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.
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
495 views
Do floating bridge springs need changing ?
I have a 9 year old Ibanez RG250 with floating bridge. When I use the tremolo my guitar goes slightly out of tune, goes flat if I push down, and sharp if I pull up (I'm talking of course after I stop ...
4
votes
8answers
205 views
Using alternative tunings
Guitars are tuned E-A-D-G-B-E by standard, but I prefer tuning it down to C (C-F-Bb-Eb-G-C) since it gives a meatier sound and is easier on my fingers.
I know there are plenty of other tunings, but ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Why does my guitar go out of tune after I play it a while?
This might be an obvious question, but it would be good to know what factors cause guitars to go out of tune.
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
5answers
150 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
73 views
Fretted notes sound 'off' when another string is bent
Sometimes when I'm playing, I'll bend a string and simultaneously play a fretted note. When I do this, the fretted note sounds slightly 'off' or out of tune.
What causes this and how can I prevent ...
4
votes
4answers
227 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. ...
4
votes
3answers
421 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
979 views
How does the Buzz Feiten tuning system work?
I understand the general idea of compensated nuts to produce more variance in the string lengths, and thus better intonation over a wider range of fretting positions, but the Buzz Feiten system I see ...
4
votes
1answer
609 views
How do I tune a Ukulele 1 semi-tone higher?
How can I tune a Ukulele so it's one semi-tone higher? Can this be used for 2/3 semi-tones as well?
I've tried using a capo but it makes it a lot harder to play.
4
votes
1answer
184 views
Software for trying out 19-TET (and others)
I've been reading on non-standard scales such as the 19-tone equal temperament. I'd really like to try some of them out, but it turns out to be difficult. Adjusting a physical instrument would be a ...
4
votes
3answers
972 views
Acoustic Guitar Intonation Adjustments
Simply put, how does one adjust it. I have a low-end acoustic where the intonation seems to be out by quite a bit and I'd like to adjust it.
It comes down to adjusting string size or length, so I ...
4
votes
2answers
499 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
906 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
91 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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
189 views
Evidence of Just Intonation in Recordings with Non-fixed-frequency Instruments
I wonder the extent to which string quartets or a cappella choirs are non-ET. They are often cited as examples of the tendency towards just intonation when not using fixed-frequency instruments but ...
4
votes
1answer
572 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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
537 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
325 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What notes on the piano do the Ukulele strings equate to?
If you highlighted the 4 strings of the Ukulele (default tuning) to notes on the piano, where would they come in relation to middle C?
3
votes
3answers
171 views
What do I need to learn before I can alternate tune my guitar?
What do I need to learn before I can alternate tune my guitar? See, I was taught
by my friend how to tune my guitar in standard(EADBGE), and it goes like this:
"How To Tune The Guitar To Standard"
...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
What would the guitar sound like if I used only strings of the same weight?
The thickness of the strings on a guitar are different. If I had the thickness of one type only, could I tune the guitar appropriately still? And how would it sound? Would it sound just bland? ...
3
votes
1answer
202 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
138 views
Guitar isn't playing in tune
I have a Segovia backpacker guitar (Segovia is a Korean company; the guitar was made in China). The problem is that it doesn't play in tune very well--especially if I play up the neck.
The strings ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
Playing non-Western scales on the Oud
How does one learn to play various non-Western scales on the oud? Are there instructions with diagrams showing notes as positions on the neck of the instrument? Book, videos, etc.?
3
votes
1answer
188 views
Tuning the nyatiti
What is the standard tuning for an 8-string Nyatiti? I've tried searching in Google but haven't found anything. I wonder if there are different tunings in different regions.
2
votes
2answers
114 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
433 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
54 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?
2
votes
1answer
161 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, ...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
Tuning a Strat a whole step down
I'd like to tune a Strat a whole step down, and I was wondering what gauge of strings I should use to get the same tension that I get in normal tuning with .010 strings.
Cheers
2
votes
1answer
413 views
Why is an adjustable bridge needed? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why is my guitar's saddle at an angle?
I think my acoustic has a bridge that makes each string a slightly different length, and I'm assuming an adjustable bridge ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
49 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 ...
1
vote
6answers
772 views
A guitar won't stay in tune, also dirty pickup selector
My friend has an Ibanez.. something, and it's not the most expensive guitar. Nevertheless, it is a pretty good guitar for its budget. Lately there have been a few problems with it, which I told him I ...
0
votes
2answers
623 views
Having trouble tuning my Ukulele…
I have a Soprano Ukulele, in standard GCEA tuning, and I've signed up for a 'Ukulele Summer School' (a special deal for 5 weeks of lessons with a little bit of money off) to try to get started on the ...
0
votes
1answer
164 views
How does the tuning differ between a concert and soprano ukulele?
I am getting a new concert ukulele and I was wondering whether the tuning is different for a concert?
is it still GCEA? or is there a better sounding tuning than soprano standard?
0
votes
3answers
729 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 ...
