B
Banjo_Jammer
New member
Hi folks,
I am new here, and used to be a regular on a site called BanjoHangout, as the member "Jammer". I am an amateur/semi pro (not sure where I fit) player that plays by ear and loves to mix new sounds for this instrument, far from the stereo type the instrument has. However I have always trusted a quality tuner to aid me in the process. The artists Bela Fleck is closest to the sound I seek, but on with the post.....
A little more about my background and problem:
As far as I have ever got was a lot of free mp3s downloaded and air play / artist of the month on Song Planet.com, and after that it seemed I had done all I could do musically because my instrument was not inspiring me any more. But I do have a strong passion to record alternative instrumentals. But over the years, I almost lost all interest because I could not even play to music from my Ipod and sync up the right key/tuning. I was starting to think my Gibson banjo had lost it's magic tone that it once had.
Conclusion of how the problem derailed my inspiration:
It seemed my Gibson RB250 started sounded like crap the more I tried to improve on it. It kept getting worse no matter what I tried. It never sounded right. I tried everything to the instrument, replacing many parts etc... But it never had the tone it used to over 5 years back. I did not know what was wrong and because of this issue I almost gave up my life long passion. After as many as 4 years or more I now have just discovered I had too much faith in a tuner that is 1/2 to a whole step OFF! NOW I understand why I could not play along to my Ipod songs, I never could find the key because my instrument was not in any tuning known! lol
NOW, the reason for my post (to the point):
I have owned a Korg Ca-30 Tuner for about over 3 years now, maybe even longer, honestly I'm not exactly sure how long. Normally a quality banjo gets better sounding with age, to a point, then it maxes out. Mine had got to that point, (built in 88), but now it was sounding worse than a $20 pawnshop special. Only today, after a "light bulb" went off in my head I got the idea to gather my OLD, made in Japan/9-volt battery model Korg tuner out to compare. It's a - Korg Digital Tuner DT-2 (led) model. I proceeded to tune with both tuners on. No doubt about it, my CA-30 is NOT on the note and it bad to flash to every harmonic of a note in the book too, which confuses one a little. My ear can hear the chime of the notes dead on with my older Korg in agreement (but I do not trust my ears enough to always tune by ear), while my CA-30 is 1/2 step flat and often worse.
My father is an old timer bluegrass banjo player that also noticed his tuning did not seem right when he jammed with me. I also had problems when jamming with a guitar player because if we each tuned by our own tuners we were far off in pitch and could never get in key unless one of us re-tuned by ear to the other. Furthermore I went to see my father and we compared all 3 tuners (he had another brand) and sure enough, ONLY the Korg CA-30 was off, the other two tuners agreed 99% as to where the note was. Now I know it was my tuner with no doubt. (imho)
Questions about Korg CA-30 Tuners...
Are these ca-30 Korg tuners on the spot? Does A=440 Hertz out of the box? Mine needs transposed about 1/2 step sharp to even get close. I base this on comparing the unit to other tuners AND to massive amounts of compact discs in which my instrument is always out of tune/key even if I try a capo!
I understand how to change the calibration, but other than using my electric keyboard can anyone advise if there might be an internet site that has a sound generator for A=440 exactly"? I do not have the instructions and google has got me in an endless maze with no real answers.
I must admit though, it was a great feeling to once again be able to pick a random song on my Ipod/Amp and be able to play along to it and not feel I was clashing with the song. Once again I am inspired.
I sure feel stupid right now, but I am also excited that I got my inspiration to jam back.
Thanks for your feedback.
I am new here, and used to be a regular on a site called BanjoHangout, as the member "Jammer". I am an amateur/semi pro (not sure where I fit) player that plays by ear and loves to mix new sounds for this instrument, far from the stereo type the instrument has. However I have always trusted a quality tuner to aid me in the process. The artists Bela Fleck is closest to the sound I seek, but on with the post.....
A little more about my background and problem:
As far as I have ever got was a lot of free mp3s downloaded and air play / artist of the month on Song Planet.com, and after that it seemed I had done all I could do musically because my instrument was not inspiring me any more. But I do have a strong passion to record alternative instrumentals. But over the years, I almost lost all interest because I could not even play to music from my Ipod and sync up the right key/tuning. I was starting to think my Gibson banjo had lost it's magic tone that it once had.
Conclusion of how the problem derailed my inspiration:
It seemed my Gibson RB250 started sounded like crap the more I tried to improve on it. It kept getting worse no matter what I tried. It never sounded right. I tried everything to the instrument, replacing many parts etc... But it never had the tone it used to over 5 years back. I did not know what was wrong and because of this issue I almost gave up my life long passion. After as many as 4 years or more I now have just discovered I had too much faith in a tuner that is 1/2 to a whole step OFF! NOW I understand why I could not play along to my Ipod songs, I never could find the key because my instrument was not in any tuning known! lol
NOW, the reason for my post (to the point):
I have owned a Korg Ca-30 Tuner for about over 3 years now, maybe even longer, honestly I'm not exactly sure how long. Normally a quality banjo gets better sounding with age, to a point, then it maxes out. Mine had got to that point, (built in 88), but now it was sounding worse than a $20 pawnshop special. Only today, after a "light bulb" went off in my head I got the idea to gather my OLD, made in Japan/9-volt battery model Korg tuner out to compare. It's a - Korg Digital Tuner DT-2 (led) model. I proceeded to tune with both tuners on. No doubt about it, my CA-30 is NOT on the note and it bad to flash to every harmonic of a note in the book too, which confuses one a little. My ear can hear the chime of the notes dead on with my older Korg in agreement (but I do not trust my ears enough to always tune by ear), while my CA-30 is 1/2 step flat and often worse.
My father is an old timer bluegrass banjo player that also noticed his tuning did not seem right when he jammed with me. I also had problems when jamming with a guitar player because if we each tuned by our own tuners we were far off in pitch and could never get in key unless one of us re-tuned by ear to the other. Furthermore I went to see my father and we compared all 3 tuners (he had another brand) and sure enough, ONLY the Korg CA-30 was off, the other two tuners agreed 99% as to where the note was. Now I know it was my tuner with no doubt. (imho)
Questions about Korg CA-30 Tuners...
Are these ca-30 Korg tuners on the spot? Does A=440 Hertz out of the box? Mine needs transposed about 1/2 step sharp to even get close. I base this on comparing the unit to other tuners AND to massive amounts of compact discs in which my instrument is always out of tune/key even if I try a capo!
I understand how to change the calibration, but other than using my electric keyboard can anyone advise if there might be an internet site that has a sound generator for A=440 exactly"? I do not have the instructions and google has got me in an endless maze with no real answers.
I must admit though, it was a great feeling to once again be able to pick a random song on my Ipod/Amp and be able to play along to it and not feel I was clashing with the song. Once again I am inspired.
I sure feel stupid right now, but I am also excited that I got my inspiration to jam back.
Thanks for your feedback.