Patent landscapes › Electronics & gadgets

Is a guitar tuner patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a guitar tuner have been patented many times, but "a guitar tuner" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 39 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “guitarstringinstrument tuner” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 32 best keyword matches we examined, 8 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2001.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: CARDOZO WILLIAM B (2), EVENTIDE INC (2), ADAMS CHARLES C (2), SUNGEUM MUSIC CO LTD (1).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): G10G (20), G10D (17), G10H (10), G06F (1).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a guitar tuner

  1. Guitar string tuner WO-2025028679-A1 2025 · GMUSIC INT COOPERATIVE
    A guitar string tuner, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a worm wheel installed on a winding shaft around which a guitar string is wound; a worm shaft having a worm formed thereon that meshes with th…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Guitar tuner US-11869461-B2 2024 · COHEN DAVID
    A tuner for a guitar having a neck and string nut including a plurality of nut slots configured to receive respective guitar strings. A tuner mount is fixedly secured to the neck and a tuner body is mounted on the tuner mount. A s…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Wireless multi-string tuner for stringed instruments and associated method of use US-11562721-B2 2023 · DON GILMORE DEVICES LLC
    A stringed instrument tuner that senses the vibration of all the strings of the instrument independently and simultaneously via ultraviolet reflective light sensors that are immune to interference from ambient alternating-current …
    View on Google Patents
  4. Self-locking string tuner and method therefor US-11721310-B2 2023 · CARDOZO WILLIAM B
    A self-locking tuner is used to tune the strings of a musical instrument. The self-locking tuner is disposed in a headstock of the stringed musical instrument. The self-locking tuner has an inner string post, outer string post dis…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Autonomous tuner for stringed instruments US-11367421-B2 2022 · 2UNIFY INC
    Systems and methods are provided performing autonomous tuning of a stringed instrument. Images of the stringed instrument are acquired by at least two cameras and processed to identify the location of a peg. A robotic peg actuator…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Automatic guitar tuner US-8872010-B2 2014 · VILLARAN-VALDIVIA LUIS
    An automatic tuning device including a plurality of universal attachment clamp and tuning motor assemblies, a head-mounted electronics enclosure, and a power pedal. A stringed instrument analog signal is processed by electronics i…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Stringed musical instrument tuner for simultaneously tuning all strings while muting the instrument US-2011197743-A1 2011 · POTTER DALTON L
    A tuning device includes a weighted housing which reduces transfer of vibrations of all strings of a stringed musical instrument to a body of the stringed musical instrument, and tuning circuitry which simultaneously detects a pit…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Display device for guitar tuners and method of displaying tuned states of guitar strings using the same US-7663043-B2 2010 · SUNGEUM MUSIC CO LTD
    A display device for guitar tuners and a method of displaying the tuned states of guitar strings. The method is performed such that the control unit performs control so that the backlight emits light having a predetermined color b…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Method of attachment for string tension adjustment devices (tuners) for stringed instruments and string instruments formed thereby US-7659465-B1 2010 · MCEWEN PAUL A
    A method of adding at least one more string to a stringed instrument having an initial plurality of strings and an initial plurality of tuners equaling the number of initial plurality of strings, wherein the stringed instrument co…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Mechanical string tuner US-2009272247-A1 2009 · ZELINKA STEFAN
    A mechanical metal instrument that can be attached to every electronic and acoustic guitar with the purpose of fast and reliable tuning of the strings to various variations/combinations.
    View on Google Patents
  11. On-board electric guitar tuner US-2007006716-A1 2007 · SALMOND RYAN
    A guitar tuner imbedded into an electric guitar, with the display hidden underneath a control knob. The display, a clear plastic cylinder containing a single character LCD and a tri-color LED, is revealed, and the activated, when …
    View on Google Patents
  12. Stringed instrument tuner holder US-7074998-B2 2006 · HURWICZ MAXIM
    A tuner holder for stringed instruments. A first embodiment includes (i) a strut, (ii) a shelf extending substantially perpendicular in a first longitudinal direction from the distal edge of the strut, (iii) a hook extending in a …
    View on Google Patents
  13. Guitar tuner US-6965067-B2 2005 · SEIKO INSTR INC
    Provided is a guitar tuner that is capable of tuning each string of a guitar with a capotasto being attached thereto to a specified pitch. The guitar tuner includes attachment position setting means for, when the capotasto is atta…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Automatic string instrument tuner kit US-6465723-B2 2002
    A kit for automatically tuning a string musical instrument such as a guitar, violin, cello, viola, etc., includes a controller, a tail piece for attachment to the string musical instrument, a string tension adjustment mechanism, a…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a guitar tuner been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Consumer electronics are among the most heavily patented areas; the specific circuit, mounting, or interaction is what distinguishes a design.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.