I don't know how to tune a guitar

[brandondrury]

Well, I'm in the middle of my first producing gig. This thing has to sound unreal. My goal is to make it good enough to barely pass for a major label recording.....barely. It's a tall order, but I'm working.

Anyway, after two days (19 hours) we finished up about half a track (yes, one track) on electric and about half a track on an acoustic guitar.

I'm frustrated. Why can't I get my guitars in tune?

Brandon

[PhilB]

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING!! this thing is a godsend

http://www.endino.com/archive/tuningnightmares.html

let me know your favorite tip...

Two of my favorites:
1) people use tuners differently, have ONE perons do it (you, preferably)
2) Songs where people hit the strings harder cause string out of tune for first portion of the note. Reminds me not to hit those power chords too hard, etc.

low tension a problem too...

pb

[dach]

Brandon... I go through this all the time...

I have a Peterson strobe tuner and it has a certain preset that makes all my guitars sound in tune doing anything but if you use standard tuning it can be a nightmare depending on what you play...

Remember... the guys need to tune the same way they play.... if they beat the hell out of the guitar while playing then they can't be a pussy when they tune or the guitars will appear "sharp" and out of tune while sustaining.... also don't tune at the bridge and then play at the neck pickup...

First... Make sure the intonation is properly set!!!

If it's only BAR CHORDS they are playing and they are in the key of E, make sure the 3 E strings are in tune (tuning while playing with the same force they perform with). The "A" can be tuned by ear until it perfectly resonates with the E's or you can fret the "B" note on the A string and tune like that. The same with the B string - just tune until it perferctly resonates with the guitar in power chord mode.... when everything is resonating... the "feedback" will be fuller, sweeter sounding and glide compared to just jump from feedback note to note - I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.... The "G" can be tricky but work it until both the major and minor sound good....

That works for power chords but will suck bigtime if you play a simple "C" chord... If they must play a "C" chord, have them play it where it will work!

If using mostly bar chords, Just tune the fundamentals for the song...
Then tune the A, G and B strings for each track you record... make sure all chords "resonate" for the part.

The acoustic can be tough but it depends on what they play...

The way I usually tune, especially an acoustic is like a piano... nothing is really perfectly in tune, no octaves, no intervals, nothing but it's tempered and I can play anything and it will work... I actually do the electrics the same way but for heavy bar chords, what I wrote above will give you a "bigger" sound. I NEVER use the so called standard tuning...

BTW... I just skimmed that article... it's essential reading but can you give us an idea of what and how your guys are playing?

hope this helps... Chuck

[brandondrury]

I'm thinking the instruments we were using were setup well, but not well enough. I need to badass mega setup for the kind of precision I'm striving for.

I'm a little busy now, but I'll get on the tuning article very soon because this is a big deal and I have no intention of wasting another 20 hours of my life just to get absolutely nothing done.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm fairly new to this level of recording. Most of the projects I do, the bands are clueless about the tuning and simply can't hear it and don't have the budget to fix it anyway.

Brandon

[evilLordJuju]

Originally Posted by dach

First... Make sure the intonation is properly set!!!

I think this could be your answer - you don't need to be an expert luthier to adjust - although getting each guitar set up by a luthier will help no end.

Each string should be in tune in the open position and at the 12th fret. If the open is in tune and 12th fret is flat - move the bridge saddle a little to the right (away from the neck, if it is flat move a little to the left (towards the neck). Retune and retry.

Sometimes its hard to get them spot on, but if you are noticing big tuning problems - intonation could be way out, and any adjustment could help.

[brandondrury]

You may be right. The problem could be solved by an expert guitar setup. However, I'm very doubtful. If you critically listen to a guitar you can hear it go out of tune on a very slight scale as you go from an A power chord to a G powerchord, for example. I think it's just a flaw in the design of every guitar.

Now that I listen, there are out of tune guitars on all sorts of big time recordings. When I say "out of tune" I mean barely, but you can still hear it.

I'm convinced that the average listener can not hear tuning issues this subtle and therefore I think I'm willing to accept just a little of this in my recordings.

Brandon