Tuning by ear

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Tuning by ear

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Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

Tuning by ear

Anyone got some tips on improving skills in tuning by ear?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2015 15:56:51

johnnefastis

Posts: 631
Joined: Jan. 10 2012

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

I found this thread pretty useful.
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=162903&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=tuning&tmode=&smode=&s=#163027

I think this is the article referred to.

http://www.stagepass.com/tuning.html

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2015 17:13:41

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

quote:

Anyone got some tips on improving skills in tuning by ear?

That is a tricky question. You want to improve your hearing skills but not to tune the guitar.. that part should be a consequence, not the reason.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2015 17:44:35

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to johnnefastis)

@johnnefastis - very interesting, I had been playing the harmonic at 7 and fretting at 2. So this is exactly wrong according to the article you posted. Not so surprising then that I cracked last year and went out and bought a new tuner. After more than 30 years of noodling perhaps I'll finally be able to tune these things now...

@Sr.Martins - I'm not capturing what your saying - would you mind shouting a bit louder please?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 12 2015 4:03:30

Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

I disagree with most tuning methods I read about (not including digital tunner which is fine for open strings)....most involve fretting something. I don't think anybody should be fretting any notes when tuning. Open strings need to be relatively in tune. The most efficient way is to use open harmonics. For example 5th fret on the 6th string, 7th on the 5th string, and adjust until the beats stop. Same for 5th and 4th, and 4th and 3rd strings...(assuming you have a reference that the low E is accurate enough for your needs to start with). For 2nd string, I match the open string to the harmonic 7th fret of 6th string. For the first string, the open note with the 7th fret harmonic of the 5th string. Takes a few seconds to tune a guitar this way. The problems with certain chords will always be a limitation of the tuning system in general, AND the fingers being used ie technique of playing.

I would like to add, too many players using capo tune open just fine slap it on whatever fret and go for it like it's all fine and dandy. You need to tune AFTER the capo goes on, again, the capo is like a new nut or a new neck and you have to start at zero from scratch.

I admit I will "well temper" my guitar if we are performing a modal type piece where it is two chords (or so) only in the song. Any other type of adjustment will be like taking too much from one chord and messing up another.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 16:59:43

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ricardo)

I agree that using open strings, open harmonics and tuning until the beats stop works very well for the flamenco stuff that I play. It's the way I tune when I play my flamenco guitars.

Some classical pieces work better for me in equal temperament, or in tunings suited better to their particular key.

Nowadays you will see many classical pros tune up between pieces with a digital tuner, then touch things up by ear, and maybe test a few important chords for the piece they are about to play.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 18:16:37

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Ricardo,

It seems you havn´t understood the concept of tempered tuning.
When you don´t fret you will only be tuning open strings. There will be no tempered tuning that way.
-

If a strobe tuner (1/10th cent accuracy) is engaged there should be no need for touch up, provided the tuner "knows what you are looking for" (in case of indivdiual or tempered tunings = be programmed).

BTW, I was surprised by the "sweetened temperaments" that came with a Peterson strobe. Even though sweeping they work well enough (much better than open tuning) for me to have been lazy enough to not program favorite guitars temperament yet. (Mostly me tunes by ear anyway.)

I would had not thought that shifted tunings -prorammed by manufacturer / regardless of guitars individual deviation- could be turning out actually sweet compared to just open tuning. Go figure.

- Open tuning for me only when on the fly and when I don´t care.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 18:50:29

Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ruphus

Ricardo,

It seems you havn´t understood the concept of tempered tuning.
When you don´t fret you will only be tuning open strings. There will be no tempered tuning that way.
-

If a strobe tuner (1/10th cent accuracy) is engaged there should be no need for touch up, provided the tuner "knows what you are looking for" (in case of indivdiual or tempered tunings = be programmed).

Ruphus...
1. Guitar is NOT a piano...the fingers will not supply same pressures each time they are placed on the board. open strings are best you can get my friend.

2. I made exception for digital tuner right off the bat...implying that using a tuner is perfectly acceptable. To remind you....the topic is TUNING BY EAR... those flaps on the side of your head being the only "device".

Ricardo

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 19:35:36

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ricardo)

Thanks everyone for taking time to discuss this. I'm not at all clear what "the beats" refers to and how you could tell if they stopped.

