Questions tagged [intonation]
Marks questions discussing the precise control over pitch that musicians exhibit as part of their technique; also used to describe the tuning of one's instrument or one's system of tuning.
131
questions
4
votes
1
answer
444
views
Intonation problem at 20th fret (top 3 strings only) - Harley Benton SC-550
I have a Harley Benton SC-550 (Les Paul style) with a strange intonation issue which affects the top 3 (unwound) strings at frets 20 & 21 only. The pitch at fret 20 is a whole semitone sharp, and ...
- 41
4
votes
2
answers
585
views
What does it mean when a conductor puts their finger on their temple?
What does it mean when a conductor puts their finger on their temple? That the singers need to pay more attention to intonation?
- 611
0
votes
1
answer
115
views
Can the tremolo bridge of e guitar move over time?
I own my PRS SE now for around 6-7 years. It has a floating tremolo.
Over the years I started to remove the springs from the string saddles because there was not enough space for the saddles to ...
- 289
4
votes
2
answers
129
views
Does changing acoustic guitar strings require a re-setup?
I'm currently using D'Addario EZ920 (0.12-0.54) and I'm planning to change to D'Addario EJ16 (0.12-0.53) which is slightly lighter. I'm wondering if this will affect the intonation and needs ...
- 41
2
votes
3
answers
121
views
Funk Strumming While Fretting High Up the Neck Produces Odd Tones
I recently started to dabble into Funk Rhythm. I'm making decent progress, but I have noticed that when trying to play chords around the 12th fret using Funk strumming, the chord sounds 'off', like ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
How to optimally rank performances in a music competition? [closed]
I have often thought about this but I could never reach a concrete answer which satisfied my ever inquisitive brain cells. I understand that it is a tricky question and may vary from situation to ...
- 161
0
votes
1
answer
198
views
Electric guitar's 6th string buzzing, but through the amplifier, the buzz sound is not coming. Anything to be concerned about?
I just bought a new Cort Les Paul electric guitar.
Except for the 6th string, all other strings are working fine. No buzzing.
But the 6th string (fattest one), on plucking, is buzzing when not ...
- 103
3
votes
4
answers
324
views
Difficulties matching pitch after the note was played
I am trying to become decent at singing, and I have noticed some difficulties in matching pitch, if I try to sing AFTER the note was played.
I try to reproduce that with an example here, of a computer-...
- 473
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
How to practice improving intonation (singing) [duplicate]
I am an experienced musician, I'm a music ed major, having studied piano for over 10 years and singing for 4 years. I have sang in a couple musicals, a vocal jazz ensemble, and a choir. I also passed ...
4
votes
2
answers
393
views
As a singer to playback music, does the quality of the playback affect intonation?
I am an amateur sound engineer. I often have choirs and singers that practice, and sometimes perform, to playback music. Often I use MP3 files with reasonable compression, as these are sometimes ...
- 193
2
votes
2
answers
113
views
realtime bending of strings to bring classical guitar in tune [closed]
While talking with a friend, I mentioned that the width of a classical guitar neck is quite large, to allow a player room to slightly and subtly bend a string (or strings) by moving fingers parallel ...
- 151
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How does string age affect intonation?
I had a recent issue with my high e string where the saddle was adjusted as short as possible but the twelfth fret was still very flat. I read online that a new set of strings may fix this, and that ...
- 798
7
votes
5
answers
3k
views
My clarinet is playing flat - how can I fix it?
First of all I understand that most people's first (and very reasonable) place to look to improve intonation is at the technique of the player: embouchure quality and technique, air support, maybe ...
- 507
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Cello pressed at half length higher than harmonic?
I was playing around with harmonics on my e-cello, and noticed that when pressing at the first one (half-length), the pitch was higher than when merely touching for the harmonics itself. I thought it ...
3
votes
1
answer
175
views
What is best practice for tuning a mandolin?
I've been playing mandolin for years, and I tune it with no particular problem (insert mandolin tuning joke here). But, while in theory I believe it is impossible to tune a mandolin or other stringed ...
- 734
4
votes
0
answers
209
views
What causes a guitar's notes to decay/sound out of tune when played together? they sound fine individually, just not when strummed together [closed]
Recently bought this electric guitar, it's great, but I've noticed that when I play chords / strum them all together, the notes on the b and e strings don't resonate in sync with the rest of the ...
