Tuning dancing

[JonnyAngle]

I hit a note to tune it and the tuner says sharp, then flat after one second then sharp and slowly goes to the middle. It usually is 3 cents flat to 1 cent sharp, so it dances within 4 to 5 cents.

What causes this? It's really tough to tune! Only my E string does it.

[walterw]

what kind of bass, what kind of tuner?

[JonnyAngle]

Musicman Sterling. It did it on my korg dtr1000 my arion pedal tuner and my handheld pocket tuners.

[Bassamatic]

I have noticed that a lot of strings go sharp when you first hit them and then settle in. Often for the E string I will use the octave harmonic for tuning - seems to be easier for tuners to grab it.

[fu22ba55]

Strings ring a few cents sharp when plucked (hard). You will not notice this effect as much with heavier-gauged strings. (I use a .110 E string since .105s always ring sharp for me when really digging in.)

You can decrease this effect by plucking closer to the brigde when tuning.

[blankrider]

Also make sure your cable is good and not moving around in the input jack. That used to cause the issue for me. Low battery in the tuner can also cause it.

[Jazz Ad]

Typical case of nut being too tight. It need lubricated or enlarged.
You most likely use a higher jauge than the original that came on the bass.

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by Gio S

I have noticed that a lot of strings go sharp when you first hit them and then settle in. Often for the E string I will use the octave harmonic for tuning - seems to be easier for tuners to grab it.

This^^^^

[Rick Auricchio]

+1

[62bass]

The needle on my tuner jumps around wildly sometimes, like if I have the pickups set too close to the strings or really whack the string too hard. There was also a brand of stainless steel roundwound strings I used to use, I think they were Warwicks, which did that and on some of the low fretted notes actually gave me a false reading, like when playing the G on the E string at the third fret it would read A on the tuner. Pretty wild. There must have been a lot of harmonics with those strings and not all of them very musical.

I still use the same fairly cheap tuner because it works but I'm playing Thomastic flats on all my basses now and have no problem with them. The tuner stays pretty stable and I don't get false readings.

[FunkMetalBass]

Try plucking lightly near the bridge and rolling off your tone. The fewer overtones the tuner has to try to pick up, the less dancing it will do.

[JonnyAngle]

Yeah, plucing closer to the bridge makes a huge difference. I thought I was supposed to pluck the string as if I were playing it (to make sure it's in tune how I play).