21 Dec
2004
21 Dec
'04
3:38 a.m.
On Monday 20 December 2004 08:12 am, geekery(a)jamesfenn.co.uk wrote:
Okay, sorry for this just had to bite as most
guitarists are taught dodgy
tuning methods... This one is for equal temperament, which you have to use
because you have frets in a fixed position. Bear in mind that the
intonation on your guitar has to be in for this to work (check the harmonic
at the 12th fret with the fretted note there, they should be exactly the
same) :
1 get your A string in tune from a piano, pitchfork, whatever... A is a
good oneto start with because the peg is a little bit protected and it is
the standard tuning note.
2 tune the low E by comparing the 5th fret on the E with the open A
3 tune the D by comparing the 12th fret harmonic on the A with the 7th fret
on the D string
4 tune the G by comparing the 12th fret harmonic on the A with the the 2nd
fret on the G string
5 tune the B by comparing the 5th fret harmonic on the A with the 10th fret
on the B string
This is the method I use.
BTW, if you watch the B as you're cranking it'll resonate when it's
fundamental coincides with the harmonic so you don't really have to pluck it.
This is helpful in certain situations. The wrapped strings are too heavy to
take advantage of the effect, but the A has enough mass relatively speaking.
6 tune the top E by comparing the 5th fret harmonic on
the A with the 5th
fret on the top E string
The rationale for all this is first that you are
tuning everything off of
the same string so you don't get compound error from tuning every string
from the pitch of the last one tuned (A from 5th on E, D from 5th on A,
etc) and secondly the harmonics which produce octaves should be perfectly
in tune whereas the 5ths are out in terms of equal temperament.
The only problem is getting to the pegs with your right hand while fretting
with your left quick enough before the harmonics die out...
Beats trying to fret a note and crank any day.
Good luck getting that thing in tune,
James Fenn