Best Clip-on Guitar Tuners

Everyone needs a tuner. It’s probably the most essential accessory for string instrument players of all stripes, but a quick scroll through Sweetwater’s huge array of top-quality clip-on tuners may leave players with a difficult question: “Which clip-on tuner is right for me?”

Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Our gear experts have convened and collaborated, resulting in a comprehensive list of 18 rock-solid clip-on tuners. Check out Sweetwater’s best clip-on guitar tuners, from rechargeable to instrument-specific gadgets!

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!

Best Clip-on TunersBest Rechargeable Clip-on TunersBest Micro Clip-on TunerBest Clip-on Bass TunersBest Clip-on Ukulele TunersBest Soundhole Tuner

Best Clip-on Tuners

Fender FT-1 Pro Chromatic Clip-on Headstock Tuner

Full-featured clip-on tuner from Fender

The Fender FT-1 Pro chromatic clip-on headstock tuner is ubiquitous around the Sweetwater campus for its simple operation, efficient form factor, and spot-on accuracy. This tuner’s high-visibility backlit screen makes it a breeze to dial in your instrument’s tuning, whether you’re strumming in the sun or gigging on a low-light stage. Furthermore, the FT-1 Pro’s multiple tuning modes — including chromatic tuning modes for guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, banjo, and more — make it a superb choice for the versatile multi-instrumentalist. Top it off with a flexible, dual-hinge design, and the Fender FT-1 Pro is easily one of our top picks for the best clip-on guitar tuners!

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TC Electronic UniTune Clip Clip-on Chromatic Tuner

Jointly designed with Sweetwater’s guitar experts

Ideal for the guitarist seeking both exacting precision and clip-on convenience, the TC Electronic UniTune Clip delivers two modes of dead-on tuning accuracy. For most day-to-day applications, the UniTune’s lightning-fast chromatic mode will be your go-to for near-instant tuning. However, switch to strobe mode for a level of accuracy that goes toe-to-toe with even the most precise clip-on strobe tuners — perfect for setting intonation and for players with a golden ear. Finally, the UniTune’s high-power array of 105 LED lights and its adaptive screen design provide crystal clear visibility in any situation while automatically optimizing the screen’s orientation toward your current playing position.

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Taylor Beacon Digital Clip-on Tuner

Tuner, flashlight, and metronome extraordinaire

The Taylor Beacon digital tuner is much more than a standard clip-on tuner; it’s a comprehensive little gadget that raises the standard for all clip-on tuners. This tuner offers both strobe and dot display on its gleaming TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen, with adjustable reference pitch and spot-on accuracy. But the Beacon’s utility doesn’t end once you’ve tuned up your instrument. A built-in metronome with 12 unique time signatures and a powerful timer / countdown clock will help you get the most out of your woodshedding sessions. A built-in flashlight rounds out the Beacon, all adding up to a clip-on tuner with unparalleled versatility.

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Peterson StroboClip HD High-definition Clip-on Strobe Tuner

Superlative strobe tuning accuracy

Peterson Strobe Tuners, such as the StroboClip HD clip-on tuner, have long been regarded as the de facto standard for tuning precision. From in-depth intonation adjustment to routine tuning applications, the Peterson StroboClip HD delivers accuracy down to a thousandth of a semitone — the same level of accuracy found on many big-box, professional outboard strobe tuners. Moreover, the StroboClip HD has more than 50 Peterson Sweetened Tunings, which optimize each of your strings depending on your respective instrument or alternate tuning. For players wanting a professional strobe tuning experience in a clip-on form, look no further than Peterson’s StroboClip HD tuner.

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TC Electronic PolyTune Clip Black Clip-on Polyphonic Tuner

Powerful multi-string polyphonic tuner

Why tune one string at a time when you can tune all six at once? The TC Electronic PolyTune Clip features a cutting-edge polyphonic tuning mode that simultaneously displays feedback for all six strings, drastically speeding up your tuning time. You also get a standard chromatic mode and ultra-precise strobe mode for individual string tuning. Each mode is displayed in vivid, full-color detail, courtesy of a 108-LED matrix display — the same found on the non-polyphonic TC Electronic UniTune Clip mentioned above. Speed up your string tuning with the power of polyphony using TC Electronic’s PolyTune Clip tuner!