- 71
14
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Bridge intonation patterns on stringed instruments
On stringed instruments, the scale length needs to be slightly adjusted (at the bridge) for each string so that the first octave happens at the 12th fret/position, the 2nd at the 24th, etc. My ...
- 593
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are these indentations on the frets of my Acoustic for intonation? Can I apply this to the frets of my Electric?
The questions are in the title, picture is below, but here are the (TL/DR) details.
About 9 months ago, I bought an electric guitar "kit" and assembled it (fun, highly recommended). This ...
- 215
1
vote
3
answers
220
views
Notes on violin
I am a beginner in violin. I am confused that most of the times in music sheet the notes are normal (neither sharp or flat) but when playing it feels like one is playing the sharp of some notes (like ...
- 19
21
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Do people with perfect pitch distinguish between equal temperament and just temperament?
Do people with perfect pitch distinguish between equal temperament and just temperament?
Suppose someone with perfect pitch is singing a duet and wants to harmonise in thirds above the main melody. ...
- 3,892
2
votes
4
answers
779
views
Tried Eb alternate tuning but guitar intonation is off and I'm unsure how to fix it
I have a fender mexican strat, with 10s. I have never changed string gauge, I only tuned all the strings down half a step to Eb from E.
The issue I am running into is that the low Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb ...
- 21
3
votes
1
answer
902
views
Problems with playing high notes (17-20th fret on e-string)
I have a problem that when I play a note on the e string (the tiniest one) on the 17th to 20th fret, I noticed that the same notes were repeated and starting in the 21st fret, the notes were fine ...
- 53
0
votes
1
answer
230
views
How can I measure, or otherwise quantify, the accuracy of intonation of my classical guitar, in order to compare it with other classical guitars?
Is there an standard / common way of measuring and comparing intonation in classical guitars?
Say, if I were a luthier, which objective method would I use to decide if any given classical guitar needs ...
- 16.1k
5
votes
4
answers
4k
views
If the resolution of human hearing is approximately five cents, how can musicians play works with intonation changes of less than five cents?
Sources1 suggest that the frequency resolution of humans—our ability to discriminate differences in pitch—is limited to around five cents.
If this is the case, how can musicians play an excerpt like ...
- 83.6k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Electric guitar intonation flat above 12th fret, no luck with usual methods
My Floyd Rose equipped electric guitar has mostly spot-on intonation across the fretboard minus the high e string above the 12th fret, where it is pretty consistently flat (1-2 red LEDs from the ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
73
views
Out of tune and Buzzing
I recently replaced the nut and saddle and put new strings on my acoustic. My guitar does not play in tune, even after I know I've turned it correctly. Some chords sound in tune while others don't.
...
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Problem with violin finger placement changes with each string?
I have a violin student who recently purchased a violin from a music shop. It's not a professional grade violin, but it is still a nice student model. My student's intonation seemed to get worse after ...
3
votes
4
answers
367
views
Is a cappella xenharmonic by default?
I recently watched Adam Neely's video about comma pump. He quotes from "Fundamentals of Musical Composition" by Arnold Schoenberg. (Chapter XI, page 99):
...the natural semi-tones differ in ...
- 529
0
votes
1
answer
603
views
Type of Trapeze for acoustic guitar
I'm wondering if anyone has ever developed a trapeze for acoustic guitar that included features that would allow intonation adjustments similar to what is available on electrics? I have an old Yamaha ...
- 7,730
2
votes
1
answer
399
views
Gibson les paul standard (2019) 50's neck guitar's unique intonation problem
I recently bought a new non-weight relief Gibson les Paul standard with 50's neck. The guitar comes with an ABR style tune-o-matic bridge. As soon as I played it I noticed that the low "E" and "A" ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
(Solved) Intonation Problem (Only with High E and B Strings) in Acoustic Guitar
My Acoustic Guitar's Intonation is right in place for the bottom 4 strings, But the Top two are off. Octave is 50 Cents flat in B-string and 1 semi-tone flat in E-string.
-
I thought it was the ...
0
votes
1
answer
896
views
Low E-string sounds out of tune [duplicate]
I have an issue with the low E string on my Acoustic Seagull S6 Original.
Ever since I changed the strings, the E string seems to be out of tune in a weird way. When the open E is right on the spot (...
