It can be a pain to keep your acoustic guitar in perfect tune all the time. This is why you need to look at the best acoustic guitar tuners because you need something that will help you tune your guitar properly.
This guide to acoustic tuners will help you find something excellent for your instrument. I’ve played acoustic guitar for many years and know how frustrating it can be to get your guitar in proper tuning.
Quick Look: Best Acoustic Guitar Tuners
★ #1 Best Acoustic Guitar Tuner Overall: BOSS TU-3 ★
- Best Cheap Acoustic Guitar Tuner: Snark ST-8
- Best Acoustic Guitar Tuner Under $20: Fender FT-2
- Best Acoustic Guitar Tuner App: BOSS Tuner (Android) Vital Tuner Pro
- Best Clip-on Acoustic Guitar Tuner: Snark ST-8
These tuners will help eliminate your problems, so your guitar will be ready to go every time you want to play it.
What Is an Acoustic Guitar Tuner?
An acoustic guitar tuner is a device that helps you tune your guitar to the proper tuning. An instrument that’s out of tune does not have a pleasing sound to it.
There are many different models on the market. There are some that clip onto the headstock and ones that fit in your guitar case. You can even get apps for your Android or iPhone to help you tune your instrument.
This guide will help you find the best acoustic guitar tuners, so you don’t have to run around trying to find something that will work properly.
Types of Acoustic Guitar Tuners
There are several different types of acoustic guitar tuners. Here’s what you need to know before you buy one for your acoustic guitar.
Standard Tuner
A standard tuner can either be chromatic or non-chromatic. These usually lie flat on a desk or table. You can plug your instrument into them, or they will detect the acoustic sound of your guitar.
Chromatic Tuner
A chromatic guitar tuner will allow you to tune your guitar strings to any pitch that you want, including standard pitch. This helps you get your instrument into alternate tunings if you so wish.
Clip-On Tuner
A clip-on tuner is a small tuner that’s small enough to go on your guitar’s headstock. This can save you time, especially when you’re playing live and you don’t want to fiddle with a cumbersome guitar tuner.
Stompbox Guitar Tuner
Another type of tuner works like a regular stompbox. You can set it up with your pedalboard if you’re using one on stage. You can easily access this tuner if your acoustic guitar is plugged in.
PolyPhonic
This is a new type of tuner. You strum all the strings and it locates the ones that are out of tune. It allows you to tune your guitar easily. The downside to this type of tuner is that it can be quite expensive.
Soundhole Tuners
A soundhole tuner is a small tuner that fits within the soundhole of your acoustic guitar. These small tuners are out of the way while you’re playing. You can tune easily without anyone knowing that you’re tuning your guitar.
Smartphone Tuner
You can also get guitar tuners that work with your iPhone or Android phone. These are easy-to-use applications that will help you tune your guitar. You’ll have to put up with advertising unless you make a purchase.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Acoustic Guitar Tuner
Here are a few things that you’ll want to consider before you purchase your acoustic guitar tuner.
Size
There are several different sizes of tuners that you need to be aware of. The easiest to use is the clip-on tuner because you can put this on the headstock while you’re playing.
Some people prefer a stompbox tuner that sits on your pedalboard. This is ideal if you play your acoustic guitar plugged in all the time.
Durability
It’s a good idea to ensure that your tuner is well made. You don’t want one that’s made out of cheap plastic because it will probably break. If it’s a clip-on, make sure it has a secure fit on the headstock.
Battery Life
Most tuners provide decent accuracy, but some of them don’t have long battery life. If you tune your guitar frequently, you’ll want a tuner with an excellent battery life, so you’re not constantly changing batteries.
Clip-on vs. App vs. Regular Tuner
Many people prefer the clip-on tuner because it sits on the headstock, making it easy for you to tune a guitar while you’re practicing.
A guitar tuner app can also be ideal if you’re using your smartphone for practice purposes. You’ll always have accurate tuning when you use one of these apps.
A regular pedal tuner or a standard hand-held tuner can also be ideal. It’s all depends on your individual preferences for the type of tuner you’ll buy.