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PRS Rechargeable Clip-On Headstock Tuner

Signature PRS quality in clip-on tuner form

Complete with a USB-rechargeable battery is the PRS Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner. This tuner boasts the same attention to detail and no-compromise design philosophy that made PRS one of the biggest names in the 6-string world. This headstock tuner offers four impressive tuning modes (two standard needle modes and two strobe tuner modes) that allow it to excel in any situation, from setting intonation on your treasured Custom 24 to tuning up your bass, acoustic guitar, or ukulele. You get a robust swivel design and non-marring, no-slip rubber clips. Whether you’re a PRS diehard or simply seeking a rock-solid clip-on tuner, the PRS Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner is tough to top.

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BOSS TU-02 Clip-on Tuner

Gig-ready clip-on tuner from BOSS

BOSS is revered in the guitar pedal community for its unmatched reliability and intuitive designs — two qualities that are implemented in the BOSS TU-02 clip-on tuner. This compact tuner boasts a brightly colored display and flexible swivel adjustment to accommodate any playing position. Plus, while the BOSS TU-02 is one of the best clip-on tuners that Sweetwater offers, it’s not limited to the guitar — four tuning modes are available, including chromatic, guitar, bass, and ukulele. Rugged, efficient, and precise — you can’t go wrong with the BOSS TU-02 clip-on tuner.

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Best Rechargeable Clip-on Tuners

Snark Rechargeable Tuner

Battery-free Snark functionality

Ditch the batteries with the Snark Rechargeable tuner, which comes equipped with all the same features that made the original Snark (the predecessor to the Snark SN-1X) a clip-on classic! This rugged and reliable clip-on tuner gives you weeks of uptime from a single charge, ensuring it will always be ready. Plus, you get a vivid LED display fueled by Snark’s ultra-accurate hyper-tuning software for near-instant note recognition. Finish it off with a 360-degree rotating arm and vulcanized rubber joints, and it’s no wonder the Snark Rechargeable is one of Sweetwater’s top-selling clip-on tuners.

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Snark ST-8 Titanium Super Tight Chromatic All-instrument Tuner

Tune down unwanted noise when tuning up

Having trouble tuning up during band practice? The Snark ST-8 Titanium Super Tight chromatic all-instrument tuner is purpose-built to excel in noisy environments. Utilizing a titanium shield inside the tuner cabinet and an enhanced rubber sound shield, the ST-8 detects the tones coming from your instrument and your instrument only. Paired with a long-lasting, rechargeable battery, Snark’s signature vivid display, and a handy flat tuning function, the ST-8 Titanium Super Tight tuner is a must-have for any musician playing in a band or ensemble.

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BOSS TU-05 Rechargeable Clip-on Chromatic Tuner

The BOSS of Sweetwater’s rechargeable tuners

It’s no surprise to BOSS fans that the rechargeable BOSS TU-05 clip-on chromatic tuner is about as durable and accurate as a rechargeable clip-on tuner can be! Covering guitars, basses, ukuleles, and many other string instruments, the BOSS TU-05 brandishes a high-contrast color display for effortless tuning feedback in almost any environment. Plus, a single charge of the BOSS TU-05 via USB delivers more than 10 hours of battery life. From its legendary pedals to its TU-05 clip-on tuner, BOSS never fails to deliver industry-defining quality and reliability.

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Snark Air Clip-on Chromatic Tuner

Topflight tuning accuracy

As one of the company’s most compact models, the Snark Air is a low-profile, multi-instrument powerhouse of a chromatic clip-on tuner. Its 3-color LED design makes it a breeze to check and correct your pitch, and the display can even be flipped for use in almost any orientation. You also get a powerful rechargeable battery with hours of uptime, making the Snark Air the perfect on-the-go clip-on tuner. Factor in the nearly invisible form factor when mounted to the back of your headstock, and the Snark Air is an ideal choice for musicians of all stripes seeking a solid, accurate, and compact clip-on tuner.

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Best Micro Clip-on Tuner

D’Addario PW-CT-12 Micro Headstock Tuner

A compact and inconspicuous clip-on tuner

Hunting for a less conspicuous clip-on tuner? The D’Addario PW-CT-12 Micro headstock tuner has you covered! This tuner’s exceptionally low-profile design is nearly invisible to the crowd, allowing you to quickly and covertly bring your instrument back into tune onstage. Designed for accuracy on a rowdy stage, the PW-CT-12 Micro features an extremely sensitive piezo transducer to hone in directly on your instrument’s strings. A multicolor reversible screen completes the package, resulting in one of the most efficient size-to-function clip-on tuners on the market.

