One of the most important tools that should be in every guitarist’s toolbox is a guitar tuner. I mean, let’s face it. If your guitar is out of tune – even just a little, the guitar can sound way off. Guitar tuners can come in all types of shapes and sizes, as well as a variety of features. Today we’ll be going over the best clip-on tuners.
Clip-on tuners, in my opinion, are extremely convenient to use, because they clip on to the headstock of your guitar. You can also clip these awesome tuners on your music stand or guitar case. That way when you need to tune your guitar really quick, your tuner is right there.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks in a Nutshell
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
KLIQ Uber Tuner
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This clip-on tuber is highly durable and made to last for years to come. It is a bit on the pricey side as far as tuners are concerned though. One of the KLIQ Uber Tuner’s best features is it’s dedicated modes for guitar, ukulele, violin, and bass. This feature alone makes it worth the price.
Pros:
- Can be used for multiple types of instruments
- Easy to read full color display
- Screen is bright enough to use outside on a sunny day
Cons:
- The on/off switch can be a little confusing to use
- Does not have a metronome
- The battery comes with it can be weak, so you may have to buy a new one right away.
Snark Multi-Instrumental Chromatic Tuner
- Clip-on tuner that utilizes a high-sensitivity vibration sensor or an internal microphone
- High definition, full-color display that rotates 360°
- Boasts a faster and more accurate tuning chip
- Has a stay-put clip, a tap tempo metronome, and it has pitch calibration from 415 to 466 Hz
- Features an extended frequency range and is compatible with all instruments
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This tuner happens to be my personal favorite. Out of all my guitar tuners, this is the one that I use the most. Snark makes several varieties of clip-on tuners in all sorts of colors too. I have never come across a bad Snark tuner.
Pros:
- Extremely easy to use
- Very durable (I’ve dropped mine several times and it’s still kickin’)
- Has a vibration sensor and an internal mic
- Has a metronome feature
Cons:
- Tends to eat up batteries pretty quickly
- Can put a little dent in your headstock if you have a lacquer finish
- No Hertz Tuning
Fender FT-2 Clip-on Tuner
- STAGE-READY TUNING: The FCT-2 clip-on tuner keeps your instrument in tune, even on dark stages, so you’re always ready to play
- VERSATILE TUNING MODES: Equipped with multiple tuning modes, the FCT-2 is compatible with guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, and chromatic tuning, making it a versatile tool for various instruments
- CLEAR DISPLAY: The color LCD display has a simple needle that shows how close each note is to pitch, centering when it’s in tune
- WIDE TUNING RANGE: The FCT-2 has a tuning range from B0 to B7, with A440 calibration for accurate tuning
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING: The dual-hinge design lets you attach the tuner to either side of your instrument’s headstock for easy viewing
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fender is one of the most popular brands in the music industry and most of that has to do with the quality of their products. With that being said, it’s no wonder that they made this list of top clip-on guitar tuners.
Pros:
- Can be used with pretty much all instruments
- Perfect for beginners who don’t need too many features
- Swivels to any angle that you might need
Cons:
- The digits on the display can be a little hard to read
- Need to use a very small screwdriver to open up the battery compartment
- Tuner doesn’t turn off by itself which can drain the battery quicker
D'Addario Eclipse Headstock Tuner
- QUICK TUNING: Tune your guitar or bass with ease with the Eclipse Guitar Tuner. Featuring quick and accurate tuning, large screen, and strong clamp that is adjustable for a variety of viewing angles.
- EXTREME ACCURACY - Great accuracy with a wide calibration range (435-450Hz) guarantees precise performance. Calibration is also adjustable.
- EASY TO READ & ADJUSTABLE SCREEN: Screen is a vertical, full color display with limitless viewing angles. The dual swivels makes mounting perfect for left handed or right handed players anywhere on the headstock.
- STRONG CLAMP: The Eclipse clip on guitar tuner can be mounted anywhere on the headstock without worries of slipping.
- AVAILABLE IN 6 COLORS: The Eclipse Guitar Tuner is available in 6 stylish colors of black, blue, green, purple, red, and yellow.
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The thing I love most about this tuner is the variety of colors you can get this model in. That’s definitely something that makes the D’Addario tuner stand out from the rest. I don’t know about you, but sometimes i get sick of the same old color of guitar tuners that are available on the market today. This neat tuner comes in purple, green, blue, yellow, red, and the standard black color.
Pros:
- Measures Hertz
- Comes in several different colors
- Extremely affordable
- Battery life is superior to other clip-on tuners
Cons:
- Not as durably made as the ones mentioned above
- Doesn’t come with instructions out of the box
- Display can be a bit dim for people with vision problems
- Can be inaccurate in a noisy environment
Final Thoughts
If you’re one of those guitarists who want to be able to tune your guitar very quickly, I strongly recommend adding a clip-on tuner to your guitar playing toolkit. Not only are these tuners extremely easy to use, but they are also affordable.
The clip-on tuner that I recommend is the Snark chromatic tuner. Not only does it have awesome features, but it is also a pretty cheap alternative to some of the higher priced tuners you might find. I’ve had mine for years, and have dropped it several times. And it still keeps tuning my guitars accurately with spot-on precision.
