What a difference the tuner makes

[rick-slo]

Tune by ear almost always. Tune specific compromises exist based partly on chords used. Tuners don't get that.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Tune by ear almost always. Tune specific compromises exist based partly on chords used. Tuners don't get that.

I just assumed that was a given. I've never met a tuner that can handle everything straight out of the box. Still, some are much more effective than others, so I lean toward specific tuners. As I mentioned, the Peterson first as it's most likely to get me closest despite its slow, demanding nature, followed by the T.C., especially if it's not a critical recording scenario. However, both need adjustment depending on the day, the humidity and the song's key, etc.

[brad4d8]

I used to tune to an "A" fork, tuned the "A" string and then did the rest by ear. Then one time I was trying to tune my classical back stage in a noisy environment, 20-30 people all talking, etc. Fortunately, one of the choir singers had an electronic tuner in her purse. After that, I tried a bunch of different tuners and with every one I had to tweak the tuning to match my ear. Until I tried a Petersen Stroboflip and now Stroboclip, matched my ears perfectly!

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

I just assumed that was a given. I've never met a tuner that can handle everything straight out of the box. Still, some are much more effective than others, so I lean toward specific tuners. As I mentioned, the Peterson first as it's most likely to get me closest despite its slow, demanding nature, followed by the T.C., especially if it's not a critical recording scenario. However, both need adjustment depending on the day, the humidity and the song's key, etc.

Yes, let's make it clear it is a given.

For many years I just used a 440 tuning fork to get started. Now have been using that or a Polytune (again to get started). After you tune up the pitch of some
string it's pitch will change due to changes in guitar neck tension as you tune up other strings. Therefore you have to tweak pitches of the different strings as you
go alone. I'm most particular of course about this when setting up to record something.

One interesting thing you can notice with Polytune or similar (or just your ears actually) is how the pitch of a vibrating string changes as a note played on it fades out.
Pitch goes up eventually when fade out progresses far enough.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Pitch goes up eventually when fade out progresses far enough.

Of course it does. The vibration of an open string dies at the ends first and the center last. So the vibrating part of the string gets shorter and the pitch goes up. Meaning the tuner reading right when you strike the note is more relevant to your playing than the reading half a second later.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Of course it does. The vibration of an open string dies at the ends first and the center last. So the vibrating part of the string gets shorter and the pitch goes up. Meaning the tuner reading right when you strike the note is more relevant to your playing than the reading half a second later.

Most markedly near the end of fade out. Until then not much. It's partly what you said and partly a change in the balance of overtones.

[leew3]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Tune by ear almost always. Tune specific compromises exist based partly on chords used. Tuners don't get that.

Agreed, but not always possible in a live set up context. My 40+ year old Justina ZenOn tuner was a game changer for me when playing in loud bars many years ago. For the first time I didn't need to hear my guitar to tune it, as this often wasn't possible before plugging in to the PA. It remains my favorite tuner though the one on my Shure wireless system works pretty well live.

[b1j]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Of course it does. The vibration of an open string dies at the ends first and the center last. So the vibrating part of the string gets shorter and the pitch goes up. Meaning the tuner reading right when you strike the note is more relevant to your playing than the reading half a second later.

This was fascinating to read. I’ve never thought about it this way.

[Horseflesh]

This is all very interesting (that's not sarcasm) but what's the bottom line for getting in tune and playing something? I do not have time to master all of the material that has been posted before the next time I plan to play my guitar, in an hour or so.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by Horseflesh

This is all very interesting (that's not sarcasm) but what's the bottom line for getting in tune and playing something? I do not have time to master all of the material that has been posted before the next time I plan to play my guitar, in an hour or so.

Lately, if I'm in a loud spot, can't hear and have to eyeball my tuning, I use my Peterson, set it to the "GTR" sweetened tuning, play bunches of short notes. Or if I only have a Snark, do the same thing and then dip the B string a little.

For me, a bunch of short notes versus one long one seems to matter a lot.

[rick-slo]

The variation in pitch with volume is part of inharmonicity the topic of which I have gone over in some detail in prior threads
though usually in terms of the tightening or lengthening of nodes (fundamental and overtones) as regards to pitch,
scale length and string gauges.