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I've always tuned my guitar by ear by playing an A on the E string and then tuning the open A string, then playing a D on the A string and tuning the open D string, and so on, all the way the to the high E string. I understand there is a method of tuning based on harmonics. How exactly does this work? Can someone explain the technique? |
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I would not recommend tuning by harmonics. The harmonics used, especially the 3rd, are not even 5ths. The 5th note you get as a harmonic is a just 5th and will make your guitar sound out of tune. If you're looking for a better way to tune, get familiar with the sounds of intervals. If you know the sound of a fourth, then you should be able to tune to it. When using a fourth it is actually pretty easy to hear the open interval. What you are looking for is the beats between the interval to disappear. |
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Ya, the 6 string 5th fret harmonic is the same pitch as the 5 string in the 7th fret. This PATTERN works on all the strings until you get to the 1st and 2nd strings. |
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Get a tuning fork (A440) this will match the 5th string 5th fret harmonic. Tune the 6th string 5th fret harmonic to the 5th string 7th fret harmonic. Tune the 4th string 7th fret to the 5th string 5th fret harmonic. Tune the 3rd string 7th to the 4th string 5th. Tune the first string 12th fret to the 5th string 7th fret Finally, tune the second string 5th fret to the first string 7th fret. You want to listen for the "beats" as the two waves sound. When you only hear one tone, you're there. |