So I just found this article, let's see if it helps...
http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2014/01/18/how-to-tune-guitar/

Just read it and find it really hard. I only hear beats when the pitch is way off

Cool to see he thumbs up the Android gStrings app, I've used that for a few months and it seems pretty good. Would like to hear those beats more clesrly though.

Another thing there that might interest some of our luthiers here (check out Ander's blog) is he talks briefly about tuning more complicated instruments such as harps.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 22:06:11

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

I usually tune to one string. Let's say the D string - I'll fret it to E and tune the lowest string, then listen for the 4th for the A string, then another 4th for G, then fret E again and tune the B (5th) and high E (8va). I also fine tune (lowest at 10 to D, and so on).

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with fretting while tuning - you'll be fretting while you play anyway.

quote:

Just read it and find it really hard. I only hear beats when the pitch is way off

You just need to train your ear. It'll take a bit of quiet concentration but once you have it - it's not going anywhere!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 23:37:15

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

open strings are best you can get my friend.

That is like saying "strumming is best technique you can do with a guitar". Or in accordance to your piano / guitar tangent like "Approaching objectivity makes no relative difference."

Either you have not cared yet to try out tempered tuning with the guitar, or you might be experiencing substantial loss with hearing.
The advantages of the tempered t for the guitar are no esoterics but recognized effect.

Regarding the mentioning of tuners complains may be filled in with Richard to whose post yours truly was referring.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 23:46:51

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

I think this is all very subjective and depends of context, specially if you're playing with other instruments.

The main thing is that if you're playing solo guitar, it should be intune with itself and if playing with other instruments it would be nice if everyone used the same reference

...so don't be shy about compromising on the open strings or having to bend strings a little here an there including within chords.

Bottom line, if you have an A sounding at 443Hz and another A (from your guitar or another instrument) sounding at 900Hz, things might sound bad no matter what tuning philosophy you're into.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2015 23:57:43

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

quote:

It seems you havn´t understood the concept of tempered tuning.
When you don´t fret you will only be tuning open strings. There will be no tempered tuning that way.
-

If a strobe tuner (1/10th cent accuracy) is engaged there should be no need for touch up, provided the tuner "knows what you are looking for" (in case of indivdiual or tempered tunings = be programmed).

BTW, I was surprised by the "sweetened temperaments" that came with a Peterson strobe. Even though sweeping they work well enough (much better than open tuning) for me to have been lazy enough to not program favorite guitars temperament yet. (Mostly me tunes by ear anyway.)

I would had not thought that shifted tunings -prorammed by manufacturer / regardless of guitars individual deviation- could be turning out actually sweet compared to just open tuning. Go figure.

Maybe I missed something but it looks like you're the one who doesn't know what tempered means.

Unless you only play open strings to a fixed tonic, I don't see how that "sweetened temperament" could work on a normal guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 0:04:54

Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to chester)

quote:

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with fretting while tuning - you'll be fretting while you play anyway.

an extreme low action and low frets situation MIGHT not be so big of a deal, but in opposite cases, you are cheating your guitar's "comma" issue if you fret and match open notes. might as well tune ONLY fretted notes, which is ridiculous I hope folks can see that?

THe main point is that one can intonate while playing. Both chording and doing single notes. It falls in line with the compensated fingerboard issue as well. THe guitar can't be tuned "perfect" so taking a bit from one direction messes you up in the other direction.

Have you never heard a guy tune his guitar just fine and proceed to play out of tune somehow? Maybe I am super sensitive but it is obvious to me. Considering how much the fingers can "compensate" (deliberately or not) despite what the luthier might have done with geometry, the simple fact is an open string is what it is, and you play it and you can't deal with it once it's set. So it follows by logic that each and every open string needs to be in tune to the others, and the other musicians instruments if there be any.

So many players tune to their favorite chord, and then only the same voicing of other chords will be the same "sweetness", any other chord voicing will have obvious issues, even the same named chord in a different position or voicing.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 1:55:42

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

First, let's plug in some numbers, then let's talk about practical limitations.

If you could tune the A string to exactly 110 Hz, and if you could tune the D string to a perfect fourth above the A string by eliminating the beats, the D-string would be 1.95 cents flat from an equally tempered D. Does anyone here claim they can reliably hear a difference of two cents between successive notes on the guitar? More about this in a minute.

