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  #1  
Old 07-15-2022, 08:57 PM
Leo MacIntosh Leo MacIntosh is offline
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Question Do open strings have unison notes?

Hello, I understand the difference between octaves and unisons, but I can't figure out if a guitar tuned to standard has unison notes that match its open strings.

If so, please tell me where they are on the fretboard.

Look at this diagram L I N K
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Old 07-15-2022, 09:23 PM
phydaux phydaux is offline
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Low E 5th fret is unison to open A. That's why you're able to use those notes to tune the guitar.
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Old 07-15-2022, 09:57 PM
Chipotle Chipotle is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo MacIntosh View Post
Hello, I understand the difference between octaves and unisons, but I can't figure out if a guitar tuned to standard has unison notes that match its open strings.

If so, please tell me where they are on the fretboard.

Look at this diagram L I N K
I'm not quite sure what that diagram is trying to get across, other than unison notes are one fret closer together when you're playing the 2nd & 3rd strings. Probably context of some lesson I don't have...

But unison notes to open strings are what we usually use to tune, as phydaux says. As you get higher up the strings, there are more unison notes to higher pitches. You should see a pattern--the same as that "All F Unison notes" in the diagram.

Open 6th string, E: no unison note
Open 5th string, A: 6th string, 5th fret
Open 4th string, D: 5th string, 5th fret; 6th string 10th fret
Open 3rd string, G: 4th string, 5th fret; 5th string 10th fret; 6th string 15th fret
Open 2nd string, B: 3rd string 4th fret; 4th string 9th fret; 5th string 14th fret; 6th string 19th fret
Open 1st string, E: 2nd string 5th fret; 3rd string 9th fret; 4th string 14th fret; 5th string 19th fret

Is that what you want to know?
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Old 07-15-2022, 09:59 PM
Leo MacIntosh Leo MacIntosh is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
Low E 5th fret is unison to open A. That's why you're able to use those notes to tune the guitar.
Thanks. So it goes like this:

High open E string is the unison of fifth fret B string
Open B string is the unison of fourth fret G string
Open G string is the unison of fifth fret D string
Open D string is the unison of fifth fret A string
Open A string is the unison of fifth fret low E string

Does the low open E string have a unison note?

I suppose not.

There are no stupid questions, only stupid people.



Last edited by Leo MacIntosh; 07-15-2022 at 10:16 PM.
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Old 07-15-2022, 11:00 PM
Chipotle Chipotle is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo MacIntosh View Post
Thanks. So it goes like this:

High open E string is the unison of fifth fret B string
Open B string is the unison of fourth fret G string
Open G string is the unison of fifth fret D string
Open D string is the unison of fifth fret A string
Open A string is the unison of fifth fret low E string
These, plus going to higher frets on lower strings , as I noted in my post above.

Quote:
Does the low open E string have a unison note?
No, it can't, because it is the lowest note on the guitar. All other notes are higher, so you can only have octaves above. There is no string lower that you can play at a higher pitch to get unison with the low E.
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Old 07-15-2022, 11:09 PM
Leo MacIntosh Leo MacIntosh is offline
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Thank you, Chipotle.

I found that unison diagram when watching this YouTube lesson: L I N K

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Old 07-17-2022, 05:54 AM
Italuke Italuke is offline
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Hmmm, right. Some notes (pitches actually) on any stringed instrument can only be played in one place.
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Old 07-17-2022, 08:08 AM
CASD57 CASD57 is offline
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Counting the note your on... up the fret board(higher) 1-2-3 and then down to the high "E" string 1-2-3 unison note

if the down 1-2-3 goes into the "B" Or "E" string than it's 1-2-3-4 higher the than 3 down

Going towards the first fret or down the fret board it's 4 down and 4 back towards fret 1

If it enters "B" or "E" string it's 4 down and 3 towards the 1st fret


Probably confused you but pull out a fret board picture and you will see it
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  #9  
Old 07-21-2022, 02:48 PM
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rick-slo rick-slo is offline
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Unison notes have the same pitch but not the same timber and quality. The degree of that varies and what is acceptable and what is not.
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