How to Tune Up! Plus our Pick of The Best Guitar and Ukulele Tuners for School-Aged Students in 2025.
Tuning your instrument is an important part of learning to play. Whether you’re strumming a ukulele for the first time or jamming on guitar most days, one thing matters more than any fancy chord or riff — being in tune!
For beginners, learning how to tune your instrument properly can seem confusing. Which tuner should you choose? How do you use it? And, why is it flashing at me?
Thankfully, with time (and a beginner-friendly tuner!) this step will become second nature. That’s great news, because even the most beautiful playing won’t sound right if your instrument is out of tune.
Read on to learn more about tuners and why we think the Ibanez PU3-BK clip-on guitar and ukulele tuner is such a great choice for beginners.
If your instrument is not in tune, it will be difficult to practise because nothing will sound right!
Why Tuning Matters
Tuning keeps your instrument sounding clear and harmonious — not just with itself, but with anyone (or anything!) you play along to. Over time, strings naturally stretch, temperature and humidity change, and your instrument can drift out of tune even if you haven’t played it much.
That’s why checking your tuning before every session or performance is a must!
Types of Tuners
If you’ve ever searched for the best guitar tuner or ukulele tuner, you’ve probably noticed there are a few types available:
Clip-on Tuners: Attach directly to the headstock and detect vibration rather than sound, which means they work even in noisy environments.
Pedal Tuners: Great for gigging musicians using electric guitars — they sit on your pedalboard and mute your sound while you tune.
App-Based Tuners: Handy in a pinch, but can struggle with accuracy in loud rooms or when using acoustic instruments. These also require the student to have a smartphone, so may not be a suitable option for younger students.
More experienced musicians may use a piano (or another tuned instrument) as a reference to tune by ear. However for most students and hobby musicians, a clip-on tuner is the perfect choice — affordable, portable, and easy to use.
How to Use a Clip-On Tuner
Clip it on to the headstock of your guitar or ukulele.
Pluck a string — the tuner will sense the vibration and display the note name. If you’ve just started playing, you might need to refer to the string names. You want the displayed note name to be the correct name for the string you are plucking.
Adjust the tuning peg slowly (while the note rings out):
If the note is flat (too low), tighten the string.
If it’s sharp (too high), loosen the string.
Keep adjusting until the tuner shows the correct note centered and green (or however your tuner indicates “in tune”).
Pro tip: It’s a good idea to tune up to the pitch rather than down. If you overshoot, go slightly below and tune up again — it helps the string settle and stay in tune longer.
What to Look for When Buying a Tuner
When choosing your first tuner, look for:
Good visibility: A bright, easy-to-read display.
Simplicity: Some tuners we’ve tested have super high sensitivity or lots of options for different instruments or frequencies. This can be confusing for beginners if the setting gets changed accidentally.
Solid build: Your tuner needs to be able to handle the rigours of taking your instrument to and from practises and lessons.
Battery life: Rechargeable or long-lasting batteries are a bonus.
Our Favourite: The Ibanez PU3-BK Clip-On Tuner
At Sound Choice Music, we’ve tried a lot of tuners over the years, and our standout favourite for beginners is the Ibanez PU3-BK Clip-On Tuner. It’s perfect for both guitar and ukulele players, and here’s why we love it:
Fast and accurate: Locks onto the note quickly, and isn’t affected by noisy environments.
Clear display: The bright colour screen makes it easy to see — whether you are under stage lights or outside in the sun.
Compact and reliable: Small enough to be convenient, but tough enough to survive a few drops.
Perfect for both guitar and ukulele: It’s super simple to use and being chromatic, you don’t need to change modes if you switch instruments.
Automatic power on/off: This tuner powers up when clipped onto the headstock - meaning it won’t drain battery if you forget to switch it off.
Strong clip and swivel design: It stays put and adjusts for your viewing angle.
Simple operation: No buttons or distracting options, this tuner simply does what it says on the tin.
For school-aged students, we simply can’t fault it. It’s a great first tuner — affordable, durable, and frustration-free.
Parents and caregivers should note that the PU3 is powered by a lithium button battery and while the battery cover is not easy to get off, it is not locked by a screw. Button batteries can be fatal if ingested. Ensure the tuner stays out of reach of small children.
The Ibanez PU3 Clip-On Tuner comes in three colours and has a clearly lit display and simple operation.
Final Thoughts
Having a reliable guitar or ukulele tuner is essential for every player — beginner or advanced. It helps your music sound better, your ear grow stronger, and your practice sessions stay frustration-free.
If you’re ready to make tuning effortless, we highly recommend trying the Ibanez PU3 Clip-On Tuner — simple, accurate, and built to last.
Because when your instrument is in tune, everything just sounds better.