If you tuned the D-string to an equally tempered D, relative to A, the beat between the 5th fret harmonic on the A-string and the 7th fret harmonic on the D-string would be about .249 Hz, that is to say a full cycle of the beat would take a little more than four seconds. I am conscious of listening to the overtones of the harmonics when tuning by harmonics, but you have to be listening to two octaves above the pitch of the harmonics on the strings to hear a one-second beat.

Back to hearing the difference between successive pitches on the guitar. Get out your strobe tuner if you have one, but a simple headstock tuner will do. Play a single note medium loud, and watch the tuner. The pitch goes several cents sharp at the attack, and gradually flattens out as the sound dies away. What does this say about hearing 2 cents difference between successive notes?

Do you find yourself re-tuning after playing for just a few minutes? Check the trebles with your tuner. They have gone sharp due to your fingers heating them up a little, while the metal wound basses have remained more stable. Playing under hot stage lights can be a constant battle to play reasonably well in tune all the way through a piece.

You can hear the difference between equal temperament and perfect fourths on a piano or organ because the notes are louder, last longer and are more stable in pitch. I would bet against a randomly chosen musician telling the difference on a guitar.

But I agree with Ricardo that the player can compensate a familiar guitar with his left hand fingers, playing it audibly in tune, provided it is tuned reasonably well to start with, and the frets aren't too far from where they ought to be.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 5:38:41

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Sir Martin,

Indeed, you `missed out on something´, which is this:

quote:

BTW, I was surprised by the "sweetened temperaments" that came with a Peterson strobe. Even though sweeping they work well enough ...

and

quote:

I would had not thought that shifted tunings -prorammed by manufacturer / regardless of guitars individual deviation- could be turning out actually sweet compared to just open tuning. Go figure.

I was surprised how well it works while only related to open tuning.

You are all the time rushing to guard your conservative fraction, apparently unable to read first.

About the other comments trying to constitute why tempered tuning shouldn´t make sense on a guitar:
It is amazing how people can get stuck in defending their personal routines so far, instead of just trying out new ways and see what gives.

This attitude of tower defense I also experienced years ago in a forum for classical guitar when suggesting precision tuning. People would go on foothold about how fretting would render such undertaking useless anyway or how popular musicians would not use such methods either (not knowing how in fact strobe tuners are being standard with contributing to sonorous results in major production recordings, including those in pro studios with classical guitar takes).

Same ignorance being displayed regarding tempered tuning.
How about overcoming the taliban in oneself and simply try it out instead of knitting theorems about why such method couldn´t benefit.
Maybe then you will understand why others can experience new kids on the block in such ways:

quote:

Thanks Pawo and Ruphus, you've just changed my life!
… "Following these steps you will find inspiring improvement with your instrument... " Ruphus, this was my experience too!

And should your hearing not allow still to perceive the pretty obvious effect, it won´t be disgrace. Such limits are out of our will. –In contrast to being just stubborn, which can be omitted.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 9:52:49

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

@Ruphus

Please, set aside the crap talk. My doubt was legit and still is.

Maybe if you had explained things more to the point instead of criticizing me it would have been clearer but I still don't understand why and how a sweetened temperament (or basically anything that deviates from the "12 equal parts objective") could work with a regular guitar to play regular guitar music.

I only see it working if:

- the guitar is fretless or has moveable frets

- you tune the guitar for specific roots and play it in a "parallel fashion" to maintain relationships within chord voicings.. thus ending in you playing only specific music, which kinda defeats the purpose of a normal guitar with 12 equal division.

Please, don't go down the "you haven't even tried" route, that isn't helpful at all and either way I play fretless so Iam used to hearing and playing things beyond guitar frets.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 12:42:35

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

You don´t read what I say and when I point that out, then me is "talking crap"?
Coincidentally, I have seen you talking more crap than anything on the board so far.

What are you saying: That your hearing works well, but that you can´t find guitars to be sounding better with tempered tuning?
If so, that would be a contradicting claim.

The effects of this tuning method can be read up, and a guitar better harmonizing across the neck is what it is, whereas fretting deviation remains parameter between the two basically different tuning methods / won´t take away from a better harmonizing guitar.

