problems tuning please heeeelp

[robert wilsonjr]

i am new to bass. i use a peavy digatal tuner.i always tune before prac. i wasnt happy with the action. my guitar guy told me it was out of tune. he uses a chromatic rack tuner. it felt right.so i tuned in440 and everything was sharp. i tuned it chromatic and everything was right .do i need to tune in chromatic?

[psgplayer]

I would first make sure my guitar is properly set up. Intonation, string height, etc. Action is the way your guitar plays......not the way it sounds. A good setup guy might just be the ticket you need.

Then, After tuning with your peavey digital, check all the notes that should be the same on all your strings. The E on the first string should sound just like the e on the second, third ......... Continue until you run out of strings (hee hee). I'd listen to other notes besides the E's too. They need to be in sync across the strings.

Generally, I adjust my first string with a tuner, then My only concern is that the guitar sounds good and in tune with the band.

I played pedal steel for several years and in 1000 steelers, you will hear 999 correct ways to tune. If chromatic makes it for you then chromatic it is. If digital is good, then I suggest you go digital. Always trust the sound though.

Lot's of luck. I wish others had responded to your question before now. How's a guy to learn anything?

[MarkA]

Okay, it took me until I'd just about finished a detailed response 'til I was struck by what the OP meant by "tuning 440" vs. "tuning chromatic": Tuning 440 = tuning with the little Peavey tuner (which likely displays "440" or "A=440" when you turn it on). Tuning chromatic = tuning with the guitarist friend's rackmounted, chromatic tuner.

Is this correct, Robert?

There's a good chance your little Peavey tuner is "chromatic," and your friend's rackmounted tuner could be digital. "Chromatic" in this (simplified) case means it includes all the little half-steps instead of just, say, your open strings. It's like having all the black and white keys on your piano, instead of just those that correspond to E A D G (though some cheap tuners do just have EADGBE). A=440 Hz is the usual standard to which Western instruments are tuned. A=441 will have everything a hair higher, A=438 will be a hair lower, etc. Both tuners should default to A=440.

Being "chromatic" doesn't, in and of itself, make a tuner any more accurate. However, I'll guess that your friend's rackmount tuner is better made and more expensive than your little Peavey, which could make it more accurate. Lots of those cheaper, small tuners don't sense bass frequencies very well, especially if you're using their built-in mic instead of plugging in. If you're both relying on a tuner to tune your instruments, it's best if you use the same one.

I always double-check my tuning by ear -- I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a lot of info on "tuning with harmonics" in the Technique forum on this site which, incidentally, is where I'd have put this thread.

As psgplayer says, a proper setup is important. When you play the octave harmonic at the 12th fret, it should be exactly in tune with the fingered note at 12th fret.

Don't assume your guitar player is in tune!

Let us know how you're getting on! (And check the Technique forum.)

[Bassplayer222]

Get a chromatic tuner. It doesn't have to be an expensive one, but if it's battery powered, make sure you change the batteries before you do this.

-Get your action exactly where you feel comfortable with it.

-Tune your strings normally with said tuned.

-Check the tuning on your 12th fret. Bring your bridge saddles further from the neck if the 12th octave note is too high. Do this for all strings until the 12th fret and open strings are dead on an octave apart.

Now, I've only owned one bass in my whole life. For some reason, I've at times fixed the intonation only to have middle frets off and 12/0 right. Whenever this has happened I adjusted the saddle until the (example) 5th fret matched exactly fourth interval above the open string. When I did this, my open and 12th were still in tune and the middle frets between them were as well. I don't know why this happens, and I'm not telling you to do anything other then what I listed above this statement. I'm just saying basses are different, complicated beasts and you need to get to know yours inside and out

[MarkA]

Just saw this pop up again. Don't know when the last time was that Robert checked this thread, or if he's learned to tune by now. The initial post wasn't very clear.

Also just noticed that my initial reply was edited. I might have mentioned a digital tuner I liked back when I responded initially. Not sure, as it was awhile ago. For the record, I am not affiliated with or endorsed by anybody. If I was going to use a tuner to set the intonation on my bass, though (as opposed to just tune it up before playing), I'd make sure to use a good one. I find that a lot of the cheaper ones aren't all that accurate, and that you can get closer by ear. Then again it would be better than nothing and could at least get you pretty close.

Robert, wherever you are, I hope that you and your guitarist are both in tune!

Peace.
Mark

[ThePerfectBass]

+1 on Mark A's comment...