How to learn tuning by ears?

Tranman66 · Unread post by **Tranman66** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:37 pm

Ever since i fell in love with alternate tunings, i find it hard jamming at other places where i dont have my tuner or guitar with me... can anyone shows me how to get used to tuning by ears?

Beauford33 · Unread post by **Beauford33** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:40 pm

Tranman66 wrote:Ever since i fell in love with alternate tunings, i find it hard jamming at other places where i dont have my tuner or guitar with me... can anyone shows me how to get used to tuning by ears?

listening.

dmbguitar718 · Unread post by **dmbguitar718** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:27 am

experience.

littlefriend · Unread post by **littlefriend** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:40 am

Keeping your tuner with you.

Twostep13 · Unread post by **Twostep13** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:11 am

i like playing in DGDGBE alot
so to get from Standard tuning to this....
tune the Low E string down until it sounds like the D string
and then A string down until it sounds like the G string

the best thing that helped me was actually my tuner breaking, so it forced me to learn to match string sounds with sounds from and online tuner... and now i can go from different tuning just by tuning them in relation to other strings
hope this helps

GSR · Unread post by **GSR** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:55 am

yep... just don't use a tuner. i always forget to bring my tuner places, so it forces me.

i like to play a bassline where i know exactly how it sounds, so if i play it and it sounds off, i know i need to retune.

sunglassesatnight · Unread post by **sunglassesatnight** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:02 am

I don't know if this is just me, but when I'm tuning, I get the note as close as possible by relative tuning and then I strike it once alone. I listen to the note and as it dies out it will either go sharp or go flat. I adjust it until it doesn't anymore.

So, do what BK said.

Tranman66 · Unread post by **Tranman66** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:40 am

lol i see, easy to say...

often times, i dont really know if a note is higher or lower to the note i want, and thats the problem with ear tuning for me.

briguy945 · Unread post by **briguy945** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:45 am

Just keep doin it man. Hide your tuner so you're forced not to use it.

Beauford33 · Unread post by **Beauford33** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:31 pm

Tranman66 wrote:lol i see, easy to say...

often times, i dont really know if a note is higher or lower to the note i want, and thats the problem with ear tuning for me.

Well, if I HAVE to not use a tuner at all, and you just cant see to get the note, I usually drop the note flat on purpose and just tune up from there. It is easier to tune a flat not then a sharp note. I know horn players do that as well when they tune.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 4:39 pm

dmbguitar718 wrote:experience.

thats really about all you can do. i went from not being able to tell the difference between two notes, to being able to tune by ear in about 2 years

cruz610 · Unread post by **cruz610** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:18 pm

actually its easier that any of that...

to tune your low e string down to a d, play a harmonic note on the 12th fret of your e string and then play an open D...match it so that there is no buzzing between the two of them. to tune your a string with the g, do the same thing!

dmbguitar718 · Unread post by **dmbguitar718** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:36 pm

cruz610 wrote:actually its easier that any of that...

to tune your low e string down to a d, play a harmonic note on the 12th fret of your e string and then play an open D...match it so that there is no buzzing between the two of them. to tune your a string with the g, do the same thing!

That's not it though. He wants to know how you can tell your guitar is in tune. You can't do what you said unless you know for sure that one string is in tune.

bighuk · Unread post by **bighuk** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:14 am

Basically use the 5th and 4th fret. Fret a string and strike the fretted string and the one below it open and listen for oscillation in the frequency if you hear it then they're out of tune, tune up or down the string you are striking OPEN until you do not hear any oscillation in the soundwaves when the fretted string and open string are struck together. Essentially what you're doing is matching the frequency of one string to another. The only string you fret on the 4th fret is the G string, the rest you will fret the 5th. Remember every string you fret you only strike it and the string below it simutaneously.

this exact method only works for eadgbe tuning. But with experience and knowledge of the fret board you can essentially tune your guitar in time to whatever you want as long as one string is in tune.

Also remember this if your bass E string is an Eb when you strike it open. When you go to tune every other string off of it then every other string will also be a half step down because you're matching the frequencies. So it's fairly essential you can recall a low E or other string by heart so that you can insure that all other strings a tuned to full open notes, this is where experience comes into play.

dmbguitar718 · Unread post by **dmbguitar718** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:31 am

I think you completely missed the point as well.

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How to learn tuning by ears?

How to learn tuning by ears?

Re: How to learn tuning by ears?

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