| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 633 Registered: 12-2003 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Thanks guys. Bill, I'm going to try the neck pickup. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6410 Registered: 5-2002 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Yes, that is interesting. | ||
| elwoodblue
Advanced Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 286 Registered: 6-2002 |
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 |
and best-case-scenario for the tuner is to see a sine wave... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 5252 Registered: 6-2000 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
wave on... which are the good ones at a nice price? | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 1007 Registered: 12-2004 |
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 |
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 |
...one that's a little more advanced than this one:  I doubt that I can mod this. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1377 Registered: 10-2003 |
I don't know how much they cost, I've just always had access to some really nice HP gear through family or work.. |
