Checking your tuning...

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

This is something my new friend Edd taught me. After tuning your guitar, play a D on the low E string (10th fret) and then play an open D string. Tuning by octaves! Then play a G on the 10th fret A string and match it to the open G string. Then play a B on the 9th fret D string and match it to the open B string. Lastly play a E on the 9th fret G string and match it to the open (high) E string. I hereby dubb this method the "Edd Check". Be God's-scott

PunkStar · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 9:29 pm Post subject:

That's one way. But there is an easier way which people also do.

You can check the guitar is in tune by comparing the 5th fret note on the E string with the open A string. They should sound exactly the same pitchwise. Below is a little table to say which frets to play to compare with the open string.

5th fret E string = A string
5th fret A string = D string
5th fret D string = G string
4th fret G string = B string
5th fret B string = high E string

Either way, both methods are good. But I haven't heard of the Edd method. Edd check it is.

jeff_osu · Tiger Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 838 Location: Oklahoma

And so it was forevermore.

I never could remember which string wasn't 5th fret for that method. Awesome.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

Thanks punkstar, but I should have explained. The method you describe is the one most guitar players learn first. I have been using it for 25 years. Many people use harmonics at the 5th and 7th fret. About 5 years ago I started tuning my D string to the piano and using octaves around the 2nd and 3rd fret. It seemed to give me a better feel for the whole guitar rather than concentrating on "parts" and then trying to put the parts together. An "Edd check" allows me to check the guitar's intonation-how well strings stay in tune up the neck. Be God's-scott

Brian · Pit Bull Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 373

My Dad worked as a luthier's assistant for years. If I remember this right the fingerboard is layed out on the 12th root of 2 which is not exact and doesn't take string stretch into account. And the guitar uses 'equal temperament' wheras pianos use 'tempered' tuning because it is more pleasing to the ear. The Buzz Feiten System and Earvana nut (that I had installed on my Telecaster and L5) are supposed to compensate for this and keep strings more in tune throughout the fingerboard.

Does using the Edd octave system work for keeping 1st position open chords in tune?

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

Brian, you already know more about the technical aspect of tuning than me. I've read that the Earvana nut doesn't really solve the problem of equal temperment past the first 5 frets or so, where as the Buzz Feiten system consists of individual offsets for each string to find a happy medium. Some day I would like to get my tele Feitenized-a local luthier can do it for under $200.00. Tuning is always a compromise- the Edd check just gives me a idea of intonation up the neck. And I thought i knew all the ways to check your tuning after 25 yrs-here's a new one and I thought I would share it. So how can you tell when a guitar player is out of tune?

Simple...his fingers are moving. Be God's-scott

Brian · Pit Bull Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 373

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

I believe the perminant alteration is moving the nut slightly closer to the frets. The rest is just the formula for the individual string length adjustment (I think). Yeah, $200.00 for the "right" to use his formula and a slight adjustment to the nut and another $100.00 for the tuner. Right now that seems like a lot. I'm currently using the "compensated" barrel tuners from Graph Tec on my Tele. I've not noticed a difference in tuning really but they seem to sustain a little longer. And they look cool-black matches the pickup and the pickguard! So do you notice the difference with the Earvana? Is it worth the money?

pretty.rock.machine · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

Does anyone else tune using a piano? Usually I just pull the cover off my mom's piano and check that way.

Steve · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 5:59 pm Post subject:

PunkStar · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:39 pm Post subject:

The bassist and worship leader at church tune off the piano all the time. And I usually tune off them. But we have a nice digital piano, so we don't have the tuning trouble. But at home I use a tuner if I ever bother at all. The tuning usually isn't so far out that it needs it.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

Yeah, PRM I tune with our piano when I play acoustic in the morning service. But this method I use when playing electric lead where you bend strings and go nuts!

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:15 am Post subject:

I would be lost without my tuner. I can tell when my guitar is out, but just can't get it "in". I guess I'm tone deaf. I still spend a few minutes a month working on getting better. It has always impressed me to see someone tune by ear.

pretty.rock.machine · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 2:45 pm Post subject:

Yeah, my mom's piano is electric. Luckly I remember enough when she taught me (and since I retaught myself standard notation) that I can figure everything out. Cool