Favorite Chord to Verify Tuning

[RGCC]

Since tuning is a big topic here most days I am just wondering what your favorite chord is to satisfy your ears after you have finished your particular tuning method.

If you don't know the chord name just show the finger positions on the applicable
frets.

Thanks

[sam.spoons]

Depends on the context and possibly the key the tune I'm about to play is in but as often as not it'll be open G.

[egordon99]

If I get it perfectly in tune for an E chord, the D chord won’t sound right. And so on and so on. So I try to get it to sound somewhat in tune when playing pretty much all the open chords. It won’t be perfect for any single chord but it will allow me to play songs using different chords/keys.

Look up “temperament” of you want to understand why that is.

[weshunter]

Originally Posted by sam.spoons

Depends on the context and possibly the key the tune I'm about to play is in but as often as not it'll be open G.

Same here, although usually I check a couple, I start with open G (b string open) and then check at least open E also.

[TBman]

When in standard, after tuning I would play the D chord at the open position.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by RGCC

Since tuning is a big topic here most days I am just wondering what your favorite chord is to satisfy your ears after you have finished your particular tuning method.

If you don't know the chord name just show the finger positions on the applicable
frets.

Thanks

Hi RGCG
If I'm in Dropped D, then some form of D chord…usually

x
3 - index
m - middle muting
5 - middle
0
0

If it's key of E, just a standard Emaj chord

If G

5 - pinky
0
0
0
m
3 - ring

If A

9 - ring
10- middle
9 - index
x
0
x

[Doug Young]

I generally check by playing something real - the tune I'm about to play, or sections of it. With fingerstyle, especially alternate tunings, perhaps, I end up with a fair number of unisons or octaves - open strings played against a fretted version of the same note. I try to check those, as they'll be the most obvious if they're wrong. So in standard tuning, I might check 2nd string, 5th fret against open 1st, then 9th fret third string against open first. 4th fret, 3rd string, and 9th fret 4th string against 2nd string. 12th fret, 5th string harmonic against 2nd fret 3rd string, etc. Full 6-string chords are less useful for what I do.

[Methos1979]

Mine is not a chord but rather a riff. It's the opening intro riff I play for Forever Young. Basically it consists of plucking the open D string and hammering on then off at the second fret then going to the G chord to C chord plucked and back to the G. The most crucial part of this intro besides telling me if all the strings are in tune is the G note fretted on the low E. I frequently tune with the open E flat a few cents otherwise the fretted G note is sharp and the G chord then sounds off. This riff instantly tells me if I've nailed that sweetened tuning.

[RGCC]

Great replies...thanks all

in std tuning my go to check chord is:

e-0
b-0
g-1
d-4
a-2
E-0

[Mr. Jelly]

I like to play a D shape G chord at the 7th fret.

[egordon99]

Originally Posted by RGCC

Great replies...thanks all

in std tuning my go to check chord is:

e-0
b-0
g-1
d-4
a-2
E-0

That's an Eadd2; nice sounding chord!

[NormanKliman]

I posted this a few months ago. These chords in this order:

-------------
-------------
--------6---
------7-----
----0-------
--5---------

-------------
--------5---
------5-----
----0-------
--5---------
-------------

--------7---
------8-----
----0-------
--5---------
-------------
-------------

--------7---
------0-----
----4-------
--5---------
-------------
-------------

------------0---
----------0-----
--------7-------
------6---------
----7-----------
--0-------------

And a few more E chords. In the last one, check first and sixth strings at seventh fret, too.

[Gordon Currie]

I generally use a few, but always end up with one or both of these chords:

(low to high, number is the fret)

025232
x46200

there are some close voicings and intervals in there that tend to sound off if the tuning isn't just right.

[rick-slo]

Thirds are usually the nastiest. So worth checking in standard tuning:

---2------------0-----5
---------0-------------
------------------------
---0------------------3
----------------3------
---------3-------------

Can also listen for beats:

-----------------------
-----------------------
------------------0---
----------0-------5-------
---0------5--------------
---5--------------------

[JonPR]

I play a whole variety of chords. Mainly the chords I'm going to use for the song!

As the others say, if one chord sounds perfectly in tune, others probably won't, so it's always a compromise. Even with a perfect set-up, that's the nature of the instrument (and of equal temperament).