Price
Most guitar tuners don’t cost a lot of money. When you add extra features such as a metronome, tuners tend to go up in price. A standard tuner can be bought for around $10 to $30.
Pedalboard tuners can cost anywhere between $75 and $150+, depending on the make and model. The price depends on what you’re looking for.
Accuracy
Most tuners tend to be accurate, but quality matters. It’s not a good idea to buy a cheap tuner, as you may not get an accurate reading. Make sure you always use fresh batteries because older batteries can give you a poor reading.
10 Best Acoustic Guitar Tuners
This guide to the best acoustic guitar tuners should help you find something for your instrument. All of these tuners make excellent options and help you keep your guitar in perfect tuning.
1. Snark ST-8 Super Tight Tuner
- Style: Clip-on
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want an easy to use a clip-on tuner
Snark is known for its clip-on style tuners. The Snark ST-8 is an excellent product that will get your acoustic guitar in proper tuning in no time at all. It has an easy-to-read display that makes it simple to tune your instrument.
✅ Secure fit
✅ Easy-to-read display
✅ Chromatic
✅ Pitch calibration
❌ Not as durable as some
❌ Some times not accurate
Why I Recommend It
I’m a fan of clip-on tuners because they’re simple to use, and you don’t have to hunt around for a tuner whenever you want to fix your guitar’s tuning. The Snark ST-8 is a simple-to-use product without a lot of bells and whistles.
You can place the tuner at whatever angle you want, so it’s easy to read. This tuner has a nice grip, so it will stay in place no matter where you put it.
2. Korg Rimpitch C2 Soundhole Tuner
-
- Style: Soundhole
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want an easy-to-use soundhole tuner
Sometimes you don’t want people to know that you’re tuning your guitar. The Korg Rimpitch C2 Soundhole Tuner is a perfect option for an acoustic guitar because its sits where you can read it while playing. You get the reliable tuning you want.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Digital
✅ Chromatic
✅ Low cost
❌ Small display
❌ It might not be secure on all guitars
Why I Recommend It
I like this Korg tuner because it’s easy to use for an acoustic guitar. It clips onto the soundhole, and you can easily read it no matter what you’re playing. The display is simple to read on this device.
It has a sensitive pickup, so you get an accurate reading time and time again. Your acoustic guitar will always be in proper tuning when you use this excellent soundhole tuner by Korg.
3. Fender FT-2 Tuner
- Style: Clip-on
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want a simple-to-read tuner
The Fender FT-2 is a quality tuner with an easy-to-read display. It’s chromatic, so you can use it to tune your guitars however you wish. It clips on, so it installs in no time at all, and you’ll always have an accurate tuning when you need it.
✅ Clips on
✅ Easy-to-read display
✅ Chromatic
✅ Works with multiple instruments
❌ The clip could be better
❌ A bit expensive
Why I Recommend It
I like the Fender FT-2 tuner. The best part about this tuner is that it has a large easy-to-read display. It’s simple to clip this tuner onto the headstock. It has a dual hinge, so you can clip it on either side of the headstock if you prefer.
The tuner will give you good accuracy even in a noisy environment because it has a built-in vibration sensor. This is the perfect option for any acoustic player playing live who wants to have accurate tuning.
4. BOSS TU-10 Clip-On Tuner
- Style: Clip-on
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want a simple, well-built tuner
The Boss TU-10 Clip Tuner from BOSS is easy to use since it can clip onto your headstock with ease. It has an easy-to-read display with multiple colors, so you can get accurate tuning no matter what environment you’re in.
✅ Solid construction
✅ Easy to read
✅ Accurate tuning
✅ Multi-color display
❌ Expensive
❌ Some battery compartment issues
Why I Recommend It
I’m always impressed with BOSS products. They make great pedals along with other accessories such as this tuner. This one has a solid construction and a good clip, so it won’t fall off your headstock.
It’s accurate and can even tune in semitones with the accu-pitch function. It has a bright display, so it’s perfect for a dark club. This is an excellent product to have in your guitar case, so your instrument is always in tune.
