Electronic tuner--Correct use? [BG]

[Jack Clark]

I have one of those very small clip-on electronic tuners for my unusual acoustic bass. Generally, when I pizz a string once, the tuner comes up with a reading--say, dead on A, for example--it will hold steady there for a couple of seconds, then--as the tone degrades in volume--it will go sharp by 20 cents or so, and hold steady on that second sharper reading for three or four seconds.

Is this common when tuning BG strings? It is correct to tune with the first reading that comes up, rather than the later and longer one that shows after the tone degrades in volume?

My tuner is a Meisel, if that matters.

[stflbn]

Pluck the string lighter. In my experience when you pluck a string hard there is some variance as the note decays.

[mech]

Ditto the above. It gives a good baseline.

The actual pitch of the notes will vary all over the place as you play due to finger pressure, where your finger is between frets, how hard the strings are hit/plucked, pressure of your hand on the back of the neck, temperture of the enviroment/strings/bass, whether the moon is full, the tide is in, and so on....

mech

[Jack Clark]

Thanks, that did help. I did not think the tuner would pick up a softly-plucked string like that--especially the low E string--but surprisingly it did. It even registers the note when it's so soft my ears can't pick it up. Amazing! I am getting more consistent results from the tuner now, without the waivering and sharpening shifts. And the overall instrument sounds and just feels more in tune with itself now. Thanks for the tip!