a few extra moments, the strobe mode can bring you incredibly close to perfect pitch with a precision of +/-0.02 cents – simply amazing! Also, its switchable buffer feature ensures that your signal remains clear and noise-free, even when using multiple effects pedals. Despite its small size, this pedal tuner boasts an easily readable display of 109 LED that can be viewed in nearly any lighting condition. Overall, the accuracy, versatility, and ease of use make the POLYTUNE 3 a clear winner in my top 5 list.
Pros
- Incredibly accurate
- 3 different tuning modes
- Switchable true bypass & buffer mode
- Bright LED with ambient adjustment
- Compact size
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not so suitable for big feet
2. KLIQ TinyTune Tuner Pedal for Guitar and Bass (Best Affordable)
Key Features
- Style: Compact
- Bypass Type: True
- Item Weight: 4.4 ounces
- Battery: 9V
- Product Dimensions: 3.66 x 1.22 x 1.5 inches
The KLIQ TinyTune is a mini pedal tuner for both guitarists and bassists. The tuner is designed to fit on any pedalboard, and you’ll love its accuracy of +/-0.5 cents at such an affordable price. With its true bypass feature, you can be confident that your sound remains completely unaffected when the pedal is disengaged. It comes with a bright, easy-to-read display ensuring clear visibility regardless of the lighting conditions Moreover, the TinyTune automatically silences the incoming signal during tuning, and allows the signal to flow directly to the output when you are not tuning.
Pros
- Fast and accurate
- Bright LED
- Easy-to-use
- Highly affordable
- Compact size
- Lightweight
Cons
- No power supply included
3. Donner Tuner Pedal (Best Easy-to-Use)
Key Features
- Style: Mini
- Bypass Type: True
- Item Weight: 4.2 ounces
- Battery: 9V
- Product Dimensions: 2.36 x 2.36 x 4.72 inches
This pedal tuner from Donner boasts a precise strobe mode with an accuracy of +/- 1 cent. It works equally well for acoustic and electric guitars and can handle a wide range of playing styles and genres. With the true bypass design, your tone stays pure and uncolored when the pedal is turned off. It features a bright LED display with a mini-LCD screen which you can easily use on large stage and outdoor performance venues without any problems. One of the standout features of this tuner is how easy it is to use. It’s a simple one-button design that you can step on to activate the tuning mode, and the LED display is so clear when you hit the right note.
Pros
- Highly accurate
- Bright LED
- Easy-to-use
- Wide tuning range
- True bypass mode
Cons
- No power supply included
4. Peterson StroboStomp HD Guitar Tuner (Best Accuracy)
Key Features
- Bypass Type: True
- Item Weight: 13.9 ounces
- Battery: 9V
- Product Dimensions: 5 x 2.6 x 2.1 inches
Peterson strobe tuners have a well-deserved reputation for their highest precision and accuracy of +/-0.1 cent. It offers both true bypass mode. Additionally, it includes 135 unique tunings specially adjusted to suit various instrument types and altered tunings. One of the most notable aspects of this tuner is the ability to save presets, which simplifies the process of tuning changes during live performances. It also features a high-definition LCD screen with a variable color LED backlight. The strobe image and note name are displayed in a monochromatic format that is easy to view, even when playing outside in direct sunlight.
Pros
- Highly accurate
- True bypass & buffer mode
- Bright LED with ambient adjustment
- Tuning presets
Cons
- Expensive
5. Korg TM60BK Tuner Metronome (Best Metronome)
Key Features
- Style: Metronome
- Item Weight: 3.52 ounces
- Battery: 2 AAA batteries
- Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 4.8 x 1.1 inches
This tuner from Korg is a two-in-one tuner and metronome, and its accuracy is impressive, delivering results within +/-1 cent. This metronome tuner is the best I’ve found, with a wide tempo range of 30 to 252 bpm, three different tempo settings, and fifteen rhythm variations. Its built-in microphone allows you to tune non-electric instruments, although it’s best suited for quieter environments. The backlit LCD screen of the tuner is adequate in most lighting conditions; however, the viewing angles aren’t ideal. To ensure optimum visibility, placing the TM60 directly in front of you is best.
