![]() The need to tune for individual keys arises when the the sixth ( G string-high E) is too wide. ![]() High quality guitars can be tuned evenly enough that no keys are noticeably out while others are not. Once you know well a particular guitar you can identify the needed checks and skip the rest. With all these checks that use open and pressed strings in so many combinations there is no place for misstunings. Check unison 5th fret with open A string, check octave with D string second fret, check P12th with G string 4th fret, check P12th with open B string. Tune the sixth string, low E, to the first string, high E, as a clean double octave. Check fourth BE open strings, fifth AE (G string second fret), P12 AE open A string, unison B string 5th fret. Strive for the same tempering as M10 AC# above. Then check the M10 DF#, second fret high E string. Tune the first string, high E, to the D string second fret. Check also fourths AD and DG with open strings and unison of D string 5th fret and open G string. Then check the fifth EB, 2nd fret of D string. Tune the D string to the B string by playing the octave DD, 3rd fret of B string. Check also unison with G string 4th fret. If you can not get the same tempering then something is wrong with the tuning of the G string, make compromises in its tuning as needed. The AC# M10 should not be too tempered, compare it to the M3 GB open strings, strive for the same tempering, it should beat aproximately 1 bps faster. Then check the M10 AC#, second fret of B string. Tune the B string to the A string by playing the octave BB, A string 2nd fret and open B string. Find a spot where both the AA octave and the CG fifth sound good. If the fifth sounds too tempered you may need to sharpen the G string a little to have a good sounding fifth but keeping an ear to the AA octave. Then check the fifth CG with the A string 3rd fret. Tune the G string to the A string by playing an AA octave with the G string 2nd fret. That compensates the changing in tension when a string is depressed.: The first interval uses the open reference string and the second interval uses the open tuned string. I tune guitars using a nice procedure that uses two intervals to tune each string. That leaves the B string, which, if tuned to a 1 bps fourth with the E, should sound fine with the G and most keys will sound the same, If you want to check it, the G-E sixth will be beating about 9 beats per second. It has to sound good with octaves and the third fret has to match the open G string. ![]() With those four strings as a foundation, the upper E string is easier to place. Tune low E so that it sounds equally good with the 2nd fret B (as a fifth), and 2nd fret D (octave). If this is a perfect or slightly wide octave, you are there. If you start down from G, bring up the D until it almost stops, and do the same for the A, as soon as the A is tuned, check it against the 2nd fret of the G string. Here is the short version: tune your fourths wide, yet beating by the least discernible amount. I've raised some eyebrows around here applying this system to guitars with "poor" intonation, and some pro-level instruments whose owners had the classic,"It's never sounded that good, before" response. If the sixth is narrow enough (determined by the amount of downward tempering of the fourths), there will be some latitude for the B and you can get a cleaner fourth without speeding the third up, too much. Then, tune the B so that it beats 1 bps with the E and see how fast your G-B third is. Check it with the 2nd fret of the D string. Tune the high E string to either the 2nd or 4th partial of the low E. That needs to be a clean octave, certainly not narrow. To tune the E string, without a test note, tune from below and when you hear the beating slow to nearly a long whine, stop and check what the string sound like with the E above it, (on the D string). Repeat to tune the A string a tempered fourth below the D by using the 1st fret F on the E string,(F-A ![]() I strive for a distinctly slower third and a fourth that beats less than 1 bps. I begin on the G, tune a tempered 4th below it by comparing the Bb-D third, (1st fret on A string is the test note), to the Bb-G sixth. ![]()
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