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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive through November 11, 2010 » Archive: 2008 » Archive through April 27, 2008 » Tuning a guitar « Previous Next »

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jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 633
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 12:38 pm:   Edit Post

I've been playing guitar (6 string) for over 20 years and am starting to have questions about how I tune.

1. Do you pluck the string just enough to register the note or with the same force as while playing?

2. Is it best to use a pick or just a finger?

3. Do you take the initial reading or let the note ring for a second or two?

4. Does it matter which pickup you've selected?

5. If the tuner is in a long pedal chain, is it more accurate to be first or can it be last?




Thoughts?

Regards,

Jonathan

p.s. Bill, I still have yet to but a Peterson Strobe Tuner. I'm reluctant because the Boss fits perfectly on the pedalboard and functions as a mute switch as well.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1932
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 1:10 pm:   Edit Post

Here's my take:

1. Doesn't matter, but I usually go easy because of #3.

2. Shouldn't matter - Doesn't on a bass as far as I can tell.

3. I let it ring a little. Probably not two seconds, but at least a half second. The initial attack could be a little sharp, especially if you pluck it hard, compared to the sustained note. If a quick note is off by a hair, it won't stick out as ugly. On the other hand, a sustained note that's off key will show to the careful listener.

4. Probably not, I never worry about it, but the bridge pickup might be more consistent.

5. Why would you want something in the signal chain that isn't necessary to the signal? I prefer to keep it separate. As such, I couldn't tell you whether it's better at the front or back. I would suppose the front would allow you to tune accurately without turning off all of your effects.

-bob
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3023
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 2:14 pm:   Edit Post

One thing I disagree with Bob on is which pickup to use. I have always found that the neck pickup seems to give the clearest signal, and I seem to recall reading something once that stated to use the neck pickup - the one closest to the center. I hit the string with a pick the same way and with the same force as I'm going to be playing. I use the tuner out on my Ernie Ball Volume pedal for the tuner. I can just move the pedal all the way back to mute the signal. The tuner out still passes a signal. Get a Peterson, you'll never go back.

Bill, tgo
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 634
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 5:59 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks guys.

Bill, I'm going to try the neck pickup.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 6410
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 6:58 am:   Edit Post

4 - It seems to me that the bridge pickup signal should be cleaner.

5 - I would think having it first in the chain would be preferable so that you can quickly tune without having to turn off all the other effects.
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1342
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 9:42 am:   Edit Post

This just may be my lack of experience showing but as far as which pick up wouldn't one want to tune using the same configuration as most often played?

Sam
edwin
Advanced Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 327
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 1:13 am:   Edit Post

The bridge pickup is less clean because it contains more harmonics, while the neck gives a stronger fundamental. You should pick lightly and let it sustain. There are some good tuning tips over at the Peterson site.

Edwin
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1937
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 2:42 am:   Edit Post

Interesting! So you guys are saying that even though the bridge pickup provides a "tighter" tone, the higher harmonic content means that it is more likely to generate false readings on the tuner. I will have to investigate that.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1372
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 5:49 am:   Edit Post

Neck pickup is best for me, not so much so now that I've got flatwounds though...

John
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 6421
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 7:07 pm:   Edit Post

Yes, that is interesting.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 286
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 8:40 pm:   Edit Post

Think of all the harmonics possible(all the way to infinity in an ideal situation) as you move towards the end of the string.
Picking there and listening there you are more likely have a timbre
with those smaller wavelengths at a higher amplitude. ...

The tuner hears more of
the fifth,


the third,

the seventh ,
...higher octaves...
..on and on..
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1375
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 11:53 am:   Edit Post

and best-case-scenario for the tuner is to see a sine wave...
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5252
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 12:23 pm:   Edit Post

For fun, try to pluck at the 12th fret - or more accurately at the exact center of the string. You should completely eliminate the second harmonic if you get it exactly at the center. I've been looking at the spectrum analyzer alot lately.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1939
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post

I have been working on my recording skills of late and doing a lot of playing with the spectrum analyzer as well. These are very cool toys to understand what's going on in tones.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 292
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 6:30 am:   Edit Post

Does anyone have a good realtime analyzer/oscilloscope software recommendation?
... or should I look for some hardware.
...maybe one of those nifty laptops :-)
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1376
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 6:48 am:   Edit Post

Spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes are fun. Before too long you'll be looking for odd stuff everywhere to analyze. Don't ask me how I might know this.. ;)

John
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 293
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 7:14 am:   Edit Post

wave on...
which are the good ones at a nice price?
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 1007
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

Didn't The Ron bring a software based spectrum analyzer (running on an OLPC, no less!) to the Northern Cal get-together?

Perhaps Mica might know more?
crobbins
Intermediate Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 117
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 8:46 am:   Edit Post

Turn the volume all the way up on the guitar, plug into the tuner, pluck the harmonic at the 12th fret.......:-)
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 294
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post

...one that's a little more advanced than this one:tex laptop

I doubt that I can mod this.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1377
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, April 05, 2008 - 1:28 pm:   Edit Post

I don't know how much they cost, I've just always had access to some really nice HP gear through family or work..

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