Great Guitar Tuning Always Starts With Having Your Instrument Properly Set Up

So much energy is spent trying to find and learn the perfect tuning method or buying the most accurate electronic tuner.
(Did you know that some people actually fork out as much as $1,000 for one?) While these are important and necessary elements of producing a decent sound, they are often rendered useless if the guitar is not capable of being tuned.
The Impossible Instrument I once tried to tune a guitar that was in such bad shape that it was almost impossible to get even close to a good sound.
Then after spending a ridiculous amount of time carefully adjusting the pegs, it immediately began to drift out of tune.
Every guitar, whether well worn or brand new needs to be inspected and set up by someone that knows what they are doing.
I recommend hiring a qualified professional.
Many good guitar shops will have someone either on staff or a freelancer that they will recommend.
Expect to pay about $50.
More, if extensive repairs are needed.
A Few Of The Mechanical Things That Can Effect Tunability

1. Are the strings relatively new and fully stretched?
2. Have the strings been properly installed so they will not slip?
3. Does it have well designed, precision made tuning machines or even locking tuners?
4. Are the tuning machines tightly fastened to the headstock?
5. Are the individual string slots located through the nut between the neck and the head stock properly cut to reduce friction?
6. Are the frets properly seated and angled?
7. Are the frets spaced correctly? This can be a problem with extremely inexpensive guitars.
   
8. Has the intonation (string length) been properly adjusted? Each of the 6 strings are supposed to have different lengths.
   
9. Does your electric guitar have the necessary adjustable tuning bridge for adjusting the intonation? (Sometimes called a Tune-O-Matic Bridge).
   
10. Is there a whammy bar, (also called a tremolo or vibrato bar), that needs serious adjustment?
11. Is any part of the wood structure, (the neck or body face in particular) that is warped or out of alignment?
12. Is your guitar really a Banjo? If so it will never really sound right (sorry Banjo players I could not resist).
    

Learning how to tune your guitar is one of those absolutely essential skills that every guitarist absolutely, positively must acquire.
It is equal in importance to learning how to play chords and read tabs.
But, creating a great sound must always starts with a properly built and adjusted guitar.