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Best Clip-on Bass Tuners

Korg AW-LT100B Clip-on Bass Tuner

Over 100 hours of uptime on a single battery

Tuning a bass can be a challenge at times — especially on the low E string or if you’re running an extended-range instrument. With LCD, strobe, and half-strobe modes for optimal visual feedback when tuning up, the Korg AW-LT100B clip-on bass tuner is primed for exacting low-end precision. What’s more, its secondary functions can be quickly accessed with the two conveniently mounted side switches. And with more than 100 hours of uptime from a single AAA battery, you can be sure that the Korg AW-LT100B will always have your back.

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D’Addario PW-CT-17CBK Eclipse Cello/Bass Tuner

Double down on your double bass tuning accuracy

Here’s one for the orchestra musicians. The D’Addario PW-CT-17CBK Eclipse cello/bass tuner perfectly slots into our bass category — although it would be more accurate to call it a double bass tuner. This clip-on tuner is designed to be attached to the bass side of your double bass or cello bridge, and it boasts a sleek, low-profile design and multi-swivel action to ensure it’s always in the perfect position. Additionally, the full-color vertical display is the same top-quality LCD design found on D’Addario’s standard guitar and electric bass tuners.

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Korg AW-OTB Clip-on Bass Tuner

Eleven delightful pixel-art tuning animations

One of the unique clip-on tuners on our list is the Korg AW-OTB. This bass tuner enlivens the mundane experience of day-to-day tuning with 11 delightful animations on its crisp OLED screen. From a virtual cat to filling up a bathtub, the animations on the AW-OTB are designed to make tuning fun. And while the AW-OTB is brimming with captivating quirks, it’s also an immensely powerful tuner under the hood — enjoy 18 hours of uptime, a strobe mode, a needle mode, a built-in Tempo Tracker, and ±0.1 cent accuracy.

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Best Clip-on Ukulele Tuners

Snark SN-6X Ukulele Tuner

A must-have for uke players of all levels

Purpose-made for ukulele players, the Snark SN-6X ukulele tuner delivers on all the classic, world-renowned Snark features. From the 360-degree tilting mechanism to the high-sensitivity vibration sensor, the SN-6X is a standard Snark in all respects but one — it has a supreme sensitivity to the ukulele’s higher frequency range. With a Snark SN-6X clipped to your headstock, you can be sure that your treasured uke will always remain pitch-perfect!

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Korg MiniPitch Clip-on Ukulele Tuner

For young learners and dedicated uke players

Perfect for beginners and advanced players alike, the Korg MiniPitch clip-on ukulele tuner brandishes a distinctive design unlike any other tuner on this list. Instead of displaying your current note, the MiniPitch directly tells you which of your four pegs to turn until you’re in crystal clear harmony — a superb feature for teaching young students how to tune their instrument. Moreover, the MiniPitch supplies an impressive uptime of more than 100 hours, making it a natural choice for use in educational settings. If you’re after a fun, efficient, and easy-to-use ukulele tuner, then the Korg MiniPitch should top your list.

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Best Soundhole Tuner

D’Addario PW-CT-15 Micro Soundhole Tuner

Superior soundhole tuning precision

While it may not be a traditional headstock-mounted clip-on tuner, the D’Addario PW-CT-15 Micro soundhole tuner deserves a special place on our list for its convenient, accurate tuning and inconspicuous design. This tuner — which actually does clip onto the side of your acoustic guitar’s soundhole — sports a bright and easy-to-read multicolor backlit LCD screen for effortless tuning on even the darkest stages. Moreover, the PW-CT-15’s non-marring soundhole clip allows for installation on a wide variety of acoustic instruments, including ukuleles, mandolins, and more. For the player who requires all the accuracy and reliability of a clip-on headstock tuner in the most compact form factor possible, the D’Addario PW-CT-15 Micro soundhole tuner fits the bill.

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Shop Sweetwater’s Unmatched Selection of Clip-on Tuners

While you certainly can’t go wrong with any of these clip-on tuners, they’re only a sampling of Sweetwater’s extensive catalog of captivating clip-on tuners. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for in this article — or even if you did — then make sure to call your personalized Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 for top-level advice on everything from clip-on tuners to guitars to top-of-the-line studio equipment!
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