Let’s talk about the “harmonic” method of tuning. Most people know that using the 5th and 7th harmonic to tune doesn’t work. I still walk into guitar stores and see a salesman tune a guitar this way. The only “pure” harmonic is the octive. The 5th and 7th harmonic will be as much a 3 cents off when you use them to tune. And it is accumulative, in other words when you tune this way each error is added to the last. Believe me it doesn’t work. Comments or questions?
I didn’t realize the error was that much. I have done the same thing myself when I didn’t have a tuner. That explains while I still have to play various chords to further tune!
Yes, it is that much. Try it when you have a good tuner and you will see the difference (I recomment a strobe tuner). The problem with cheap tuners is that many of them only have an accuracy of 3 cents. So be careful as this can cause the “tweaking” you mention just as much as tuning by harmonics. You tune, then the “open” chords sound out of tune. However, due to various tuning methodologies, playing a G in the open position, then switching to a D open position one or the other will sound out of tune. This is due to compensation of the instrument and the fact that when you press down on a string you stretch the string and cause it to be out of tune by its very nature. This was the flaw in Pythagoras’s “Rule of 18″. I suggest to my clients that if the chords played in the open position sound too “out of tune”, then tune to all “E” notes. Tune the 1st string to open E, then tune the 2nd string to E at the 5th fret, third string to E at the 9th fret, fourth string to E at the 14th fret, fifth string to E at the 7th fret and sixth string to E at the 12th fret. This adds a small amount of compensation and with some guitars will make a remarkable amount of difference. The next alternative is to use the Earvana or Feiten system to compensate the instrument. They both work in my opinion as I install both systems. I don’t recommend one over the other, I let the client decide based on playing and listening to each.
Wow! That explains a lot of my difficulties. I never considered the part about the string stretching when mashed down – it makes complte sense. I was beginning to think my ears were off!
Also, in all of my years of playing I have never heard of the E method you describe. I will definitely try that method – it must be better than going back and forth between chords trying to strike a happy medium.
This is all very important – I would think proper tuning is the foundation of the sound coming from your guitar – without it nothing else matters. No amount of playing skill can correct the result of poor tuning! Thanks for the suggestion!
OK, I tried the E method you described. To take it a step further I used my 12 string. My cheapo tuner wasn’t handy so I tuned the first to an electric that had been tuned through a built in tuner on an amp. I matched the others by ear and went through them twice.
What a difference that makes! I test drove it on From the Beginning by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. I has an introduction using notes in various places along the E and B string from 11th fret down to open strings. The main song uses regular open chords, and open chords played in various positions on the neck through the 5th fret.
It really sounded good with none of the usual adjustments. If I use even my cheaper tuner it will probably get it in even closer, although it sounded OK to me as it was. Thanks for sharing that cool tip!
What are the fundamental differences between the Earvana and Feiten tuning systems you mentioned? Thanks.