Tuning

Butler · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 07:07 PM

Tuning: the way to make the strings sound the same as everyone else's strings. You do it by turning the tuning pegs on the headstock, but how do you know you got it right? First, ear training is good. Get to know the difference between the right note and almost the right note. Electric tuners are great and accurate. However, what if you don't have one? Let's say one string gets out of tune but the others are correct, maybe you hit the headstock on something and the knob turned, or you just had to replace the string? The following pairs of frets are the same note and should sound alike:

G| 0
D| 0 5
A| 0 5
E| 5

I still don't know how to put this into courier or courier new, but this lines up right. Next, how do you fine tune? Well, you can do that with harmonics. What are harmonics, you ask? Gently place your finger over the string at perhaps the fifth fret but lightly. then strike the note and pull the finger away. You'll hear a high pitch sound. That's a harmonic. Play the following sets at the same time and if they are not in tune with each other you will hear an "in and out" sound. You'll know it when you hear it. Then just adjust one string until you don't hear it anymore.

G| 7+
D| 7+ 5+
A| 7+ 5+
E| 5+

Fine tuning really isn't required of you most of the time. Screw it unless you need perfect tuning.

Now the interesting part: different notes for your strings to be tuned at. This is off of UG. I wrote it all down and here you go. I'll do five string later since I never bothered to write those down.

Four Strings

Standard: E A D G (from thickest to thinnest)
Drop D: D A D G
Drop C#: C# A D G
Half Step Down: Eb Ab Db Gb
Full Step Down: D G C F
Drop D/G: D G D G
Raised G: G A D G
Low B: B E A D
Low C#: C# F# C# G#
Low C# Dropped to A#: A# F A# D#

Keep in mind that most of those are very uncommon and some I highly doubt would even work. You loosen up the strings enough and you won't get any sound out of them, and if you raise E to a G I'd bet you'll break the string mighty easily. Still, drop D, half step down, and full step down aren't unheard of.

Until next time.

GeneralElectric · #2 (**permalink**) 08-17-2008, 10:14 PM

Not all electric tuners are made equal. If your whole band is tuning up with electronic tuners, tune with those first, then see if you're in tune. The results are astounding at how different they can be. Make sure your bass is properly intonated (the 12th harmonic matches the fretted note) and tune to someone who can't tune their instrument, such as the piano player. An alternative is everyone using the same kind of tuner. (One of the most common tuners is the Boss TU-80 I believe its called, its a stomp box)

I use a pitch pipe sometimes, or a tuning fork. Tuning forks are a great way to tune an acoustic guitar but are sorta a bitch to use on an electric. When I use an electric tuner, I use a rackmount strobe tuner.

As an aside standard pitch is A440hz.

Butler · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Or just use so much distortion that no one could tel the difference between E string and G string anyway.

GeneralElectric · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 12:30 AM

I just had an aneurysm :?

Distortion just makes it easier to hide your screw ups, or like some, helps you sound less terrible. :|

For anyone learning how to play any instrument, practice playing clean. Its harder to do but it pays off. Playing an electric unplugged solo also greatly increases your technique.

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