5. KLIQ Metropitch
- Style: Standard
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want multiple uses in one product
The KLIQ Metropitch is ideal if you want a metronome and a tuner combination in one product. It has a bright LED screen, so you’ll always have accurate tuning. It has different tuning modes for instruments.
✅ Chromatic
✅ Metronome
✅ Bright display
✅ Carrying pouch
❌ Might confuse beginners
❌ High cost
Why I Recommend It
The top tuner for acoustic guitars is the KLIQ brand. The tuner is easy to use, and it has a great LCD interface. I like that it has a metronome so you can practice timing once your instrument is tuned.
It works with multiple instruments, so you’ll always be tuned no matter what guitar you’re using. There’s also a low-power battery indicator so you’ll know when you have to change batteries.
6. TC Electronic Polytune 3 Mini Tuner
- Style: Pedal
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that like polytune tuners
If you like the new style polytune tuner, you might want to pick up the TC Electronic Polytune 3 Mini. It’s easy to tune your guitar quickly with this device. It’s small so that it will fit on any pedalboard.
✅ Multiple modes
✅ Easy-to-read display
✅ Works with pedalboards
✅ Fast tuning
❌ May confuse beginners
❌ High cost
Why I Recommend It
This tuner is ideal for those that play acoustic guitar in any live setting. If you have a lot of gear on your pedalboard, this one doesn’t take up a lot of space. Since it’s polytune, it’s easy to get your instrument in tune without any hassle.
I like this tuner a lot because it has a very bright display, which is ideal if you’re playing outside and it’s hard to read your tuner. It has a buffer, so you won’t get any signal degeneration from your cables and other pedals.
7. Boss TU-3
- Style: Pedal
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want a reliable pedalboard tuner pedal
BOSS is well-known for its excellent guitar effects pedals. They also have a very reliable pedal style tuner, which is ideal for live performances. The Boss TU-3 has accurate tuning, and it’s simple to set up on your pedalboard.
✅ Solid construction
✅ Easy to read
✅ Reliable
✅ Chromatic
❌ Expensive
❌ Not for beginners
Why I Recommend It
If you want to keep your acoustic guitar in tune on stage, pick up a BOSS Tu-3. This is a standard tuner that many people have on their pedalboard. It has a reliable digital display and accurate tuning.
I’ve owned several Boss products in the past, and this is an excellent tuner that’s perfect for most playing situations. The housing for this pedal is solid, so it can take a lot of abuse. This is the perfect tuner for live performances.
8. Korg TM60 BK Tuner
- Style: Standard
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want a reliable tuner and metronome
The Korg TM60 BK is an ideal option for anyone that wants a tuner and a metronome combination. It has a bright and easy-to-read display. You get long battery life, so your tuner will be ready to go whenever you need it.
✅ Easy-to-read display
✅ Long battery life
✅ Metronome
✅ Works with multiple instruments
❌ May confuse beginners
❌ Construction could be better
Why I Recommend It
I’m a fan of tuners with an included metronome because you get two products in one. This Korg tuner has both of these functions, so you can practice guitar and keep your instrument in perfect tune.
I like that it has an easy-to-read display, so you’ll know the note that you’re on while you’re tuning. This also works with other instruments, such as electric guitars. You can use this tuner for all your instruments.
9. KLIQ UberTuner
- Style: Clip-on
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that want a simple clip-on tuner
KLIQ makes reliable tuners, and the KLIQ UberTuner clip-on style tuner is no exception. It’s easy to adjust on the headstock with multiple adjustment angles. There’s a nice bright display, so you’ll always be in tune.
✅ Works with multiple instruments
✅ Bright display
✅ Durable
✅ Adjustable
❌ Higher cost than some clip-on
❌ It may be too small for some
Why I Recommend It
I like this KLIQ clip-on because it’s easy to adjust on your guitar. The display is bright and easy to read, and this is especially important in dark environments. It has a solid and reliable clip, so it won’t fall off.
You’re going to pay a little bit more for this clip-on tuner compared to others, but it’s well worth the extra price. You’ll have reliable tuning with this product, and it works with multiple instruments.
