Pedal tuners feature rugged construction that stands up to heavy use. The enclosure of the electronics is typically made of metal, such as steel or aluminum. The underside usually features rubber to prevent the pedal from slipping during use. The top of the pedal tuner features a button that is designed to be stepped on. The button usually consists of a large, round metal switch or rectangular pad. Pedal tuners are powered via DC power that is delivered through an adapter or a 9-volt battery.
Pedal tuners do not typically offer any effects that modify your instrument's sound. You use the pedal tuner to monitor the tuning of each of your strings. Pedal tuners feature a bypass switch, which allows the audio to pass through the pedal to the next item in the audio signal chain, such as other effects units or an amplifier. The same switch may mute the audio when the pedal tuner is in use.
Pedal tuners typically provide an LED display that shows the current tuning of each string. The LED display may display the actual note name, or an LED next to a note name printed on the pedal may light up. Some pedals use an LED display that displays the current note name in conjunction with an LED-lit meter. The meter shows you how flat or sharp the tuning of the string is.
Connect the pedal tuner to your electric guitar using a guitar cable. If you want to connect your guitar to a different pedal and then to the pedal tuner, use an audio patch cord to connect the first pedal's audio output to the pedal tuner's audio input. Connect the audio output of the pedal tuner to your amplifier with a guitar cable or another pedal with a patch cord. Connect the pedal to a power supply or install a battery. Press the pedal's button with your foot to tune your guitar. Pluck one string at a time, and monitor the pedal's display to tune each string. Press the pedal's button with your foot when you are done tuning your guitar.