Why Does My Guitar Keep Going Out of Tune? (And How to Fix It)
A guitar that won’t stay in tune is frustrating for beginners and experienced players alike. The good news: this almost always has an identifiable cause, and most causes have a straightforward fix.
The 6 Most Common Causes (and Their Fixes)
01 — New or Old Strings
The Cause: New steel strings stretch a lot before stabilizing. Old strings develop uneven tension and start going sharp or flat unpredictably.
The Fix: For new strings: grab each one at the 12th fret, pull it gently upward about a centimetre, then retune. Do this four or five times per string. For old strings: replace them. Change strings every one to three months depending on how much you play.
02 — Nut Slot Too Narrow or Rough
The Cause: If a nut slot is too tight or rough, the string binds when you turn the tuning peg. Tension gets stored unevenly, causing the string to jump to a different pitch when you release the peg.
The Fix: Rub a pencil (graphite) in each nut slot to lubricate it. For more serious binding, a guitar tech can widen and polish the slots — typically $30–$60.
03 — String Windings on the Tuning Post
The Cause: If strings aren’t wound correctly around the post, they can slip or seat unevenly. This is very common after a DIY string change.
The Fix: Wind from top to bottom on the post. Aim for 2–3 winds on wound strings and 3–5 winds on plain strings, neat and parallel with no crossing.
04 — Worn or Loose Tuning Machines
The Cause: Standard tuning machines can develop “slop” over time — a bit of play in the gear before the post actually starts moving.
The Fix: Check if the small screw in the center of each tuning button needs tightening. If the machines are worn, locking tuners are a worthwhile upgrade. Gotoh and Grover make reliable options.
05 — Temperature and Humidity Changes
The Cause: Guitar necks and bodies are wood. Wood moves with changes in temperature and humidity, which changes string tension.
The Fix: Give your guitar 10–15 minutes to acclimatize when moving between environments. Keep a humidity pack in your case and aim for 45–55% relative humidity in your storage area.
06 — Heavy Bends and Tremolo
The Cause: Aggressive bends stretch strings temporarily. On guitars with floating tremolo systems, bending one string changes tension on all others through the spring system.
The Fix: Locking tuners and a properly lubricated nut help a lot. For floating trem guitars, consider setting the bridge flush to the body for better stability.
Quick Diagnostic Checklist
- Did you recently change strings? → New string stretch. Stretch and retune repeatedly.
- Does it go sharp then snap flat when you tune? → Nut slot binding. Lubricate with a pencil or get the nut filed.
- Does one specific string keep slipping? → Check post windings. Could be a worn machine head.
- Goes out of tune in different environments? → Temperature or humidity shift. Let the guitar acclimatize first.
- In tune on open strings but off when you fret? → That’s an intonation issue, not a tuning problem. See a guitar tech.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my guitar go out of tune so fast?
The most common causes are new strings that haven’t been stretched in, nut slots that are too tight, incorrect winding on the tuning post, worn tuning machines, or temperature/humidity changes.
Do locking tuners really help with tuning stability?
Yes, significantly. Locking tuners clamp the string at the post so there are no winding layers that can settle or slip. They’re one of the most effective hardware upgrades for tuning stability.