The system of pitches used by an instrument or in a piece of music, or the practice of adjusting the pitches that instruments or voices produce to be in accordance with the chosen system.
4
votes
2answers
580 views
Lap Steel Tuning for more “modern” music?
I have a six-string lap steel that so far I have kept in C6 (CEGACE). I like it because I can play major or minor on it, but the tuning is seemingly built for hawaiian and classic country work, and ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I effectively secure guitar strings to the tuning pegs?
One of the bigger problems I face when restringing my guitars is properly securing the strings to the pegs.
How should I wind the strings around the pegs before tightening them to prevent the string ...
0
votes
3answers
739 views
Ibanez Edge III Tremolo has 2 'Zero' points
You may have heard about my earlier Ibanez Edge-III tremolo woes (I'm finding out that the thing is as bad as it's made out to be by experienced players).
Now I've got a new one. I've found that the ...
4
votes
4answers
229 views
Reference tuning pitch
I was having problems with my bass guitars, fender JB and P bass and an epiphone viola. After several trips to my local music store, the instruments were checked and I was told they were in tune. ...
9
votes
3answers
131 views
What is the reason for pitch inflation?
There's this phenomenon among instrumentalists to constantly raise the pitch of the concert A. This generally occurs among string players, since the range of tunings for woodwinds, for example, is ...
4
votes
5answers
170 views
What am I doing wrong when tuning the violin using a web application?
I don't know anything about violins, and I won't have time for a tutor until much later.
When attempting to tune my violin, I was advised to get a digital violin tuner. Alright. But before I go get ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
If Irish button accordions are typically B/C how and why are they often played in D or G?
On choosing a two-row button accordion...
B/C is the usual choice for Irish music (players use both rows in order to play mainly in D or G, but the instrument is almost chromatic).
Is this ...
5
votes
4answers
411 views
What are the various methods of tuning the guitar?
This is not a question as much as it is a discussion. I am curious to know what are the different techniques to tune the guitar (using standard tuning) given you know that one string is in tune. I ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Why are orchestras tuned differently?
In 1936 American Standards Association (and the International Organization for Standardization in 1955) accepted that A would be tuned at 440 Hz (or cycles per second). Yet despite the fact that a ...
5
votes
1answer
108 views
How to tune crotales
At our school, we are playing a piece called "Metal", composed by Brian Balmages. The percussion part denotes the crotales and glockenspiel playing together quite often. TThere is a major problem with ...
5
votes
3answers
221 views
Saxophone sometimes out of tune by nearly a fourth
Our band's saxophonist has a bizzare intermittent fault with his soprano sax (so normally uses his tenor or alto sax).
Sometimes it's fine and sings beautifully, but other times it'll be out of tune ...
48
votes
7answers
2k views
Why is the guitar tuned like it is?
Why is there that funny tuning kink between the G and B string on a guitar in standard tuning? I.e., the (musical) gap between the rest of the adjoining strings is 5 frets (or a perfect fourth), but ...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
Perfect pitch and tuning forks
Ok. So I consider myself to have pretty good pitch. If you give me a few seconds after you sound a note, I can tell you what the note is. I can also tune a timpani to any pitch using only my mouth ...
5
votes
4answers
88 views
Memorising the fretboard when using dropped tunings?
I'm trying to memorise the notes on the fretboard so that I can more easily apply some of the chordal and scale theory I've been learning, but I downtune quite a lot (half-step down, whole step down, ...
10
votes
9answers
4k views
Why is dropped D tuning used so often?
Many metal/rock songs use dropped D tuning. What reasons are there for it?
6
votes
11answers
226 views
How do you tune your guitar?
I'd like to hear about the different techniques of tuning a guitar with standard tuning, and why you use them.
4
votes
0answers
27 views
Tips for tuning a dulcimer/psaltery/etc with arthritis?
An acquaintance who has arthritis in her hands is interested in learning to play the hammered dulcimer and has asked me for an introduction to the instrument to help her decide. I believe I can teach ...
1
vote
2answers
50 views
creating a simple instrument tuned to a specific frequency
I would like to create a very simple percussion instrument that would match the resonant frequency of an echo-y cave I occasionally visit. Currently I am thinking of using a metal bar, but I don't ...
10
votes
7answers
660 views
How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?
I came across this string stretcher device. It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning.
I never really made a point to properly stretch newly strung strings. Can anyone ...
5
votes
2answers
57 views
How to Tune a 10-hole Harmonica?
My harmonica went out of tune, what should I do? Do i need to dissemble it for tuning?
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Does using a whammy bar detune your guitar?
Will regular use of a whammy bar cause your guitar strings to come out of tune significantly faster than normal?
17
votes
9answers
8k views
Why do some artists tune their guitars half a step or whole step down?
Is there a reason some guitarists tune down half or whole steps, other than preference or style?
It bugs me sometimes when I would like to play along with a song only to find that it's played down ...
5
votes
5answers
281 views
Tuning a tuning fork?
I just purchased a new 440 Hz tuning fork. But several different computer, iPad and iPhone tuners say it's almost half a percent sharp (around 442) of Concert A.
Is there any way to adjust the ...
8
votes
6answers
3k views
Useful tuning for 7 or 8 string guitars
So, I'm looking to add an Ibanez 7 or 8 string to my guitar zoo, but although I have looked into various standard tunings I am trying to figure out practical tunings so I can rapidly add the new ...
9
votes
3answers
476 views
Why Is Just Intonation Impractical?
I've read about the debate of "just intonation" vs 12-tone equal temperament. And nowhere it was clearly stated why just intonation is impractical. Here are my assumptions. Please let me know if I am ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Should guitar be de-tuned when not in use…?
