If your guitar feels uncomfortable to play, has too much fret buzz, or doesn't seem to stay in tune as you move up the neck, it may simply need a good set-up.

A guitar set-up is the process of making a series of adjustments so the instrument plays comfortably, sounds good and performs as it should.

One of the most important things to understand is that the order you make these adjustments matters

The correct order is:

Truss Rod → Nut → Action → Intonation

Let's look at each step and why it needs to be done in this order.

1. Truss Rod – Set the Neck Relief

The first thing to check is the truss rod. The truss rod runs inside the neck and allows you to adjust its curvature. This is known as neck relief.

A guitar neck usually needs a small amount of relief to give the strings enough room to vibrate without causing excessive fret buzz. The exact amount will depend on the guitar and the player's preference.

Before making any adjustment, tune the guitar to the pitch you normally use. The strings put tension on the neck, so it's important to check the neck under normal playing conditions. The reason we start here is simple: changing the neck relief can change the action.

If you set your action first and then adjust the truss rod, you'll probably have to adjust the action again. So, get the neck feeling right before moving on.

• Resource: For step-by-step relief measurements and safety tips, check out the Artist Guitars Beginner's Guide to Adjusting Your Truss Rod.

2. Nut – Check the Nut Height

Once the neck relief is set, the next step is to check the nut.

The nut is the small piece at the end of the fingerboard that holds the strings at the correct height above the first fret. If the nut slots are too high, the guitar can feel stiff and difficult to play, particularly when playing chords or notes in the first few frets. If they are too low, the open strings may buzz.

How to Check the Nut

A simple way to get a good indication of whether the nut is at the right height is to fret each string at the third fret. Then look at the gap between the string and the first fret.

There should be a very small gap between the string and the first fret. You can also gently tap the string down between the third and first frets. You should feel and hear a very slight contact with the first fret.

If there is a large, obvious gap, the nut slot may be too high. If the string is already resting firmly on the first fret, the slot may be too low and could cause open-string buzzing.

It's worth checking every string individually, as the correct height can vary slightly from one string to another.

If a nut slot is too high, it can usually be carefully lowered using the correct nut files. However, this is an area where less is definitely more. Removing too much material is difficult to undo, so if you're new to guitar set-ups, it's often best to have this adjustment done by an experienced guitar technician.

Getting the nut height right before moving on to the action gives you a solid starting point for the rest of the set-up.

The nut comes before the action because it establishes the string height at the first fret.

3. Action – Set the String Height

Now that the neck and nut are sorted, it's time to adjust the action.

Action is simply the height of the strings above the frets.

Most players want the action low enough to make the guitar comfortable to play, but high enough to avoid unwanted fret buzz.

There isn't one perfect action height for every guitar. A player with a light touch may prefer lower action, while someone who plays hard may need a little more clearance. A good starting point for a typical electric guitar might be around 1.5–2.0 mm on the high E string and 2.0–2.5 mm on the low E string, but the ideal height depends on the guitar, string gauge and how the player plays.

On many electric guitars, action can be adjusted at the bridge or individual saddles. On acoustic guitars, adjusting the action can involve modifying the saddle and is generally a more involved process.

The important thing is to make sure the neck relief and nut are already correct before setting the action. Otherwise, you may find yourself making the same adjustment twice.

4. Intonation – Do This Last

Finally, we come to intonation.

Intonation is what helps your guitar play in tune as you move further up the neck.

On an electric guitar with adjustable bridge saddles, you can check intonation by comparing the open string with the note at the 12th fret. The bridge saddle can then be moved backwards or forwards to correct the pitch.

If you change the neck relief, nut or action after setting the intonation, the intonation can change too.

That's why it is always the last adjustment in the set-up process.

Why Getting the Order Right Matters

A guitar set-up is a bit like building a house: you need to get the foundations right before worrying about the finishing touches.

The four adjustments work together. Changing one can affect another, which is why the sequence is so important.

Remember:

Truss Rod → Nut → Action → Intonation

Start with the neck, work your way through the guitar's basic geometry, and leave intonation until the end.

Follow that order, and you'll spend less time going back and correcting previous adjustments — and more time playing a guitar that feels great.

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