Richard Jernigan -> RE: Tuning by ear (Apr. 14 2015 5:38:41)
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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
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