10. GuitarX X9 Pedal Tuner
- Style: Pedal
- Chromatic: Yes
- Display: Digital
- Best for: Those that need a lower-cost pedal tuner
Pedal style guitar tuners can cost you a lot of money. If you don’t have a lot to spend, try the GuitarX X9. It’s a simple and reliable pedal tuner that’s perfect for your pedalboard.
✅ Low cost
✅ Bright display
✅ Rugged construction
✅ Works with multiple instruments
❌ Not as good as some pedal tuners
❌ Could use more features
Why I Recommend It
I like the GuitarX X9 due to the price and the fact that it has a nice bright display. The pedal is rugged, so it will stand up to bangs and bumps. This is one of the best cheap acoustic guitar tuners that you can buy.
This pedal mutes the signal when you’re not using it, so you’ll get a cleaner signal path from your pedalboard. This is ideal when you want clean sounding acoustic guitars on stage. The display is bright and simple to read.
Best Acoustic Guitar Tuner Brands
Several manufacturers make excellent guitar tuners. Here are some of the better ones that you might want to do business with.
I’ve used several of these brands in the past and consider them to be great choices.
BOSS
I think BOSS is one of the better tuner manufacturers for a pedalboard style tuners. These tuners are easy to set up on your pedalboard, which is ideal if you play acoustic guitar music live all the time.
Snark
If you like the clip-on style guitar tuner, then you might want to go with Snark. They have a wide range of clip-on tuners for your instruments. They’re easy to use and set up, so you’ll always be in tune.
D’Addario
D’Addario makes a wide range of guitar accessories, including tuners. They have some nice products for your acoustic guitar, such tuner that attach to the headstock or fit into the acoustic guitar soundhole for easy tuning.
KLIQ
KLIQ makes a wide range of tuner products. They have ones for the headstock and pedalboard, and they even have unique tuners that incorporate the tuner with a metronome and other features.
Korg
Korg makes a wide range of tuner related products. Many of their offerings have both tuners and metronomes built into them, so you get two products in one. This is an excellent company that makes high-quality tuners.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions that people ask about acoustic guitar tuners. You need to know this information before you buy one.
How Much Do Acoustic Guitar Tuners Cost?
There are tuners available for all budgets. A simple clip-on tuner may cost you between $12 and $20. Pedal tuners cost a lot more. They can range anywhere from $75 to $150, depending upon the make and model.
You’ll find acoustic guitar tuners on the market for all playing styles, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an advanced player. This is an accessory that all guitar players should have in their case.
What Are the Best Acoustic Guitar Tuners?
Here are three of the best acoustic guitar tuners that I think you should pick up. These are all reliable products that will help you keep your guitar in perfect tuning.
BOSS TU-3: Best for Live Performances
I’m a big fan of BOSS pedal products. They have a wide range of pedals, including their excellent TU-3 guitar tuner. It’s designed for gigging musicians, and it’ll help keep your acoustic guitar in perfect tune.
Korg Rimpitch Soundhole Tuner: Best for All Acoustic Guitarists
I like the Korg rimpitch tuner because it’s a simple-to-use tuner that sits inside your acoustic’s soundhole. It’s easy to read even when you’re playing. You can keep accurate tuning no matter what you’re doing on the guitar.
Snark St-8: Best for Beginners
I like the Snark brand of tuner for beginners. These are simple-to-use clip-on tuners. They have a nice bright display that’s easy to read. They will fit easily on your guitar, so you’re always in tune no matter what you’re playing.
What Is the Best Acoustic Guitar Tuner App?
If you own an Android or an iPhone, there are several tuner apps that you can use for your phone. The best Android one is the BOSS tuner and the best Apple one is the Vital Tuner Pro.
The apps will help you keep your guitar in perfect tuning. They’re ideal if you’re learning songs or practicing while using your smartphone.
Review This Post
Table of Contents
In Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best acoustic guitar tuners. You need to keep your instrument in perfect tuning, and the best way to do that is with a tuner. All of these models would make excellent choices.
Please share, like, and leave your comments on this article. I hope you enjoy playing guitar as much as I do. Now, tune your guitar and get practicing.