Tuning

Tuning

I spent some time at a music store recently and talking to one of the guys there, the subject of tuning and staying in tune came up.
 

We compared a few techniques, and some stories and I thought I’d share them with you all.

First off, the standard guitar, and how the western music scale interact, means the guitar really can’t be in tune 100%. This is a deep concept, and I don’t want to cover that subject, but it’s true. There are nut’s that can be installed, such as Buzzy Feitein or earvana. They do compensate for these inconsistencies. However this falls into the “if it was good enough for all those before me, I can live with without those modifications” category. 
 

When tuning up, it’s tune up, not tune down. If you leave an instrument unplayed, depending upon all sorts of factors like heat or cold, on a stand, or in a case, some strings may go sharp. Using a tuner and then lowering the offending strings to pitch, not really a good thing. You’re basically loosening a string. Ever loosen up a bolt, it’s like that. Once it’s loosened, it can detune further easily. Sharp strings, should be detuned flat, below the desired pitch, then tuned up to pitch. There’s less chance for slippage. Same thing if dropping the E string to D. on wound strings it’s really noticeable. I can’t say how many times I detuned, and then during the song it went really out. 
 

Also it’s my preference to start tuning any guitar from the G string (insert underwear jokes here). Then doing the D, then the B, then the A, followed by the high E string, and finally the low E string. Piano players tune from the center octave out, to evenly spread the tension, and this is the same concept.
 

When playing around the house, I usually tune by ear. If I’m trying to learn a song, I try to tune to the recording. In these cases a tuner isn’t a necessity for me. As long as I’m in tune with everything else I’m OK. I have a couple of inexpensive clip on tuners, as well as a pedal on my main pedalboard, and an old Boss TU-2 nearby my recording work area.

If I’m recording at home (and anyplace else), I use a tuner. Trying to lay down additional tracks to an out of tune guitar is a nightmare.

 I talked to a friend at a music store and he recalled a session where a singer songwriter shrugged off the suggestion for an electronic tuner for his acoustic guitar. He tuned to a Pitch fork. The engineer insisted he use an electric tuner. The artist insisted that a true musician should be able to tune his own instrument by ear. His Guitars and Vocals went down easily, but when it came time to add acoustic piano, it wasn’t working. It was out just enough to be annoying. The engineer pointed out that if he used an electronic tuner this wouldn’t be the case. The artist had to re-tune his guitar to the piano, and re-do his tracks for all of the songs he had already done, as well as the vocal takes. At the end of the sessions the Engineer gave a clip on tuner to the artist as a gift. The artist responded, “Why do I need this?”

Someone on Facebook recently posted “A tuner is like a breath mint, if you’re offered one, you need it.”I don’t remember who, but it’s still true.