Forgot my tuner

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Shardik

We do not disagree. I just intepreted one of the intonation advice as verifying using harmonics (i.e. unfretted) only.

Of course, comparing 12th fret harmonics with fretted note at 12th fret is good advice. The problem with open string verification is if the nut is a bit off compared to the rest of the fret scale. Hence also checking 1st fret.

So which do you go with if one is on but the other isn't?

[jeffbonny]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

So which do you go with if one is on but the other isn't?

Twist one and watch cartoons.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

Twist one and watch cartoons.

LOL! Good idea!

[rtslinger]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Can't believe it...forgot my tuner. Didn't need upright or effects so I left the pedalboard at home with the tuner on it and forgot to get my pocket tuner. Man, was I lost! I couldn't tune my bass all night and I just had to guess, and I was so far out of tune that the headlining acts were completely thrown for singing, and the gig was a total disaster and everybody was mad at me. And then we had the second show, and a total repeat of the first show happened.

Not really...



Actually I got a pitch from the piano and tuned by ear before the audience got there. I was dead-on all night, and even caught it when a string occasionally drifted slightly. If I hadn't screamed "I forgot my ******* tuner," nobody would have known.

I understand that there are a lot of folks who play an instrument who don't know how to tune it without a tuner. One day you will forget your tuner, too. Learn how to tune your dang bass by ear or everyone WILL be mad at you...trust me.

So Jimmy the "not really" was because you weren't out all night just throwing out a lesson of just in case ha ha ha.
Back in the day there wasn't many bands I was in that had a tuner we all tuned by ear it was not unusually to hear Give me and "A" and then you would do the harmonic thing from there. Yeah we weren't always at 440 but everyone was tune the same

[john m]

What's a tuner?


Just kidding. But I often do gigs where the reference is an acoustic piano. Often in tune with itself, but not to 440=A.

If I don't tune to the piano-----yuck.

[Fergie Fulton]

Some great point made, but I would always agree tuning on a gig is as said "close enough", tuning in a studio has to be spot on....intonation applies in each case.

On a gig it is a "though away" sound, it not being used to be reviewed and listened to after the event,where as in recordings purpose is to listen to it, and listen to it often. So any mistakes or tuning issues will always be on a recording for all to hear....on a gig they are forgotten about......unless they are real howlers.
Room temperatures affect tuning, if I my bass come from a cold vehicle, where it may have sat all day, into a warm venue, I expect wood and metal to move. I would expect the instrument to acclimatise before selling. But then if a full light show gets used, then yet again the on stage temperature changes, so the instrument unsettles again.

I find that in reaching for a machine head, a stage tuner will show a different value than when my hand is at my side. I usually tune to an 'A', then tune the rest by ear, one reference note works great for me....doesn't matter what creates the reference so long as it is valid for the situation.

It always amazes me how we come to trust devices, gadgets or machines to do tasks we used to to ourselves in one way.

I would be very interested if a few players here got their bass out, loosened the strings, then tuned it by ear to what they think is in tune, then put it on a tuner to compare......I think the results would surprise a few as to how good their ear actually is....I think a high number would be in tune good enough to gig.
Some may find they have tuned to a relative tuning aspect, maybe a 3rd or a 5th, but the instruments would be in tune with themselves. The situation variables will include how long it has been since the player past played, maybe the longer the time since last use, the weaker the imprint of what is considered in-tune is to reference?

If we put our trust in the stage tuner, we tend to believe what it says......right or wrong, learning to hear the difference between right or wrong, then using a stage tuner to confirm it, is not the same as tuning to one and believing it to be right.

But I believe we surely must have the instinct to know when we are in tune without using devices all the time, which Is why if a few players try de-tuning their bass, then try and put it back in tune by ear, then confirm how close they got with a stage tuner the results may show some the usual shared characteristics certain groups of player have.

I have just done it and brought the bass back in-tune to the stage tuner, but i have been playing this morning. On other occasions when I have do this test, If i de-tune the bass last thing at night and then tune it up in the morning....again the tuning is close, but always in-tune with itself...more hit and miss the longer I leave it.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by rtslinger

Back in the day there wasn't many bands I was in that had a tuner we all tuned by ear it was not unusually to hear Give me and "A" and then you would do the harmonic thing from there. Yeah we weren't always at 440 but everyone was tune the same

...thought I had read somewhere that Cream's "Politician" was supposed to be in "A"...Clapton/Bruce tune by ear..."Politician" is now in "Ab" forevermore.

[k31bassman]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

And Tony Levin's advice that you should default to your ear might be the most irresponsible piece of advice I have ever heard a professional musician hand out.

I would trust Tony's ear more than a tuner. In fact, I trust my own ear more than a tuner. After I use a tuner, I check 5th and 7th fret harmonics and several octaves. Often I make slight adjustments. It sounds better then. YMMV

[troy mcclure]

I admit at gigs I have trouble hearing when I go out...which is rare. But I learned the old fashion way when I first started on guitar in 4th grade. Then when I was in high school jazz band my instructor taught me to tune to a Dm chord at the 7th fret D harmonic, then harmonic tune from there. I was gigging for year without a tuner. I got one only in the last 6 years, mainly because a band I was in was playing a set in standard and a set dropped a half step and if a request came with enough tip money we have to adjust tuning mid set. Singers....

[Shardik]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

So which do you go with if one is on but the other isn't?

On my fretted bass this is not a problem. I have guitars where this may be an issue, and then it happens that I intonate so it is in tune from 1st fret and up. In those cases I actually have to tune a bit by ear afterwards. One guitar in particular sounds best when I tune it electronically, and then tune the deep E string a bit flat and the G string a bit sharp.

YMMV and all that...

[sobie18]

Glad everything was ok, JimmyM. If not, I was gonna try and get your gig because I own like 4 tuners. I might not use them but I have them.

[DiabolusInMusic]

Ha... I know you have perfect pitch, or at least did when you were younger. Your shenanigans will not work here.

And yes, I completely agree with you. How can you not tune by ear with a good reference. One of the first things I teach my students is tuning strings by harmonics to the string above and below it.

One of the bassists at my jam space falls into that category. He writes what the strings are tuned to on his road case, his tuner is in his rack with his amp so he can't forget it. I nearly fell off my amp laughing when I was informed he currently has a $5000 bass on order with Dingwall (They're local for those who don't know, everybody has to get one by law ). He would fit in great in the crappy bassists with expensive gear club.

[Russell L]

BTW, when using harmonics on bass I compare the 7th fret harmonic to the next lowest string at the 5th fret (same harmonic note). If I get an A, I begin with my A string at the 5th fret compared to the D string at the 7th fret, and then work towards the G and e strings from there. My bridge is set to sound like the 12th fret harmonic when I push the string down on the 12th fret. This all takes care of it for me. I know there can be discrepencies when fretting notes as compared to open strings, as well as where on the neck you play. But, I'm usually good doing what I do.

Yeah, the Snark is not the most accurate tuner out there. But, it works for my basses. haven't tried it on guitar yet.