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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I found these two alternate (at least to me) ways of tuning the guitar. I have tried them both and I am very impressed by how they seem to correct the inherent tuning issues that guitars have. Try them out and let me know what you think about them.
The first one came from a Nashville session guy.
Low E -- tune using the 3rd fret, G
A ------- tune using the 3rd fret, C
D ------- tune using the 3rd fret, F
G ------- tune using the 2nd fret, A
B ------- tune using the 3rd fret, D
E ------- tune using the 3rd fret, G
The next version came from an unknown source who said his way was better....you decide:
Tune the high E (Then turn the tuner off)
Tune the 5th fret of the B string to the high E
Tune the 9th fret of the G string to the high E
Tune the 2nd fret of the A string to the high E
Tune the 7th fret (or 7th fret harmonic) to the high E
Tune the low E (or the 12th fret or the 5th or 12th fret harmonic) to the high E
RECHECK THE TUNING
There are numerous reasons why this works so well:
1) It references the same pitch so that any error or deviation on a string is not compounded.
2) It tunes notes throughout the neck so that you don't get the "why does my guitar only sound in tune when I play these 3 chords" syndrome.
3) You use your ears to tune the octaves in stretch tuning, so it actually sounds in tune. (Octaves from a tuner do not actually sound in tune.) :eek:
I anxiously await the comments of the masses. :cool: |
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Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | I am always tunning with flageolets.
it doesnt't matter which string i start, if i have tuner i usually start with low E and then:
flageolet on 5th fret on E to flageolet on 7th on A, then 5th on A to 7th on D, then 5th on D to 7th on G, then i'm not using flageolet and trafitionally compare sound on 4th fret of G string to B string, and then flageolet again - 5th on a B to 7th on a E.
and that's all. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Too lazy. Just pick one that's in tune. Play it. Go to bed. Good night. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Got a Chinese Tuna with my Chinese Pseudo-Strat. Works fine!
Obviously I am a true virtuoso! |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Steve, I don't get it :confused: |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Stephen said: I anxiously await the comments of the masses. .
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Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | I'm confused |
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Posts: 1138
Location: CT | If you have a guitar thats waaay out of tune, or in an alternate tuning, and you tune the high E 1st, then start wrenching all the higher tension lower strings, won't it put just enough stress on the neck (or take some off) to make that little string change pitch? |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I've finally reached the point where I don't trust my own ears. I always use an in-line tuner, and never those built into the Ovation preamps. |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...sheesh... I play banjo and now you tell me I'm supposed to tune my guitar? I never had to tune the banjo! |
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Posts: 972
Location: PDX | For my acoustic guitars:
I use a 440 tuning fork and start with the low E string harmonic on the 5th fret and tune the other strings to that harmonic.
5th string open and harmonic on the twelveth fret
4th string seventh fret
3rd sting second fret
2nd string tenth fret
1st string 5th fret
And then hit an open positing D chord and adjust if required
then hit an open position A chord and adjust
then an open position E chord
For my electric guitars i just use a tuner.
Works for me.
_____
gh1 |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | muzza, Don,
On the first set, you hold down the string at the third fret and tune it to the corresponding note. (3rd fret of high E is G so your tuner should center on the G note, etc).
On the 2nd set, you tune off the high E at the "corresponding" E note on the other 5 strings....5th fret on B, 9th fret on G, etc...
GH1...try tuning it as I listed above and see if you still feel the need to adjust the D,A,and E chords. This is partially what the above tunings correct.
Brainslag...that's why you RECHECK the tuning after you get all 6 done. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Tune guitars???? Sheesshh, 12 strings cured me of wanting to do that. On 12's, it's not hard to find the one string that's out of tune, it tuning the other 11 to it that's hard...... |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I just play a 200232 D chord and adjust as necessary. Given my own personal hearing characteristics, that D chord is the one easiest for me to hear any issues with.
Dave |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Question: How long does it take to tune a 12 string guitar?
Answer: No one knows. :D
I just stick with My Intelli Tuner. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | Originally posted by stephent28:
Brainslag...that's why you RECHECK the tuning after you get all 6 done. ..I know.. And this is probably a better way to do it. Just like making 100 copies of something from an original, rather than the previous copy. But in the real world, rather than putting the tuner away after the high E is done, tune all strings, plug the high E BACK into the tuner, tune if necessary, then make sure all the other strings are still in tune with it, then play your open chords and make sure all is well. rather than tuning from the bottom up, and checking the open chords. The only time I play 'out' anymore is church anyway, and that piano isn't even in tune with itself, so it won't matter if I drop my guitar, then pick it up and keep going. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by brainslag:
If you have a guitar thats waaay out of tune, or in an alternate tuning, and you tune the high E 1st, then start wrenching all the higher tension lower strings, won't it put just enough stress on the neck (or take some off) to make that little string change pitch? My Taylor certainly does that. The neck on that is incredibly sensitive. In fact, just going from standard tuning to drop-D will throw the whole thing off.
On the plus side, the harmonics on that guitar ring like a bell. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Tupperware:
that D chord is the one easiest for me to hear any issues with Same here. If the D is in tune, then the guitar is in tune (at least to itself).
One of the reasons I stick with an electronic tuner is that I often find myself tuning a guitar perfectly to itself, but somehow in the process I set the whole thing a smidge sharp. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Gimme an "A" . . . |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...hmmm, I seem to remember Country Joe sayin "gimme an F".... ???...musta been an alternate tuning. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | "Eh!" |
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February 2004
Posts: 80
Location: Tampa, FL | Tune a guitar? Heck, I tune a guitar so I don't have to tune a fish.
Oh come on! Noone thought about this one? Who can forget REO Speedwagon?!!!
In all seriousness, I lazily tune using an electronic tuner using standard tuning on open strings.
Boring I know, but I'd rather spend time playing than tuning...as long as the guitar is tuned.
Regards,
Mark |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | How do I tune a guitar?
Hand it to the lead player, he bitches the most about it.... |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I just spent an inordinate amount of time trying to tune my son's electric guitar. The intonation is off and the bridge is not adjustable. I ended up just ratcheting up the overdrive until it didn't matter if it was in tune. He was happy... |
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Posts: 143
Location: Colorado Springs, CO | You Can Tune A Guitar, But You Can't Tune-A-Fish. |
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How Do You Tune A Guitar