Now that you are nudging on sweetened tunings, I clearly stated that the effect surprised me myself.
Best would be if you ask around in your surrounding to see whether someone owns a Peterson tuner and check out the sweetened settings.

Peterson describe it this way:

quote:

Peterson's proprietary GTR™ Sweetened Tuning™ is designed to improve the sound of musical intervals on guitar, especially 4ths and 5ths. By taking advantage of a few coincidences such as the preponderance of 4th and 5th intervals appearing in many chord positions, the particular E-A-D-G-B-E arrangement of standard guitar tuning (and also the half-step down or "dropped" tuning variation), and the less-than-perfect overtones of vibrating strings, Peterson has introduced a number of slight variations which can maximize the tuning quality of chords.

These guitar-specific Sweeteners™, including G5TH and P5TH in the AutoStrobe™ 490-ST, and GTR in the Virtual Strobe™ series, improve tuning in general but are especially important for "power chords" which feature 4th and 5th intervals.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 13:38:44

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

I didn't say you were talking crap, i said that I don't understand your claims and I still don't. Don't understand why you keep being agressive.

I've been to the Peterson website and all I see is marketing claims and lots of placebo induced by it all over forums.

I was hoping that you could tell me about YOUR personal experience because in MY experience, if you "sweeten" the distance between two strings for a particular interval, then you're making other intervals even worse.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:06:01

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Well, that is what I was expecting as well.
But it is indeed so that the guitar sounds better with these settings (respectively with the one that I settled on, don´t remember my thoughts on the other ones).
That is why I said "go figure".
I can´t tell why it works, but it does.
It is second best to programming the tuner to your individual tempered guitar.

Peterson to my knowledge is a respected brand. They gained their reputation through professional musicians and professional studio application. First time that I hear someone classifying their product as "placebo".
Be that as it may with your experience, you are negativiely judging things you havn´t tried.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:17:46

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Try this:

Get 3 guitar players with guitars from different makers, different brand/tension of strings and tune their guitars with that fancy tuning.

Have them play a few chords at the middle of the fretboard and measure the tuning for each of the notes within the chords.

I bet that the only constant numbers you'll end up between guitars will still be the open strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:20:48

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Ignorant spin won´t change anything on the circumstance that you prefer to dismiss beforehand instead of trying out.

That says it all.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:27:09

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

Answering your last sentence, I rarely end up tuning a guitar to the usual open strings settings. That might be the starting point but each guitar will need different little adjustments and compromises.

That is the reason why by my experience ANY fixed tuning might not work.. sweetened or not the frets/bridge/strings/etc will keep their ratios, thus making you have to adjust for more than 6 open strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:29:12

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

I see you choose to keep being rude for no reason.

"Sweetened tunings" might be huge to guitar nerds who have a couple of guitars at home and never leave the house.

Try joining a group where you have dozens of guitars and mandolins and then come back to tell me your findings.

If you don't learn about tuning compromises within your instrument and together with other "problematic" instruments you're likely to be supporting those holy grail findings.

Like someone said, the guitar isn't a piano.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 14:35:57

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

BTW, this whole thing reminded me of a very famous guitar player talking abou buzz feiten without having a clue. He even played ONE note and stated "this is much more in tune".

Obviously, all the sheep said "he is a great musician so he MUST be right"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 15:01:15

Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ruphus)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ruphus

Well, that is what I was expecting as well.
But it is indeed so that the guitar sounds better with these settings (respectively with the one that I settled on, don´t remember my thoughts on the other ones).
That is why I said "go figure".
I can´t tell why it works, but it does.
It is second best to programming the tuner to your individual tempered guitar.

Peterson to my knowledge is a respected brand. They gained their reputation through professional musicians and professional studio application. First time that I hear someone classifying their product as "placebo".
Be that as it may with your experience, you are negativiely judging things you havn´t tried.

Ruphus

I would simply put forward that the "sweetened" tuning done by the device might be operating on a very subtle level, such that Sr. Martins might not notice a difference between it and a "job well done" by ear of open strings....I personally have conceded that using digital tuners will be just fine and perfectly accurate, more so than the human ear is capable OF COURSE...

BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF THE THREAD! the most efficent way to do this thing BY EAR BY EAR BY EAR...is the one I described that you keep saying my hearing must be going bad or some BS. No man....otherwise....

