Members jds22 Posted July 14, 2012 Members Share Posted July 14, 2012 I know this sounds like a stupid question but I'm serious. This is in regards to using an electric tuner of some sort. I've heard some say that they tune to the initial pick attack before the note falls flat. Others let the note ring for a few seconds and tune to that. I've also read somewhere that some tune each string a few cents off from each other. Is all of this just BS or is there really a proper way to use an electronic tuner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LesPaulFetish Posted July 14, 2012 Members Share Posted July 14, 2012 With my tuner, it doesn't jump around a whole lot so I just do whatever. Switch to your neck pickup and use your fingers (from the Turbo Tuner site I believe) to sort of get around that. That's what I'd do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 3 Headed Moses Posted July 14, 2012 Members Share Posted July 14, 2012 I use a BOSS TU-3 and it doesn't seem to jump around a lot either. But I do let it ring a bit before I make a judgment and I usually tune with both pickups (or at least two) wide open. I've never heard of keeping strings a few cents off though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J-E-M Posted July 14, 2012 Members Share Posted July 14, 2012 Slow, continuous downstrokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jds22 Posted July 15, 2012 Author Members Share Posted July 15, 2012 Slow, continuous downstrokes. That's what she said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members killthehippies45 Posted July 15, 2012 Members Share Posted July 15, 2012 yep. neck pickup, strum over the neck, let it ring a bit. tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted July 15, 2012 Members Share Posted July 15, 2012 according to the instructions on the ones I've had, use the initial strike, being careful to pluck lightly so that you aren't plucking the string sharp. So I do light multiple picking and tune to that. I always fine-tune by ear to my playing after using a tuner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dparr Posted July 15, 2012 Members Share Posted July 15, 2012 according to the instructions on the ones I've had, use the initial strike, being careful to pluck lightly so that you aren't plucking the string sharp. So I do light multiple picking and tune to that. I always fine-tune by ear to my playing after using a tuner. ^ This. ^ I always fine tune after using a tuner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted July 15, 2012 Members Share Posted July 15, 2012 I use mine as a guide then adjust a bit to what I am hearing. I don't have the best ears in the world but over the years I have learned to identify good pitch. I strike the string in accordance to how I play on a whole and listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 It's just an aid to me...I ultimately trust my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xrleroyx Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 Snark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveAronow Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 It's just an aid to me...I ultimately trust my ears. This works until you are on a stage in front of five thousand people. If your goal is to ever play live and not look like an amateur, then you will have to learn to trust your tuner. The only thing worse than dead air in a show, is bands audibly tuning between songs. It screams amateur. A couple of a second little tweak here or there audibly is acceptable and can even be part of the show, particularly dropping from E to D on the E string, etc, but for the most part, no one wants to hear you tune. And, yes, I know some pros still do it, but in my opinion, even they sound like amateurs while they are doing this. Definitely use your ears, develop them, and you should be able to tune your guitar without a tuner. But on stage, you are going to need to learn to trust your tuner in mute mode. You should be checking your tuning regularly live, minimum every few songs or so, even if you think it sounds in tune, and if you are doing this without a tuner in mute mode, you are going to drive the audience crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members photon9 Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 This works until you are on a stage in front of five thousand people.If your goal is to ever play live and not look like an amateur, then you will have to learn to trust your tuner.The only thing worse than dead air in a show, is bands audibly tuning between songs. It screams amateur.A couple of a second little tweak here or there audibly is acceptable and can even be part of the show, particularly dropping from E to D on the E string, etc, but for the most part, no one wants to hear you tune. And, yes, I know some pros still do it, but in my opinion, even they sound like amateurs while they are doing this.Definitely use your ears, develop them, and you should be able to tune your guitar without a tuner.But on stage, you are going to need to learn to trust your tuner in mute mode.You should be checking your tuning regularly live, minimum every few songs or so, even if you think it sounds in tune, and if you are doing this without a tuner in mute mode, you are going to drive the audience crazy. +1000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisebloom Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 Pick lightly and let it ring out for a moment. Sometimes I'll see the note on the mark when I pick it, then it'll go slightly sharp or flat when the note decays. I don't know why it does that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 +1000 + ANOTHER 1000. Only been using a proper pedal tuner (tc polytune) for a year or so now, and can barely figure out how I ever managed without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twisty571 Posted July 16, 2012 Members Share Posted July 16, 2012 I forgot where I read it,maybe the Seymour Duncan site but I could be wrong but I have been doing this. Neck pup with the tone pot rolled all the way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I forgot where I read it,maybe the Seymour Duncan site but I could be wrong but I have been doing this. Neck pup with the tone pot rolled all the way down.the fewer overtones, the better for the tuner to find the actual tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I tune to the sustained note. I figure the initial attack is always a bit sharp and doesn't matter quite as much as the eventual note it settles to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members warriorpoet Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 Turbo Tuner The end. PS. Makes a great mute switch, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members codecontra Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 Turbo TunerThe end.PS. Makes a great mute switch, too. Agreed, the best tuner currently available by a long shot. Literally changed my life. http://www.turbo-tuner.com/ I usually tune after every 2 or 3 songs. Hit the foot switch on the Turbo Tuner to mute my signal and quickly check each string. I flip to the neck pickup, pluck the string gently with my thumb (close to the neck) while muting the other strings. The Turbo Tuner locks on the note REALLY fast so I can tune my guitar in like 30 seconds. I also no longer have to "fine tune" with this tuner after tuning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I forgot where I read it,maybe the Seymour Duncan site but I could be wrong but I have been doing this. Neck pup with the tone pot rolled all the way down. Kind of this for me but I was told many years ago to tune with the guitar set to the bridge pickup with the tone rolled all the way down and if there's no tone pot on the guitar, at least turn the volume knob down to 5 or 7... basically anything to get rid of the prominent attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I said, it's an aid to me...not that I don't use one. What I mean by that is I tune with a tuner first, then adjust with my ears. As far as playing to 5K people, well NO I've never done that, but I did play in front of a few thousand all the time in the late 70's...before we had tuners. So I can attest to the fact that it certainly can be done. This works until you are on a stage in front of five thousand people.If your goal is to ever play live and not look like an amateur, then you will have to learn to trust your tuner.The only thing worse than dead air in a show, is bands audibly tuning between songs. It screams amateur.A couple of a second little tweak here or there audibly is acceptable and can even be part of the show, particularly dropping from E to D on the E string, etc, but for the most part, no one wants to hear you tune. And, yes, I know some pros still do it, but in my opinion, even they sound like amateurs while they are doing this.Definitely use your ears, develop them, and you should be able to tune your guitar without a tuner.But on stage, you are going to need to learn to trust your tuner in mute mode.You should be checking your tuning regularly live, minimum every few songs or so, even if you think it sounds in tune, and if you are doing this without a tuner in mute mode, you are going to drive the audience crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elessar [Sly] Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I have the planet waves turbo tuner. I use it as a mute switch as well. I upgraded from my Artec big dots tuner (which is very handy for stage tuning) and it seemed the best and logical choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I let the note ring for a second or two. Depending on the particular guitar, I sometimes tune flat on the G string by a couple cents, because when fretted they are off a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members caveman Posted July 17, 2012 Members Share Posted July 17, 2012 I forgot where I read it,maybe the Seymour Duncan site but I could be wrong but I have been doing this. Neck pup with the tone pot rolled all the way down. Yep, this does the job on the wound strings but I find that the bridge p'up works best for the plain strings. Tune and give the string a tug and let it snap free. Repeat this process until the tuning stays put. This equalizes the pressure on both sides of the nut/etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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