[mj_zak]

Hi there! Just wondering if anyone else also uses a Korg Guitar/Bass tuner GA-30? I've been trying to do some alternate tunings for a song I am trying to learn and the tuning for this particular song is:

C G D G D D

So I was just wondering do I just plug the guitar into the tuner and then tune each string until they match the corrisponding letter? Coz I just tried another "John Reznik style Tuning" which read like this:

- Tune low E string down to D
- Keep A string the same
- Tune D string up to E
- Tune G string up to A
- Tune B string up to E (you might want to use another high E string for this)
- Keep high E the same

and as I played the song it did not sound right at all. Any advice?

[Kirk Lorange]

Hi mj_zak.

Yes, so long as your tuner is a chromatic tuner, meaning it recognizes all notes, not just standard tuning's EADGBE, you tune until the right letter registers 'in tune'. You have to keep the appropriate octave in mind too, of course. If it seems like the string is getting way too tense, then you should tune down until you hit the note in the next octave down.

I don't know about the tuning you mention. It's obviously for a tune in the key of A.

[mj_zak]

Hey there Kirk,

I just realised that my tuner is normal and the company have also made a cromatic tuner as well. So if I were to purchase this cormatic tuner I could do any kind of alternate tuning as well as EADGBE? Oh and while trying to get me strings back down to standard after I tried the above tuning I broke a string! :shock:

So another question is if I do start getting these alternate tunings right there will be times when I'll try another song and have to tune back down to standard EADGBE tunings. I'd like to know that when I next do this what can I do to avoid breaking the strings? someone suggested to just turn the peg all the way down and then tune up. Any advice?

[Kirk Lorange]

Hi mj_zak.

Yes, chromatic tuners are good for all tunings.

The more you tune up and down and keep changing the tension on strings, the more you will break strings. Usually they break up where they wrap around the pegs. This is caused by metal fatigue. Metal doesn't like being bent then straightened then bent again. If you're going to keep switching between different tunings, be prepared to break strings, whether you're tuning up or down.

[silverbullet5774]

I posted this on another thread, but thought you could use the advice as well. Pick up a metrotuner. They are chromatic tuners with a metronome and pitch pipe. They arent much more expensive than your average tuner. A sound investment.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by Kirk

Hi mj_zak.

Yes, chromatic tuners are good for all tunings.

The more you tune up and down and keep changing the tension on strings, the more you will break strings. Usually they break up where they wrap around the pegs. This is caused by metal fatigue. Metal doesn't like being bent then straightened then bent again. If you're going to keep switching between different tunings, be prepared to break strings, whether you're tuning up or down.

Thats one of the reasons I walked away from open tunings. You need three or four guitars or a guitar synth that has an instant open tuning option. I think line6 may have that feature,but I can't remember if it was on their amp or variax guitar. You should be able to google it quite easily if your interested.

[kenclark]

With workbench and the variax guitar you can set any switch position to any tuning (in 6 string mode, its too much for the VX to pretend to be a 12 string and pretend to be in a different tuning at the same time) . I've got all my acoustic open tunings on "Custom 2". I can leave it in standard tuning and just flick the switch to emulate other tunings.

Now I only need 1 guitar (but got 2 because I couldn't resist the Ozark 3515BTE resonator, even though I use the VX in Tricone resonator mode most of the time, and just polish the Ozark).

Ken