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Just wondering how the players tune their guitars. I use a tuner, then tried 5th fret 7th fret - then found out that wasn't any good, then tried 12th fret harmonics to fretted strings - but that sounded the worst for some reason.
Which is best for the nylon string flamenco guitar? Any opinions?
well, i've seen people pop out a tuning fork, tap it on their knee and touch the face of the guitar with the handle end. that's a sure fire way to get tuned up right
most people i htink tune with an electric tuner, or by ear just like anyone else.
depending on the ke yof the piece i am playing, i tune differently, to try and get all the intervals closer to accurate in the key. this especially in calssical.
They all sound different and each have their value. Now I just tune the open strings till I like the sound (but I tune about twenty guitars a day).
If you are going to tune in harmonics then you will need to flatten the D and G strings a little. Then check that the main chords in the piece you are about to play sound good.
A guitar tuned with a tuner sounds odd if you have been tuing by ear(for the reasons discussed in Jim's recent post 'why do we have sharps and flats'). But does not sound odd to a listener at all. It will be good enough for all musical situations that you are likely to find yourself in and also can be played in any key.
If you can find a guitar teacher in your area who you get on with ( it needn't be flamenco, it needn't even be a nylon string player ) he can answer this and similar things. Then it is up to you to believe him. Which can be challenging.
If a tuner is availble, the opens strings. If not, a combo of open strings like GB and harmonics. I "check" chords, but don't tune to chords, if that makes sense. I rather not tune with my fingers pressing any strings because it is not easy to apply perfect even pressure. Open strings don't get "pressed" so they need to be in tune relative to each other at least.
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