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08-23-2008, 05:35 PM
|  | Redefining Lazy | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tampa via PDX | | | How Do I Tune to A440?
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I have some JamTrax that are tuned to A440, and not sure how to do it.
Any help?
Obviousy, a new guy.
Thanks.
Slackerprince
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08-23-2008, 05:43 PM
|  | mix-tape legend
builder: Baddy 1 Shoe Pedals | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Durham, NC | | | A440 is standard tuning. Buy any old tuner and tune to that.
alternately, if you can just get the tone and you want to tune to that, A440 is the A played on the 14th fret of your G string.
Last edited by jimmy rocket : 08-23-2008 at 05:45 PM.
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08-23-2008, 05:45 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lancaster, OH | | | Hey bro,
In case you're not sure of what standard tuning is... for a 4-string it's (low to high) E-A-D-G, with an added low B on most 5-strings, as well as a high C on most six-strings. Welcome to TB, btw! |
08-23-2008, 05:48 PM
| | Redefining Lazy | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tampa via PDX | | | OK.
For some reason I thought it was tuned down a half-step or something.
Drrr.
Thanks.
Slackerprince
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08-23-2008, 05:49 PM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmy rocket  A440 is standard tuning. | +1 You only have to worry about it if the tuning is A at any other frequency besides 440, which will be very uncommon. |
08-23-2008, 06:04 PM
| | mix-tape legend
builder: Baddy 1 Shoe Pedals | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Durham, NC | | | Yes, welcome! sorry I didn't explain what I meant about standard tuning.
peace |
08-23-2008, 07:34 PM
| | Redefining Lazy | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tampa via PDX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmy rocket Yes, welcome! sorry I didn't explain what I meant about standard tuning.
peace |
No, that's cool. I just didn't understand why the guy on the CD said A440 instead of "standard tuning", for cryin'-out-loud.
It seems like some of the tunes are in unfamiliar keys, which is good for me to learn, but it made it hard to "find" the groove.
I am doing some "self-taught" stuff until I can secure some lessons. I also want to know a few things so I can come into lessons with some background and have good questions to ask.
Thanks for the tip.
S.
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08-24-2008, 12:07 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Slackerprince I have some JamTrax that are tuned to A440, and not sure how to do it.
Any help?
Obviousy, a new guy.
Thanks.
Slackerprince |
What they mean by "A440" is that they're defining A at 440Hz. That means that 220Hz, 110Hz, 55Hz are also A's in different octaves.
It's a standard tuning pitch. You can tune your bass to it on the "a string," play a harmonic on the 5th fret. that should be 440Hz |
08-24-2008, 12:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Bormann What they mean by "A440" is that they're defining A at 440Hz. That means that 220Hz, 110Hz, 55Hz are also A's in different octaves.
It's a standard tuning pitch. You can tune your bass to it on the "a string," play a harmonic on the 5th fret. that should be 440Hz | Wouldn't that be 220 Hz? |
08-24-2008, 01:22 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Parabolic Box Wouldn't that be 220 Hz? | Unless I'm mistaken, yes, it's 220 Hz. As is the A on the G string, 14th fret.
One possible point of confusion might be that the bass (and the guitar, for that matter), is a transposing instrument; it actually sounds an octave lower than written. (The reason for this, in the case of the bass, at least, would be that the double bass, when it was first introduced in orchestras, mostly had the duty of doubling the cello part an octave lower. Hence the name. It was practical to tell them to read from the same orchestral part. Oh, and to be able to fit it on the bass clef without too many ledger lines was probably a consideration too.) |
08-24-2008, 01:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Exit 4, NJ | | | It is my understanding that different countries use different hz. I am not sure which or how...
However, when I lived in Germany, we used a 440 A there. Does anyone know why/where you would use a 441 (or anyother) A? |
08-24-2008, 01:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario | | Quote:
Originally Posted by GreggBummer It is my understanding that different countries use different hz. I am not sure which or how...
However, when I lived in Germany, we used a 440 A there. Does anyone know why/where you would use a 441 (or anyother) A? | When the piano is out of tune. It's a hell of a lot easier to retune everyone else than to sit down and tune up the piano.
Oh, and singers that are consistently flat or sharp. I'm almost always 4 or 5 cents flat when I don't have a reference pitch, so if I'm doing an a capella passage where the instrumentation comes in later, I have to get a reference pitch or everyone has to tune differently.
PS: Different countries use different frequencies (measured in Hz, or cycles per second) for their power lines. Some places use 60Hz AC, others use 50Hz AC. I've never heard of different countries using different reference pitches for music, but you never know.
Last edited by Nick Kay : 08-24-2008 at 01:43 PM.
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08-24-2008, 03:04 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | Wow, you guys use tuners? I just play a note and count the cycles with my ear. 
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08-24-2008, 08:09 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Parabolic Box Wouldn't that be 220 Hz? | I stand corrected. I'm not too proud to be unable to admit where I made a mistake. Just play a harmonic 2 1/3 frets off of the A string that should be 440 hz. |
08-28-2008, 10:32 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Canada | | Here's some totally random, but very useful trivia...
The dial tone on the telephone (land line, of course) is A440. Just pick up the phone and tune your "A" string to the dial tone!
I've used it in a pinch when there's been no other tuning alternative - works like a charm!!!
Just thought I'd throw that in there! 
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Last edited by dmq89 : 08-28-2008 at 10:37 AM.
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08-28-2008, 10:46 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mid Hudson Valley, NY | | | Unfortunately the dial tone is going the way of A415 (the Baroque standard)
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08-28-2008, 10:53 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcury Unfortunately the dial tone is going the way of A415 (the Baroque standard) |
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