I bought a GB&A guitar almost an year ago. I play guitar mostly on the weekends. Recently I noted that my guitar bridge has got lifted off the body a bit. So I took it to the Guitar Shop. The ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Playing tabs on a guitar tuned down to C#
I'm probably stupid, but can I play a tab in that is in standard tuning, the same way with a guitar tuned down to C#? Will everything just sound lower? Or do I need to get a tab in that tuning?
14
votes
3answers
962 views
How to properly tune drum heads?
I would like to know if there are any tips on tuning drumheads; I keep hearing harmonics.
3
votes
4answers
538 views
Capo that won't detune my guitar?
I use a Kyser style capo. I don't know any better, but are there better capos? I'm looking for a durable capo that wont drastically put my guitar out of tune when I use it. What kind of capos won't ...
6
votes
2answers
124 views
Guitar getting out of tune quickly
I have a Procraft guitar (made in China) that gets out of tune very quickly - especially after 2-3 minutes of strumming. Specifically, the 4th and 5th strings get out of tune more than the other ...
23
votes
8answers
941 views
Software that allows playing in different temperaments
Do you know of any software out there that will allow me to play in different musical temperaments (e.g. Well temperament and Meantone temperament)? I'm especially interested in software that accepts ...
5
votes
3answers
136 views
Is there a formal term for a recording's pitch being “in the cracks”?
Lots of recordings were (sometimes intentionally) speed up/slowed down before final mastering, so that, even if the band was tuned to concert pitch, it isn't in the released version.
If you have a ...
7
votes
4answers
4k views
Does using a capo put you out of tune?
i just want to ask if using a capo affects the tuning of the strings. I bought my first capo and I played my guitar with the capo on all day long. When I removed the capo, I played another song and it ...
33
votes
6answers
1k views
What's the difference between a G♭ and an F#?
I've heard it said that, whilst on most instruments these notes are played with the same fingerings/technique/etc there is a subtle difference.
This isn't specific to this particular note ...
4
votes
5answers
151 views
Is it better to tune an instrument by procedure, or while playing?
I'm an amateur Guitar player. When I want to tune my Guitar, I follow this formula:
Use a diapason to tune the A note on the third string, second fret
Tune the second string by help of the B on the ...
3
votes
3answers
327 views
Why tune the guitar other than standard?
I have a question. How does tuning come into play in guitar songs? See, I can find the tab of a song in the guitar by ear and I was taught that in tuning standard the fifth fret of the low e string is ...
13
votes
5answers
520 views
When tuning a guitar, how should I strike the strings?
When tuning a guitar, what is the best way to strike a string to get it as close to pitch as possible? I'd like to get it as close to the right pitch as I possibly can. I've noticed with my tuner ...
4
votes
2answers
917 views
How to prevent snare rattle?
When I play my drum set, the toms make the snare rattle. Also, some pitches played by guitar or bass will make it rattle. I've tried tuning all the drums to certain pitches (somewhat effectively), but ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
What is the frequency interval length of k semi-tones? (k = 1…11)
Go up 12 semi-tones from frequency f on a guitar, and the frequency interval difference in terms of f is f = 2f - f. What is the formula for the intermediate 11 non-trivial intervals? So for k=2, ...
5
votes
4answers
731 views
Piano tuning just under the absolute pitch
The other day, the piano tuner came to the semi-annual tuning of my piano (a Blüthner baby grand). I was not at the house when he did the tuning. When I got home, the piano was tuned in respect to ...
1
vote
2answers
170 views
What are the differences between these tuning machines?
I just got a used Fender Starcaster S1 to compliment my existing Behringer strat.
Upon inspecting it, I noticed that it has different backs on it's tuning machines.
What are the differences between ...
4
votes
3answers
423 views
Pop-like creak while tuning strings
I have a Behringer iAxe 393 strat clone.
I recently adjusted the truss rod to fix some frett buzzing.
Ever since, when tightening or loosening the strings while tuning, I sometimes get a creaking pop ...
3
votes
1answer
204 views
How can I prevent loss of tuning when changing strings set from 0.11 to 0.12?
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom and it's tuned in standard C and my playing style is mostly Desert Rock. I'm using a set of 0.12 strings and considering changing to a 0.11 set to have less tension ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
How to accurately intonate a 3 saddle telecaster?
I have a traditional 3 saddle telecaster bridge. With two strings on each saddle my intonation is always a slight compromise. This is OK on the first four strings, but the bass strings are noticeably ...
4
votes
2answers
503 views
How does the angle of strings above the headstock affect tone and stability?
The situation:
I'm about to widen the slots in a new nut for a 12-string guitar. I'm using .015 strings (up from .011 or so), and tuning the guitar down significantly; my test-run with .014 strings ...
5
votes
3answers
931 views
Which strings should I use for DADGAD tuning on my acoustic guitar?
I have recently switched to DADGAD tuning, before that I was using light tension strings ( 12 16 24 32 42 53 ).
But because of DADGAD, to compensate for the lack of tension on the neck, I wanted to ...
6
votes
2answers
849 views
Tuning the Ouds
How many strings do various types of ouds (Arab, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Greek, Persia, etc.) have and how are they usually tuned (with pitch reference or not) to what absolute or relative pitches?
2
votes
3answers
437 views
How to effectively of use a lower tuned guitar
I'm experimenting with the Open C tuning (CGCGCE) in my guitar and I'm facing some problems, namely that the strings don't stay in tune for too long and the sound is "weird". I then realized that ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
The details behind proper string slack for new strings
So this question covers string instruments with tuning pegs (eg. guitars, bass guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, etc). When you are installing a new string and you pull it tight for the first time, you ...
9
votes
2answers
303 views
What is an “open tuning”?
I know that Keith Richards has been known to use open tunings on some songs, but what is an open tuning exactly and when/why would you use it?