Pros
- Highly accurate
- Metronome ability
- Multiple rhythm variation
- Affordable
Cons
- Screen quality is not up to the mark
- Not suitable for noisy environments
How To Choose The Best Guitar Tuner For Intonation
Choose The Right Type:
When choosing a tuner, there are many variations available. Whether you’re tuning at gigs, home, or studio, here’s a quick breakdown of types of tuners:
- Chromatic Tuners – One of the most widely used types of tuners that comes in the form of a microphone, clip-on or pedal. Using a chromatic tuner, you can easily tune each note within the chromatic scale, comprising all 12 notes spanning octaves. Chromatic tuners might not be the best choice for beginners since it’s a bit complicated to use, but they are a good choice if you play multiple instruments or want a tuner that can be used with any instrument.
- Polyphonic Tuners – Polyphonic tuners are the latest edition in the market, innovated by TC Electronic and adopted by Korg. These tuners display a holistic view of your guitar’s current tuning so you can identify how tuning one string affect and enable you to tune quickly.
- Strobe Tuners – These are the most accurate tuners available on the market. Although they may come with a higher price tag, the precision of strobe tuners makes them a worthwhile investment. These tuners utilize a microprocessor to gauge the waveform’s mean period and translate it into a user-friendly frequency reading. Additionally, they create a reference frequency and display the variance between it and the musical note being played. If you want extremely precise tuning, strobe tuners are the way to go.
- Microphone Tuners – This tuner category relies on a built-in microphone to detect the notes’ frequency. Although they are not the most precise, they are helpful for simple tuning tasks. Generally, these tuners display the extent to which the strings are out of tune in relation to the standard EADGBE guitar tuning, but they do not account for semi-tones such as Ab. They are a good choice if you want to avoid the hassle of cables.
Why should you care about choosing the right type of tuner?
Choosing the right type of guitar tuner ensures you have a reliable and accurate tool that suits your specific needs and playing style. Let’s say you’re performing live or recording in a studio. Choosing a microphone tuner in those situations may lead to frustrating tuning experiences; a strobe tuner with high accuracy and precision would be the best choice.
Tuning Accuracy:
Tuning accuracy is typically measured in cents. When choosing a guitar tuner, look for a tuning accuracy of at least +/- 1 cent to ensure that your guitar is in tune and sounds great.
What is cent in a guitar tuner?
A cent is a unit of measurement for musical intervals. In a guitar tuner, the cent is used to measure the difference between the pitch of a string and the desired pitch. A difference of one cent means that the pitch is slightly higher or lower than the desired pitch by a ratio of 1/100 of a semitone. Typically, a tuning accuracy of +/- 1 cent is preferable in a tuner. Deviation greater than +/- 1 cent can result in an instrument sounding slightly out of tune, which can be noticeable to the listener and may affect the overall sound quality. However, the acceptable tuning accuracy can vary depending on the type of instrument and the musical context. For example, even +/- 5 cents tuning accuracy may be acceptable for extraordinary circumstances.
Display:
We always want a display that is easy to read in any lighting condition. Look for a tuner with a bright and clear display that is easy to see on a dark stage or in bright sunlight.
Is the display important in a tuner?
The display provides visual feedback on the tuning process. A clear and accurate display helps to know which note you are playing and shows how close you are to the correct pitch. Additionally, some displays include additional features, such as a visual metronome or a waveform display, to further assist in tuning accuracy. These features help us achieve the best possible sound.
True Bypass & Buffered Mode:
Choosing between true bypass and buffered mode depends on your pedalboard setup. If you only have a few effects pedals, true bypass is the way to go, as it will maintain the integrity of your tone. But if you have a lot of pedals, a buffered mode is the better option. The active circuitry in a buffered tuner can help to maintain your guitar’s tone and make it easier to tune accurately, even with a more complex signal chain.
What are true bypass and buffered mode?
A true bypass does not add any extra circuitry or electronics to the sound of your guitar when not engaged, maintaining the integrity of your tone. On the other hand, a buffered mode means the tuner has an active circuit that buffers and amplifies the signal from your guitar before it is sent to the tuner’s display.
Final Words
The importance of being in tune cannot be overstated, as it affects the overall sound and quality of your playing. Tuning the guitar is the foundation of good sound, and having a reliable tuner can help you achieve it. We know that no instrument remains in perfect tune, as various factors such as weather changes, humidity, and regular use can all contribute to altering the tuning of a guitar. In these situations, the best guitar tuner for intonation can be a valuable tool to quickly and easily identify any tuning discrepancies and make the necessary adjustments.