Does anyone besides me have trouble tuning an acoustic guitar to where it sounds correct? I've used 4 different tuners on this acoustic guitar (solid top Epi 00 size parlour guitar). It tone out absolutely correct on each tuner and sounds terrible. I end up tuning G,A and E by ear and it sounds great. I don't have a problem with electric guitars I guess because they have adjustable intonation. Maybe I need a different nut, it is a compensated nut, but maybe it's incorrect. Just wondered if anyone else ran into this problem and what they did to fix it. Thanks!!
acoustic tuning???
- Thread starter darnright
- Start date
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: acoustic tuning???
If you have a compensated nut, aren't you supposed to use a tuner with the equivalent setting? (If you have Buzz Feiten, you need a tuner with Buzz Feiten mode) Or is that just for intonation?
Guitar intonation always sounds wrong to me, I came from a wind background where you are EXPECTED to lower the major 3rd 13 cents, raise the 5th 2 cents, etc. When I tune by chords I always end up chasing it around the neck, instead I use harmonics and adjust the G a touch until it's a good enough compromise for me.
If you have a compensated nut, aren't you supposed to use a tuner with the equivalent setting? (If you have Buzz Feiten, you need a tuner with Buzz Feiten mode) Or is that just for intonation?
Guitar intonation always sounds wrong to me, I came from a wind background where you are EXPECTED to lower the major 3rd 13 cents, raise the 5th 2 cents, etc. When I tune by chords I always end up chasing it around the neck, instead I use harmonics and adjust the G a touch until it's a good enough compromise for me.
Bludave
New member
Re: acoustic tuning???
I think je meams a compensated saddle. That would make sense.
Epi's are decent acoustics, but they do cut corners in some areas, like tuning machines and nut/saddle material. Would I would recommend is to take your guitar to a competent tech and have a new nut and saddle cut for the guitar. This should solve any issues with tuning. Some plastic nuts and saddles get grooves worn in them pretty quickly. This will cause some intonation probelms. It would be worth the investment to have a new nut and saddle cut. Get it made form bone. The guitar will sound tremendously better because of it.
I think je meams a compensated saddle. That would make sense.
Epi's are decent acoustics, but they do cut corners in some areas, like tuning machines and nut/saddle material. Would I would recommend is to take your guitar to a competent tech and have a new nut and saddle cut for the guitar. This should solve any issues with tuning. Some plastic nuts and saddles get grooves worn in them pretty quickly. This will cause some intonation probelms. It would be worth the investment to have a new nut and saddle cut. Get it made form bone. The guitar will sound tremendously better because of it.
Sludgenutz
New member
Re: acoustic tuning???
Check out this method for acoustics. It works nicely for acoustics, especially those you never played, or just seen for the first time:
Tune the top E string.
Fret the B string at the fifth fret, and tune in unison to the top E string.
Fret the G string at the ninth fret, and tune it in unison to the top E string.
Fret the D string at the fourteenth fret, and tune it in unison to the top E string.
Fret the A string at the seventh fret, and tune to the to the E string (it will be E, but one octave down).
Fret low E at the twelfth fret, and tune it to the high E string (it will be E, but one octave down).
No method is completely accurate, but this method does split the differences in a pleasing manner. It is also rapid, once you get the hang of it.
Check out this method for acoustics. It works nicely for acoustics, especially those you never played, or just seen for the first time:
Tune the top E string.
Fret the B string at the fifth fret, and tune in unison to the top E string.
Fret the G string at the ninth fret, and tune it in unison to the top E string.
Fret the D string at the fourteenth fret, and tune it in unison to the top E string.
Fret the A string at the seventh fret, and tune to the to the E string (it will be E, but one octave down).
Fret low E at the twelfth fret, and tune it to the high E string (it will be E, but one octave down).
No method is completely accurate, but this method does split the differences in a pleasing manner. It is also rapid, once you get the hang of it.
Last edited:
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: acoustic tuning???
Interesting way of doing it ,but i would start with the heavier tension strings first.
Viz;I start with the E 6th. check to see if the octave at the 12th fret matches and also the harmonic played at the 12th fret. I do this to all strings.
from the 6th to the 1st.
Then i will play the 7th fret on all to see if they are playing the same note and harmonic on the 7th fret;and cross reference them to the adjacent string at the 12 fret note and harmonic.[this check is for the E-A-D and G. G>D D>A etc.]
Then i will check the harmonic and note on the A string ,at the 7th fret;to see if they match the note and harmonic on the 1st at the 12th fret.Finally i will check the E[7th fret note and harmonic] and B[12 fret note and harmonic]
I start with my reference as A=446Hz.
I also start by tuning UP to the note.Tune down to it and you stand a chance the string will tune down slightly ,the moment you put any tension[and heat ] on it.
:kabong:
Interesting way of doing it ,but i would start with the heavier tension strings first.
Viz;I start with the E 6th. check to see if the octave at the 12th fret matches and also the harmonic played at the 12th fret. I do this to all strings.
from the 6th to the 1st.
Then i will play the 7th fret on all to see if they are playing the same note and harmonic on the 7th fret;and cross reference them to the adjacent string at the 12 fret note and harmonic.[this check is for the E-A-D and G. G>D D>A etc.]
Then i will check the harmonic and note on the A string ,at the 7th fret;to see if they match the note and harmonic on the 1st at the 12th fret.Finally i will check the E[7th fret note and harmonic] and B[12 fret note and harmonic]
I start with my reference as A=446Hz.
I also start by tuning UP to the note.Tune down to it and you stand a chance the string will tune down slightly ,the moment you put any tension[and heat ] on it.
:kabong:
Last edited:
baritone
Well-known member
Re: acoustic tuning???
I've come up with my own way of "intonating" an acoustic guitar.
Start by deciding which position you play in the most. If you find yourself playing all over the neck, for example up to the 12th fret, then use a chromatic tuner to tune the open string and the 12th-fret fretted note so they are equally off from being in tune. Byt this method, every note you play will be slightly off, and only 1 or 2 strings will be at least close to perfect.
As another example, if you only strum open-position chords, tuning perfectly across the 2nd or 3rd fret could work. But in general, this is why tuning with the 5th-fretted notes helps with acoutsic guitars (the beginner method of tuning). Comparing the 5th-fretted note with an open string is going to reveal the imperfections of intonation, and the player is more likely to make tiny adjustments to compensate.
I've come up with my own way of "intonating" an acoustic guitar.
Start by deciding which position you play in the most. If you find yourself playing all over the neck, for example up to the 12th fret, then use a chromatic tuner to tune the open string and the 12th-fret fretted note so they are equally off from being in tune. Byt this method, every note you play will be slightly off, and only 1 or 2 strings will be at least close to perfect.
As another example, if you only strum open-position chords, tuning perfectly across the 2nd or 3rd fret could work. But in general, this is why tuning with the 5th-fretted notes helps with acoutsic guitars (the beginner method of tuning). Comparing the 5th-fretted note with an open string is going to reveal the imperfections of intonation, and the player is more likely to make tiny adjustments to compensate.
Philcguitars
New member
Re: acoustic tuning???
I have to say that I have come across this issue myself.
I have to say that I have come across this issue myself.
