Electric Guitars

[jds22]

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?

[LesPaulFetish]

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.

[3 Headed Moses]

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.

[J-E-M]

Slow, continuous downstrokes.

[jds22]

Slow, continuous downstrokes.

That's what she said.

[killthehippies…]

yep. neck pickup, strum over the neck, let it ring a bit. tune.

[tlbonehead]

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.

[dparr]

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.

[billybilly]

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.

[JTEES4]

It's just an aid to me...I ultimately trust my ears.

[xrleroyx]

Snark.

[DaveAronow]

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.

[photon9]

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

[noisebloom]

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. :idk:

[csm]

+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.

[twisty571]

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.

[tlbonehead]

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.

[honeyiscool]

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.

[warriorpoet]

Turbo Tuner The end. PS. Makes a great mute switch, too.

[codecontra]

Turbo Tuner

The 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.