Please describe to us the method of achieving your Perteson device sweetened tempermant...BY EAR WITH NO DEVICE...so we can move forward. I am quite open minded enough to try such a method if you have one.

Ricardo

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 16:39:36

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Ricardo)

It envolves deviating the open string tuning between something like 0,4 and 2.

Considering that on some guitars with some players and some strings you have to bend the D string within a chord by much more than that to make it in tune, I would say that those amazing results to make a guitar in tune all over the fretboard are a joke.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 16:58:45

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Forget about the sweetened tuning, guys.

The relevant point is tuning of the tempered kind.

And you, Mr. Martin, with this statement definitly prove that there is no clue about ways of tempered tuning.

quote:

That might be the starting point but each guitar will need different little adjustments and compromises.

That namely is precisely what tempered tuning is there for.

Instead of all the random talking why don´t you first actually read what the method means, how it works, what it effects and how its is applied, then go and try it out?
It really is no nuclear science and rather easy to understand. All it takes is one to be willing to actually check it out.

Ricardo,

Your estimation of tuner precision to my experience is not correct.
Common tuners are not precise enough for me to be really satisfied with the result (back then, in the end I went and purchased better models like the Korg-DT7 only to finally turn out that increments of 10 cents just isn´t good enough for human hearing).
Yet, results from engaging strobe tuners and their ten times more sensitive gauging actually leave nothing to be desired.
(It makes sense for everyone as the overall result of more accurately matched fundamentals and more even partials between the strings in the end becomes perceivable for any intact ear.)

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 19:39:20

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

To spare you any extravagance, here is the description.

quote:

Tuning Notes:

A) When you tune the following fretted notes to the harmonics, tune them "beatless"-- i.e., without any hint of "rolling" or pulsating as the two notes synchronize. When two notes get closer, their "beating" slows down until it disappears altogether when they are perfectly in tune. This is very important! This is the skill to be gained!

B) In each step below, pluck the harmonic first. Then fret and pluck the designated string. This allows you to hear both notes simultaneously. Then tune the appropriate string.

1.
Tune the D string to a known source
2.
Pluck the 12th fret harmonic of the D then tune the G (fretted at the 7th fret) to this harmonic.
3.
Pluck the same 12th fret harmonic of the D then tune the B (fretted at the 3rd fret) to this harmonic
4.
Pluck the 12th fret harmonic of the G and tune the High E fretted at the 3rd fret to this harmonic
5.
Tune the 12th fret harmonic of the A to the G fretted at the 2nd fret (pluck the harmonic first!)
6.
Tune the 5th fret harmonic of the Low E to the High E open (pluck the harmonic first!)

Note: To apply the tuning method to alternate tunings, all you have to do is find the proper fretted note on the string you are tuning and tune it beatless to a 12th fret harmonic on a string below it. Easy as pie.

Final advice: take note that old strings are more difficult to tune than new strings. This is because of uneven stretching of the string and the subsequent erratic vibration patterns. In some instances, old strings are impossible to tune correctly. If you have difficulty achieving good intonation, change strings.

Relax, take your guitar and just follow what it says.
Be honest and open-minded. That is all it takes.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 19:44:29

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Tuning by ear (in reply to Dudnote)

Not sure if it's exactly the same has provided by Peterson but here it goes to those who want to try it:

E1 = -2.3 cent
B2 = 0
G3 = 0
D4 = -0.4 Cent
A5 = -2.1 Cent
E6 = -2.3 Cent

Bottom line: I guess we can all agree that a regular guitar is a 12 tone equal temperament instrument, no matter what you do to the open strings you'll never get any kind of just intonation or fancy temperaments.

I didn't reject the "sweetened tuning", in fact I even said that I do it all the time and usually call it "spreading the error". The big difference here is that creating those offsets in your tuning IS desirable but relying on presets might end up being as bad or even worse than using a regular tuner and feeling confident about your tuning just because every string made the needle "match the center".

Every guitar is different, including setup, strings, player, humidity, player, etc. You are always compromising somewhere when it comes to tuning a guitar so don't be fooled by comfortable presets because even if that preset was the most efficient one to that guitar, you'll probably still have to bend a string here and there to make some chords sound good.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 14 2015 19:45:33