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Old 12-02-2017, 09:32 AM
MC5C MC5C is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tatamagouche Nova Scotia
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Surprised that no one has mentioned equal temperament in a discussion of playing out of tune. The guitar is built with equal temperament, so the only interval that is truly in tune is the octave, the fifth is very close. Major and minor thirds are quite sharp and flat, respectively, major and minor sixths ditto. Since modern manufacturing makes it relatively easy (not that it happens in all cases) to make a guitar with the frets, nut and the bridge in the right place, a lot of what you hear with sensitive hearing is the fundamental design of the instrument being out of tune. Naturally, a luthier can and should finesse the nut, bridge saddle and action height to suit the strings chosen and the players touch, but if the octaves are in tune (all the octaves, not just open and 12th fret), then the rest is up to physics.

Brian
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Brian Evans
Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia.
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