A chromatic guitar tuner is a versatile device that detects all 12 pitches in the chromatic scale, including natural, sharp, and flat notes. This allows the tuner to identify any note within an octave: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, and B.

Chromatic tuners work by detecting the pitch being played and indicating whether it is sharp, flat, or in tune. Many chromatic tuners also offer calibration options to adjust the reference pitch, typically set at A = 440 Hz, to suit different tuning standards.

The primary advantage of a chromatic tuner is its flexibility, making it ideal for musicians who use various tuning configurations. Unlike standard tuners that are limited to specific pitches for standard guitar tuning, chromatic tuners can tune guitars in alternate tunings and other instruments such as violins, ukuleles, and pianos.

This versatility is particularly beneficial for advanced musicians who experiment with different tunings and need precise tuning across all notes, making chromatic tuners suitable for both performance and recording settings.