2
votes
1
answer
105
views
Are intonation issues in a cheap acoustic guitar fixable?
so I am a beginner guitarist, and I have one quite good guitar, and a cheap one.
I`ve tuned it to standard tuning, and when I play the 5th fret on the E string on the cheap one, it goes like 1/4 of a ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Intonation on a classical guitar
Aaaagh, it's driving me crazy! My yamaha is massively sharp on two strings at 7,9 and 12 and flat on 1 string. I know how to fix the flat (using a diamond nail file etc) but not the sharps, ...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
211
views
Why are my string saddles getting stuck?
I've been having trouble getting my strings properly intonated, and it seems like it's because the saddles are getting stuck. What it looks like is that they're pressed against each other so tightly ...
- 197
12
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Was equal temperament caused by the invention of the piano, or was it inevitable?
Historically, which key a piece of music was written in made a big difference. Toccata and Fugue in D minor for instance had to be played in that key or it wouldn't sound right.
But over the last ...
- 366
6
votes
2
answers
104
views
Fixing Low Brass Intonation Outside
I'm a part of a marching band in mid-Michigan, where the weather varies widely from day to day and often hour to hour. The band I'm a part of is currently wrapping up our competition season over the ...
- 61
1
vote
2
answers
317
views
Harmonic series role in a just intonation interval ranking?
In my studies, I was reflecting on this theory and just wanted your guys clarification..
A pitch in an octave is comprised of a fundamental frequency followed by its overtones. When we focus on an ...
- 1,121
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
How is intonation set on acoustic guitar
How do you alter the intonation on an acoustic guitar, I have nearly always played electric but more recently bought a Gibson Songwriter which I cannot put down and I have hardly played my Les Paul. ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
456
views
Modal playing on an instrument designed for just intonation in the major scale (specifically dulcimer)
Sorry if this gets long-winded; I've only recently ventured down the JI rabbit-hole and want to spell out my reasoning in a way that will expose gaps in my understanding.
For those not familiar with ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
179
views
Electric guitar out of tune (intonation)
I have an Epiphone SG400, and today when I played I heard that the B string is out of tune when I press on higher frets (8-12 frets).
I tried to change the action and intonation, but now the all of ...
- 171
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How can I develop highly accurate intonation/tuning without perfect pitch? [duplicate]
I've been reading a bunch of things violinists write and a good portion of them seem to contradict themselves. At this point I'm starting to get really frustrated, so I could really, really use some ...
- 113
9
votes
2
answers
621
views
How can I improve my violin intonation for enharmonic notes?
I know that while, for many instruments, enharmonic notes are a single pitch and their differences are more of an interpretation, helping music to remain consistent (it would make more sense for a ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
160
views
Intonation on Gibson 339 guitar varies by pressure
Gibson ES 339 - Seems to go out of tune when applying normal pressure when playing a chord. If I use very light pressure, not normal, then it is in tune. Could this be a problem with my nut ?
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Flattened notes and odd fuzzy sound on trumpet
Yesterday practicing I noticed a high improvement over previous days in terms of sound and intonation, I could play all the harmonic series up to high E more or less properly intonated and with a good ...
- 499
4
votes
2
answers
701
views
Calculation of a note's frequency in the 18th-19th century
Suppose you are trying to reproduce an A major scale from the early 18th or 19th century, when A4 was perhaps tuned to 429.3Hz. What is the correct frequency (in Hz) for the next C# up (assuming we ...
- 53
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Electric guitar out of tune on 12th fret(intonation)
I just bought an electric guitar (stratocaster), and I'm a beginner, so setting it up is a welcome and annoying challenge.
The issue I have is with the intonation. The high E is fine on the open ...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is the relationship between "intonation" and tone?
According to wikipedia:
"Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intonation_(music))
The ...
- 363
2
votes
2
answers
479
views
Is it natural to have some small buzzing in the guitar?
I have an Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty which plays extremely well. When I bought it it was set-up.
After 6 months I have noticed that the low E-string buzzes slightly if I pluck it moderately ...
- 251
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Strat tuned to C standard with 13-56 strings - intonation problems
I play a hardtail stratocaster with the following set of strings: 13, 17, W26, W36, W44, W56 (W means wound) and tuned to C standard: C F Bb Eb G C.
Since all the time now I have intonation issues. ...
- 11