tuning my guitar

[crunkthanamug]

i wish there was a newbie section within the guitar forum but since there isnt ill ask my stupid question here.... OK i have an acoustic guitar and i just bought a digital (i guess) tuner. The instructions didnt cover this but when you pluck the string, do you still have to hold the subsequent strings at the 5th fret or do you not hold them (just pluck)??? I have no idea what an "in tune" guitar sounds like. I thought i was jammin before i bought the tuner! But since i "tuned" it all my chords went bye-bye... Anyway thats my dumb question. Good thing i dont have to worry about losing any rep points over this one

 

[ahuimanu]

Starting with the E string closest to your face (the thickest string). Strike it at around the sound hole and let it ring. Then, watch the meters or needle on your tuner. You'll need to move the tuning peg in order to get this string centered on 'E'.

Follow this for strings A,D,G,B,E (the next 5 lower strings).

Try NOT to let other strings ring while tuning a string and also, let each string vibrate for at least a second before you start moving the tuning pegs.

 

[Gorty]

Hey Crunkthanamug,


Standard tuning = 440 Hz Thats the needle sitting in the middle of your meter.

 

[ahuimanu]

Standard tuning suggests a "proper" tone for the A above middle C on a piano keyboard. Traditionally the orchestra used this tone such that all instruments could calibrate to each other.

The digital tuner that Crunkthanamug has is far simpler but based on the principle of A - 440 Hz.

Just tune each string such that the needle/meter is centered and you'll be fine.

Looking down on your guitar as you hold it, these strings will be:
E--------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------

That E closest to you will be a lower/deeper tone than the one farther away.

 

[Gorty]

If you were looking down at the guitar it would be:

E............................. Thickest String
A.............................
D.............................
G.............................
B.............................
E............................. Thinnest String


unless you are holding a right handed strung guitar left handed!

 

[Sirnothingness]

Look up
look down
look at my thumb
gee you asked a dumb question

naw, just joshin' Expect to mute the other strings (as noted above) and expect the tuner needle to be somewhat jumpy as most of them are. Just lightly pluck a string and tune until the needle appears centered or a green light appears (if your tuner has that). Tune all the strings, then tune again.

 

[Mr songwriter]

I have no idea what an "in tune" guitar sounds like.

It is a good idea to know what an "in tune" guitar sounds like. Which well know bands are you into? it would probably be useful if you have a recording of a song where there are some simple chords being played reasonably slowly to compare what you're doing with.

I thought i was jammin before i bought the tuner! But since i "tuned" it all my chords went bye-bye

Do you mean that the chords sounded better before you tuned your guitar? that suggests that there may be intonation problems with your guitar.

 

[ahuimanu]

If you were looking down at the guitar it would be:

E............................. Thickest String
A.............................
D.............................
G.............................
B.............................
E............................. Thinnest String


unless you are holding a right handed strung guitar left handed!

Actually Gorty, that's it if I were sitting across from you and looking at your guitar.

If you are holding your guitar in your hands/lap, my ordering is correct. We don't want to confuse the new guy.

 

[Codmate]

Tuning your guitar:
http://www.webterrace.com/guitar/tuning.htm

 

[crunkthanamug]

Do you mean that the chords sounded better before you tuned your guitar? that suggests that there may be intonation problems with your guitar.

When i first got the guitar i was tuning it by hand (to a piano) but i could never really match up that low E to get started. I ended up just keeping that E at a pitch i liked and tuning the rest of the strings to it. The chords i made with it that way sound better than the ones made after i "properly" tuned it. I just wondered if i was doing something wrong in the tuning process or if i just need to find those same sounds in different locations on the neck now... Thanks for all the help

 

[ggunn]

When approaching the correct pitch for a string, always approach it from the flat (low) side and let it settle for a second or two before you go on to the next string.

 

[reshp1]

If you are tuning up or down a lot, i.e. a big jump in pitch, for each string, you may have to go back and retune. This is because as you change the pitch the tension on the neck also changes, which can effect the tuning on the strings you've already "tuned"

 

[Gorty]

Standard tuning suggests a "proper" tone for the A above middle C on a piano keyboard. Traditionally the orchestra used this tone such that all instruments could calibrate to each other.

The digital tuner that Crunkthanamug has is far simpler but based on the principle of A - 440 Hz.

Just tune each string such that the needle/meter is centered and you'll be fine.

Looking down on your guitar as you hold it, these strings will be:
E--------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------

That E closest to you will be a lower/deeper tone than the one farther away.

You are right regarding not confusing the new guy, but in your post you stated that "Looking down on your guitar as you hold it, these strings will be etc......then you stated that the E closest to you will be a lower etc....


So my way of thinking is in one sentence you are referring to looking down on the guitar ( in which case your ordering is wrong) and then you are talking about sitting the guitar in your lap in which you mention the E closest to you will be the lower one. Which I would assume you would start naming the strings from this string (in which case your ordering is wrong).



This post is not me being argumentative, it's just like you said let's not confuse the new guy!



Kev

 

[Armistice]

I'm with Gorty on this... I always reckon TAB is written the wrong way around!

 

[VomitHatSteve]

I usually think of it as thin string - high tone - high on the tab.

Depending on how many other instruments you're playing with, if you get good at tuning by ear, that can be just about as good as using a tuner.

 

[Scottgman]

The instructions didnt cover this but when you pluck the string, do you still have to hold the subsequent strings at the 5th fret or do you not hold them (just pluck)???

Crunk, when using a tuner, you just pluck the open strings... no need to fret anything. If you are adjusting your intonation, you may want to fret some notes... but for simple tuning, use the open strings.

Good thing i dont have to worry about losing any rep points over this one

I just nailed you with some neg rep for such a stupid question!

[size=-2] (just kidding ) [/size]

 

[tourettes5139]

I usually think of it as thin string - high tone - high on the tab.

Depending on how many other instruments you're playing with, if you get good at tuning by ear, that can be just about as good as using a tuner.

Me too. I like to think of it how you would a normal musical staff. Higher is, well, higher; same for lower. etc... Obviously the best thing to do would be just to get rid of tabs completely and just read everything from sheet music, but I'm nowhere near that point, D) and most guitar players aren't either.

I think I can solve this:

 

[Hard2Hear]

Easter Bunnies Get Drunk After Easter

 

[Scottgman]

Me too. I like to think of it how you would a normal musical staff. Higher is, well, higher; same for lower. etc... Obviously the best thing to do would be just to get rid of tabs completely and just read everything from sheet music, but I'm nowhere near that point, D) and most guitar players aren't either.

I actually think tab is a better system for notating guitar parts than standard sheet music.

You certainly shouldn't be ashamed of using tab.

 

[beezelbubba]

You cannot properly tune your guitar without a tube amp and a mic!