First Act Acoustic Guitar Quick Start Guide

Acoustic Guitar to the manual 67b71c87-ff41-420d-861b-73aca7b584cd

: First-Act First-Act-Acoustic-Guitar-Quick-Start-Guide-221759 first-act-acoustic-guitar-quick-start-guide-221759 first-act pdf

Open the PDF directly: View PDF .
Page Count: 2

ACOUSTIC

GUITAR

QUICK START

GUIDE

OTHER

FIRST ACT®

PRODUCTS :

10 & 20 ft. Cables Auto Tuner

Guitar Strings

Picks

Stringwinder

Guitar Case

First Act Inc.

745 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116 USA

rstact.com

Customer Assistance

Phone: 888.551.1115

Email: info@firstact.com

Guitar Capo Guitar Strap

Guitar Stand Books

Drums

Lap HarpDrum Sticks

Electric Guitars Acoustic Guitars

Purchase First Act products at your favorite

local retail store or online.

First Act and the First Act logo

are trademarks of First Act Inc.

US Patent Nos. D496,390,

D496,387, D516,116, and

D487,627

Patents Pending.

©2008 First Act Inc.

All rights reserved.

MG.M3.06

Microphone

TUNING YOUR GUITAR

Here are three ways to tune a guitar:

1. Tune to another instrument:

For example, you can use a

piano keyboard to tune. Play

the piano keys one at a time,

and tune the corresponding

guitar string to it.

2. Use an electronic tuner

An electronic tuner detects the pitch of each string, and

indicates if the pitch is too high or too low.

STRING 6 5 4 3 2 1

B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D

Middle C

3. Tune the guitar to itself, this is called relative tuning:

E STRING

First, tune the 6th string to an E on a piano or a keyboard,

or any other instrument that is already in tune.

A STRING

Press the 6th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open

5th string to it by turning the 5th tuning key until the two

strings sound the same.

D STRING

Press the 5th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open

4th string to it by turning the 4th tuning key.

G STRING

Press the 4th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open

3rd string to it by turning the 4th tuning key.

B STRING

Press the 3rd string behind the 4th fret and tune the open

2nd string to it by turning the 2nd tuning key.

E STRING

Press the 2nd string behind the 5th fret and tune the open

1st string to it by turning the 1st tuning key.

E A D G B E

6 5 4 3 2 1

A D G E

B

CHANGING STRINGS

Strings should be replaced when they become dirty, discolored, or produce a dull sound. Change one

string at a time to maintain the string tension on the neck. You can change acoustic guitar strings

in five easy steps:

Loosen the string by turning the tuning peg.

Remove the bridge pin.

Pull the ball end of the

string out of the hole, un-

wind the string from the

string post, and remove it

from the guitar

FOR MORE ON TUNING & RESTRINGING, VISIT FIRSTACT.COM

FOR BRIDGES WITH PINS

Feed the end of the string

through the hole in the

tuning peg. Leave some

slack so the string will

wind around the post a

few times.

Bend the end of the

string and tighten it by

turning the tuning peg.

Carefully trim the excess

string with wire cutters.

Stick the ball end of the

new string into the hole.

Push the pin in place and

pull up on the string until

the ball catches under the

bridge. Press down on the

pin until it is secure.

2

3

4

1

FOR BRIDGES WITHOUT PINS

Unwind the string

from the string post

and remove it from

the guitar.

Thread the new string

through the hole in the

hole. Pull the string

through until the ball

catches at the bridge.

2

3

5

This guide shows you how to tune and change the strings on your

guitar. It will also show you how to check your guitar’s action,

and how to make adjustments. These things will help you keep

your guitar in good working order and provide you with years

of enjoyment.

For more on tuning, tips, and tricks visit us online at rstact.com

Happy playing!

TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENTS

Some guitars have a truss rod. This is a device installed in the neck of the guitar to stabilize and

control the straightness of the neck and to support it against the tension of the strings.

Bow: A neck with a “bow” in the middle will cause

bad action and impair intonation. The truss rod

can be tightened to eliminate a bowed neck.

(To tighten the truss rod, turn clockwise.)

Hump: A neck with a “hump” in the middle will

cause string rattle and false tones. The truss rod

can be loosened to eliminate a hump in the neck.

(To loosen the truss rod, turn counter-clockwise.)

It’s best to have a professional repairperson adjust your guitar’s

truss rod. If you’re doing it yourself, be very careful. Too much of a turn

can damage the neck of your guitar.

If you are familiar with making adjustments yourself, you can

locate the truss rod at the end of the neck, just above the nut of the

guitar. Loosen the 3rd and 4th strings to access the truss rod.

Adjustments should only be made to the truss rod in very small

increments. Start with less than a quarter of a turn. It’s helpful to mark

your truss rod so you can monitor your progress or return it to its

original position.

ADJUSTING THE ACTION

The “action” of a guitar refers to its playability – i.e. the height of the

strings above the frets. On acoustic guitars, the action is determined

by the saddle, which is inserted into the bridge. The saddle can be

lowered by filing it down.

Visit firstact.com for guitar tips and tricks, tuning and stringing

instructions, guitar chord charts, and more!

Standard Tuning:

NOTE E A D G B E

STRING 6 5 4 3 2 1

ACOUSTIC

GUITAR

QUICK START

GUIDE