How to Tune a Dobro
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A Dobro tunes to open G: G B D G B D, from the lowest string to the highest. Clip a chromatic tuner to the headstock, pluck each string, and turn the tuning peg until the tuner shows the right note for that string. Retune until every string holds its note.
Clip on a chromatic tuner
Clip a chromatic tuner to the headstock where you can read the display while you turn the pegs. Set the tuner to chromatic mode so it reads any note, and check that the calibration sits at A440. The tuner reads the pitch of the string you pluck and shows the note name, so you can see whether the string sits flat or sharp of the note you want.
Tune the strings to open G
A Dobro tunes to open G: G B D G B D, from the lowest string to the highest. Start with the lowest string and work across to the highest, plucking a string at a time and watching the tuner. If the string reads below its note, turn the peg to raise the pitch; if it reads above, lower it and come back up to the note. Tune up to each note from below so the string holds its pitch.
Check every string again
Tuning a string changes the pull on the neck, so a string you already tuned can move. Go back over the strings and check each against the tuner, adjusting any that drifted. Repeat the round until every string reads its note and stays there when you pluck it again.
Settle new strings and recheck
New strings stretch and drop in pitch until they settle, so a fresh set needs several rounds of tuning. Pluck each string, bring it back to its note, and play for a while before you check again. Retune until the notes hold, and check the tuning each time before you play.
What you need
KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
A rechargeable clip-on chromatic tuner with an octave display and a dedicated guitar mode, so it shows which octave each string sits in.
- Chromatic mode
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip On
Snark SIL-RED Silver Snark Chromatic Tuner Red
A chromatic tuner with a high resolution display that rotates 360 degrees and vulcanised rubber joints.
- Chromatic mode
Snark ST-8HPT High Precision Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a bright screen and an anechoic sound shield for tuning with less room noise, with pitch calibration at 432 and 442 Hz.
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip-On
These come from our ranked list Best Tuners, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What tuning does a Dobro use?
A Dobro tunes to open G: G B D G B D, from the lowest string to the highest. Each string tunes to its own note on the tuner.
Why does my Dobro keep going out of tune?
New strings stretch and drop in pitch until they settle, so retune after playing until the notes hold. Strings that no longer hold tune, or that look discolored or rough, need replacing.
Can I tune a Dobro in standard guitar tuning?
Yes. A Dobro can stay in standard guitar tuning, E A D G B E, and you tune each string the same way with a chromatic tuner.
Ranked guitar tuners lists
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