rombsix -> Tuning and related issues (Dec. 3 2006 17:40:16)
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Hey mates, I have always had doubts about tuning, so I've decided to ask about to see if I can get some feedback. I have many "methods" of tuning my guitar. Every time I play, I use a different one: 1- Tune it with a tuner (the intellitouch TUNER) and start playing directly - without any further fine tuning. 2- Tuning it with a pitch pipe and playing directly - without any further fine tuning. 3- Tuning the last (bass E) string as a reference note (with either the TUNER or the pipe), then tuning the rest of the strings (5th, 4th, etc., 1st) accordingly / relative to the 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings, by using the "5-5-5-4-5 method" (whereby the 5th fret of the last string should sound like the 5th string, the 5th fret of the 5th string should sound like the 4th string, etc.). 4-Tuning the last (bass E) string as a reference note (with either the TUNER or the pipe), then tuning the rest of the strings (5th, 4th, etc., 1st) accordingly / relative to the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd (without using the 2nd string as a tuning reference) strings, by using the "5-10-10-9-9 method" (whereby the 5th fret of the last string should sound like the 5th string, the 10th fret of the last string should sound like the 4th string, the 10th fret of the 5th string should sound like the 3rd string, etc.). 5- Tuning the last (bass E) string as a reference note (with either the TUNER or the pipe), then tuning the rest of the strings (5th, 4th, etc., 1st) using harmonics, whereby the harmonic on the 5th fret of the last string should sound like the harmonic on the 7th fret of the fifth string, etc. There are many issues I come across. When I use the TUNER, I go back to fine tune and notice that the strings need a good deal of fine tuning (Keep in mind that I am VERY PICKY about tuning. I make sure that the strings are 100% as well tuned as possible before playing. Usually, to see if a string is in tune with respect to the other, I play a note like the A and the last string, and simultaneously play the 5th string. They should sound like only ONE string got played if they are perfectly in tune. It is due to the phenomenon of beats (in physics) that you can feel as though the A note starts to oscillate if there is a bit of frequency difference between the two played strings. I keep my left thumb on the neck in order to better feel the vibrations in the neck, and if I feel as though the vibrations are going on and off (loud and soft) at a very high rate, that means that the strings are very close to being in tune; whereas if the vibrations are very far apart, then the strings are very un-tuned relative to each other.). The same happens when I use the pipe. Also, I feel as though every time I play, a different tuning method works better than the other. The problem I am encountering the most these days however is the B string. It is always difficult to tune. As though the string is defective or something (even though I use different brands of strings). Moreover, I notice that the G string always tends to go sharp instead of flat, after a good deal of playing (all the other strings get flat when they go out of tune, however, except the G string). Is that normal? Thus, the main issue is: 1- Which of the above tuning methods is the most reliable? 2- Do you have any other tuning methods that work well? 3- Is it that my guitar sucks or that the strings I am using are bad (and thus tuning gives me a hard time)? I have two guitars - one of them (my better one) is a Jose Ramirez R1 (whose action I have had lowered), and I usually use D'addario strings or Fender strings (or Adamas). 4- What about those B and G strings? Does anyone go through what I go through with these two particular strings? (Is it maybe the way I tie the strings at the headstock that is creating the problems? I use a knot like I've seen it on some website, maybe on the D'addario site). Thanks for the help, and sorry if this message got too long and wordy. Ramzi
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