Is my guitar tuned right?

stuntsboy · #1 June 18th, 2007

I bought this new guitar few days ago, the guy at the shop tuned it for me using a tuner... but i'm not sure if he tuned it right, or maybe it got messed somehow..

so i just want to know whether my guitar is tuned right or not, because my strumming is quite unpleasant, maybe its because i'm a pure beginner, or maybe because it needs to be tuned.

i have recorded the pitch of each string, and open strums on all the strings.

iklerik.com/files/guitar_tune_check.wav

please listen to it, and tell me if it doesnt sound alright. thanks.

Ellenback1 · #2 June 18th, 2007

Ack, stuntboy, even without anything to compare it to, that guitar is HORRIBLY out of tune..LOL

There is an online tuner above this page, up to the right...try and adjust the tunings of those strings, starting with the deepest one (the 'E' string) and do it slowly and carefully!

Trust your gut - if it doesn't sound right, it's not in tune!

Elle

stuntsboy · #3 June 18th, 2007

haha, i thought so... thanks. so i just adjust it to the tuner you pointed me to by ear? ... i will try and post another recording, just to make sure.

Thanks again.

Ellenback1 · #4 June 18th, 2007

Yes, that's exactly right...and make sure you are tuning the right peg to the right string, stuntsboy. I have a 12 string, and that sucker is tuff to tune, especially when you start tuning the wrong peg, and then you start wondering why you're not going higher or lower...DUH! WRONG DANG PEG! (happens to blind folk, like me, a lot!) LOL

allthumbs · #5 June 18th, 2007

You need to check your tuning every time you pick up your guitar. Many factors effect how long a guitar will stay in tune. Easy enough to check with the on line tuner.

Aunt Doty · #6 June 18th, 2007

Elle I broke a string about the 2nd week I had mine and guess why???????? Yep.........I was turning the wrong peg!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome and good luck stuntsboy

Mike8307 · #7 June 19th, 2007

While I have nothing against online tuners they tend to be difficult for the beginner who's ears are not used to tuning. Get yourself an inexpensive tuner (Korg GA-30) and tune your guitar everytime you pick it up.

The guy at the store probably put on a new set of strings for you. New strings will stretch until they settle in.

mike

Europa · #8 June 19th, 2007

Musicians at my local music store tune it with harmonics. Thats something I need to learn.

felixdcat · #9 June 19th, 2007

Here, take a look at this. Number stand for fret harmonics.

stuntsboy · #10 June 19th, 2007

ok, for some reason, i cant get to tune my guitar to the online tuner.. does it have to sound EXACTLY the same?? it never does. i tune it as close to the tuner as i can, but then when i strum all the strings they dont sound that good. any tips?

thanks for all the help/suggestions, and the welcoming =)

scotty_b · #11 June 19th, 2007

I would go even further than AT and say that I touch up the tuning all the time, especially at gigs.

Ellenback1 · #12 June 19th, 2007

Can you record it again, stuntsboy and let us hear it? It could very well be that you aren't able to hear the right notes, as sometimes that is something you can learn more than have an ear for without training. Although I'm no expert, but I do a lot by ear, including tuning.

Elle

Ellenback1 · #13 June 19th, 2007

Oh, and it could be your finger placement, rather than the tuning, that's making it sound not as good. Is the completely open strum sounding alright? (the one without any fingers on your strings at all..)

Elle

stuntsboy · #14 June 20th, 2007

i've recorded the tunes, after attempting to tune it agian few minutes ago..

please take a look,
i've recorded each string from the Online Tuner followed by the same string of my guitar. just to make it easier for you to pick the out tuned strings compared to the original tuner's tunes.

then there are some completely open strums, no fingers.

iklerik.com/files/070620_14.wav

if the open strums dont sound right then
maybe my right hand strumming is bad? maybe i dont strum all the strings, i miss one or two. or maybe i dont strum all the string with equal pressure?

Ellenback1 · #15 June 20th, 2007

No, it's still out of tune, stuntsboy...start with your lowest pitched string, the 'E' string (closest to your chest if you are right-handed)...It's out...now just from a quick listen, it appears to be out about an octave, or several turns. Careful turning it, don't pop the string. Make the two pitches match - you should be able to feel the matching vibrations, or resonance. The two sounds should be exactly the same. Your next string is closer, to my ears, it's almost bang on... the rest are way out. Every note, other than the A (second string) is flat, resulting in that sound.

Have you ever tried an electronic tuner? It could be that this would be your solution, since it has a visual picture of a needle to align with for you, and it could be that you just can't hear the sounds right. Also, there is another way to tune your guitar, using mainly the fifth fret, but you HAVE to have that deep E string set right first. Is it possible for you to take it back to the music store and have the guy there tune it for you, and show you how to do it? An electronic tuner is not that expensive.

Keep me posted, I really want to see you be able to do this!

Elle