Top 5 Most Popular Tuner Pedals

A tuner pedal might not be the flashiest part of your pedalboard, but it's one of the most important pieces of gear you'll use at every rehearsal and gig. So, what makes a tuner pedal great? Fast tracking, bright displays and automatic muting while tuning all help keep your performance running smoothly—and, of course, in pitch.

These tuner picks reflect what guitarists and bassists trust time and again at Guitar Center. All are operable via a 9V battery or power supply (sold separately). Tune in and let’s get you tuned up.

Most Popular Tuner Pedals

KORG Pitchblack X

What to Know:

• Large, ultrabright display

• Ultra Buffer mode helps preserve signal over longer cables

• Powered by an AC adapter or 9V battery with up to 24 hours of runtime

When all you need is a no-frills tuner that shines big, bright and true, the KORG Pitchblack X gets you from E to E—or whatever your chromatic tuning. Pick your visual reference of choice between Regular, Strobe, Half Strobe and Mirror modes. No matter your preference, you’ll see a pair of triangular LEDs blinking once you’re in tune.

You can also choose between true bypass and KORG's Ultra Buffer0. Have a streamlined pedalboard with short cable runs? Go true bypass. Have a busier pedalboard and/or longer cables (around 18 feet or more) where you’re losing some of your higher frequencies? Ultra Buffer gives your signal a little extra juice to help retain your tone.

BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner

What to Know:

• Buffered bypass

• High-brightness LED meter with multiple display modes

• Up to 21 hours of power when using a 9V battery

The world’s best-selling tuner, the BOSS TU-3 is the evolution of the TU-2, the very first pedal-based chromatic tuner released in 1998. But enough history—between its 21-segment LED meter, switchable Cent and strobe-style Stream visuals, and Guitar and Bass modes with extended-range options that show you string numbers, the TU-3 is a classic for good reason. 

With its High Brightness setting, it can hold its own in the face of sunny days and bright stage lights. When the indicator lights turn from red to green, step on it—you’re ready to go.

Peterson StroboStomp HD

What to Know:

• Huge high-definition, variable-color LCD screen

• Selectable true or buffered bypass

• Sweetened Tunings presets for multiple instruments and playing styles 

For players who prefer a more modern, flashier approach, the Peterson StroboStomp HD has become something of a benchmark—and for tuners, that’s saying something. Its strobe tuning technology boasts an extremely high level of accuracy and an assortment instrument-specific presets that help compensate for real-world intonation quirks.

The extra-large, customizable display is easy to read, while true bypass and buffered options make it easy to slot into any rig. 

Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner

What to Know:

• Available in black or white

• Reference pitch selectable from 390–490Hz

• Fast tracking with configurable screen options

Another option with an oversized display and some fun bells and whistles is the Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner pedal. Running out of space on your pedalboard and forced to play Tetris? Make it fit by setting your Canvas’ screen to either portrait or landscape—lay it down vertically or horizontally.

Then, true to its name, you can make it uniquely yours with up to 12 uploaded photos you can set as your standby screen. How cool is that? Are pedal tuners even supposed to be cool? This one certainly is. 

D'Addario CT-20

What to Know:

• True-bypass wiring

• Wide calibration range: 415–475Hz

• Sleek, rugged aluminum enclosure 

Sometimes you just need something utilitarian and space efficient. And if it happens to also be beautiful (full-color display) and high quality (32-bit processing for fast response), who are we to complain? Well, we’re definitely not complaining about the D’Addario CT-20.

If speed, affordability and form factor are priorities, the CT-20 may be the one for your board.

How We Picked These Pedals

These five tuner pedals earned their spots based on total sales, making them the most popular choices among Guitar Center customers.

That means thousands of musicians—from first-time pedalboard builders to seasoned touring players—collectively determined these rankings through their purchasing decisions. While every player's needs are different, these models have consistently proven themselves as trusted tools when it matters most.

Tune Up

If you’ve read this far, you clearly care about your rig and sound. We commend you for it. If you’re still undecided between a few pedals, take the next step and compare them at a Guitar Center store near you. Our expert Gear Advisers are also ready any time to answer any specific questions you may have about features or specs you’re weighing in your search.