Tuning Your Guitar

Posted on | December 10, 2011 | 2 Comments

This is a critical skill to learn in playing guitar—and yes, it is a skill.  The good news is that if you have enough skill to know when you are playing one chord compared to another, then you have the skills to tune your own guitar.   Here are the best three ways I know to tune:

#1—With a Tuner

This sounds simple, but is often irritating for us players for two reasons: you have purchased a low quality tuner OR your guitar isn’t setup correctly.  But let’s assume your guitar is setup for the moment.

With a tuner, if you have an acoustic electric or an electric guitar or bass guitar, you can usually plug your guitar directly into the tuner and go.  Convenient red and green lights will indicate how in tune you are and you can make adjustments accordingly.  Not rocket science.

A low quality tuner makes it difficult to tune a guitar because it has trouble telling the difference between notes.  And since the notes you are tuning to are harmonics of each other, you really need a decent tuner.  What makes a decent tuner?  It’s not always the case, but generally, with musical equipment, you get what you pay for.

#2—The Fifth (and fourth) Fret Method

 As I’m sure you know, standard tuning from low to high is E A D G B E.  If you fret the fifth fret of the low E, it produces the A.  Fifth fret of A makes D.  Fifth fret of D gives you G.  And—this is where it changes—fourth fret of G gives you B.  Change partners again and play fifth fret of B to get the high E.

It’s really that simple.  Set your guitar in your lap and give it a shot.

Now, when tuning by ear you want to listen for the pulse that occurs when two strings are playing what should be the same note.  The closer each pulse is to the next, the closer the strings are in pitch.  The farther away the pulses, the farther away the pitch.  This part takes some practice and training of the ear, but you can do it.  Trust me.

Cool, huh?  Well, the last method is cooler.

#3—Harmonics

I love harmonics.  Here’s how they work.  Lightly place a finger above the fifth fret (the actual fret) for your low E.  Let it touch the string.  Now, pluck the string—just the one.  If your pressure is too heavy it will thud.  Gradually lift your finger until you hear the string ring like a belltone.  Hear it?

Now, if you do the same thing to the A string, but above the seventh fret the tone it makes should be the same as the tone at the fifth fret of the E you made a second ago (if they are in tune, that is).

Now the harmonic pairs go a little something like this:

5^th fret low E = 7^th fret A

5^th fret A = 7^th fret D

5^th fret D = 7^th fret G

skip the B for the moment

5^th  fret B = 7^th fret E

Now, for the B, you can do one of two things.  Either use method two, fretting the fourth fret of the G string and match it to the B or play the 7^th fret harmonic of the low E which is the same as open B.  This is my least favorite.  For me, it is difficult to accurately match up the two string sounds mainly because you are matching a wound string compared to a plain steel wire string.  The texture of each sound makes it difficult for me.  If it works for you, then awesome.

I tend to use method two (fretting the G at the fourth) to tune to the B string.  It’s quick and accurate.

Happy tuning, people.

a little about myself

Posted on | December 9, 2011 | No Comments

My name is Adam.

I’m here to help.

I’m a big fan of the guitar.  I’ve been playing for more than fifteen years and am in the beginning stages of becoming a luthier.  Currently, I’m working on a dreadnought of my own design.

Guitar tech is wildly fascinating to me.  And there’s so much I wish I’d been taught when I was younger that would’ve saved me great frustration.  Like, did you know that if your B string is a little out of tone then putting a small folded up piece of paper under it at the bridge might do the trick?

Well, if you did–do you know why?  I’m going to tell you.  Not right now.  Later.  I promise.

This blog site will contain two help guides on making your guitar sound better by making sure it is properly set up.  (One of acoustic, one for electric.)

Now, if my instructions aren’t that good; let me know.  I’ll respond to your emails and modify the blog until you get it and your pawn shop special sounds more like a low end Taylor.

To sum up: A properly setup guitar will sound better.

I like all things guitar.

I’m here to help.

Acoustic Guitar Setup Part 0: Before We Begin . . .

Posted on | December 9, 2011 | 3 Comments

Before we begin, you need a few things: a guitar with fresh strings, a capo, a hex-key or ¼” drive whichever is needed to turn your truss rod, a small, smooth flat file, a small smooth tapered file, a new nut and saddle.

Now, do you really need all this stuff?  Not at all.

You do need a guitar with fresh strings.

You can get away without using a capo if your little sister is handy to press down on the first fret for you.

The hex-key or driver for your truss rod is a big deal.

The flat file is a big deal especially if the guitar has been around for a long time and you’re not replacing the saddle (though 120-grit sandpaper will do fine.)

The tapered file is really only necessary if you are breaking strings at the nut or if you need a pair of vise grips to bar an F chord.

The new nut and saddle are more of an advanced issue which I wouldn’t worry about until you think you’ve done all your can with the nut and saddle provided with the guitar.  Hopefully, it’s not such a junker that there is no nut or saddle.  If it is, take camping and mistake for firewood.  No one has to know.

intro 1.2

Posted on | December 9, 2011 | No Comments

Before you jump over to either of the setup pages, you may be wondering what it means to set up a guitar.  You’re in luck, ‘cause I’m going to tell you.

To setup a guitar is also known as setting up the action.  Some guitar players will say they prefer a lower action, some blues guys want a higher action.  In general, the action of a guitar is how high or low the strings are from the fret board with the guitar staying in tone.  (In tone means the guitar is in tune with itself.  More on that later.)

Properly setting up a guitar will do three big things right away: it will keep your fingers from hurting as bad, the guitar will sound better and if you have been breaking strings, it’ll probably take care of that too.

And no worries—setting up a guitar isn’t hard work, it’s patient work.  It takes a little time, a little patience and a little practice, but it is well worth it.

intro to guitarsetupshack.com 1.1

Posted on | December 9, 2011 | No Comments

Most players I know had a terrible first guitar.  The neck was bowed, the strings were a foot off the fret board and no matter how much you tried to get the thing in tune, you could never switch from an E chord a G without changing the tuning of your B string.  This is because most factory/first guitars don’t come set up.

Turns out, setting up your guitar isn’t that hard.  With a little work, you can turn your instrument of tonal-brutality into one of harmonic bliss.

As this is the intro, let me break down how this blog will roll.  First, there will be the acoustic side of setups then the electric-bass side.  Complicated, huh?  Well, despite the over lap in some of the areas, the setup methods are different enough to warrant the separation.

Also, I will post some more general tips in this main section.  Like, how to properly string your guitar, how to care for your fret board, the importance of hydration.  All designed to help you keep your chosen tool of expression top shelf.