Category: Jam Session
Hey all,
I just started playing the guitar again after a two year break. And I have a question about tuners. Does anyone know of any accessable tuners? I mean, any that have a way of letting you know if it's flat or sharp. I hope you know what I mean. <smile>
Thanks
Jen
Hi Jen:
The only ones I know of use either a visual meeter or lights. I guess I never worried about it, because I have nearly perfect pitch, and generally, I'm tunig a guitar to another instrument. I'll be interested to see what others say. Merry Christmas!
Lou
Hey Lou,
Well I guess it's time for me to admit I'm not perfect like you. hahahahahaha It took years to say that. smile
But I do have one that has lights and a meter, but the lights are not exact and the meter part is really hard for me to see.
I have a pocket sized metranome that has an A four fourty note on it. you can use something like that as a reference pitch to get you started. You should really learn to tune by ear though and not rely on a device for that. I have mp3 files of guitar tuning notes if you'd like them. that might help in the meantime. but as far as tuners, all the good ones, like the strobe tuners etc, are quite visual.
Thanks. I'd appreciate that. I'll contact you privately with my e-mail address. And yeah I agree with you about tuning by ear. It's just been so long, that I"m very rusty. God I was playing around trying to ear play some songs, which I used to do pretty well. And I couldn't get most of the songs. I actually think I've lost some hearing in the past few years. But I do know, of course how to tune a guitar. But for some reason I have trouble starting the low e. you know? I"ll get it back eventually. smile
Well Jen, ahem, you are getting older you know ahem. If you'd stop listening to Wayne Newton, Lawrence Welk, and those other rebelious musicians with their loud music, you wouldn't have that problem. Next, you're gonna come on here wining about your hearing aid batteries or something.
Jen,
Two things. First, there is a tuner ou there I think it';s called the Stringmaster. It's actually a robotic tuner. You play the note, and it autoatically turns your tuners till the pitch is right.
Secondly, in my experience, it's easiest to start by tuning the A string, and work your way down from there. When you're finished, tune the low E to the high E, and you've got good tune.
Also, the reason it's best to tune by ear is that the guitar, like any other instrument, gives off overtones, or harmonics that a tuner can't account for. I've played with so many musicians that have used tuners, and I've ended up taking their guitars and tuning them by ear because the tuner did such a pathetic job of tuning the instrument to itself. Just a thought.
You know, that's a good idea, I can pick up the a better. I'll try that, and I'll look up the string master too.
Thanks
And Lou, at least if I do that, you won't feel so alone. <grin>
nope.
Jesse, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the same experience. And as for you Jen, you wuldn't be so mouthy if I hadn't shortened your crutches or let the air out of your wheelchair tires.
Lou, come to my funeral and I'll rise again just to be mouthy with you. <grin>
Jen,
Glad to help. Let me know how the A works out for you, and if I come across the Stringmaster in my travels, I'll get a link to you.
Thanks Jesse
haha! some very amusing posts here. Especially the Lawrance Welk reference and the wheelchair and funeral ones. hehehe. And yes, I'll get those tuning files to you.
thank you
Jen, I got the web site for you. It is www.actiontuners.com. I was actually thinking of getting one, just for the wow factor. Lol.
Sweet. Thanks. I'll check it out.
Oh my god! I want one! I love tech toys anyway. But this is so neat. Thanks Jesse.
I want one, too! If you get one first, can I borrow it? Lol
Hey we're only a state away from each other. lol
Yeah...I fly out of your lovely airport on a regular basis. Lol
Ahh! just loving the Jen and Lou show or is it the lou and Jen show? Hmmm, well, in keeping on topic I have found that the best way to tune is first, make sure you have a good reference note an a would be good and work from there. I use harmonics allot to tune and listen for the beating of the notes. when the beating is gon the tuning is correct. Now, of course you have to be familiar with pitches and all and the reason I am not sharing any particulare techniques is since I am a self taught bass player I have absolutely no idea what frets I am using. I have found that when given a reference note I can tune my instrument more accurately then someone with a tuner. Ears are the way to go.
yes, one reference pitch and then use fifth fret and seventh fret harmonics to tune. that is the most accurate way to do it.