Tuning with a Tuner Question...

[Essthreetee]

I am using a KORG CA-30 chromatic tuner...my question is about the calibration. It has the ability to adjust the Hz...what is the standard setting?? I believe that it came set at 440 Hz...but to me it sounds too high...

I don't know if this makes sense...but please point me in the right direction.

Thans

[WarwickFan412]

440 hz is the standard

[CapnSev]

The tuner needs to be at 440 Hz to be in a standard tuning. Hertz doesn't necissarily mean pitch, as in too high or low of an octave, it is the frequency (or wavelength) at which a note vibrates.

440 Hz is the "standard" frequency for an A. Meaning: all your various A's on your fingerboard should vibrate at 440 Hz.

Your Korg is a good tuner, and chromatic, so it is going to recognize all of the notes on your bass, no matter how high or low (in pitch) the note is.

[Essthreetee]

OK...thanks for all of your replies...and to the Mods...sorry for posting in the wrong forum...

Jason

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

As already said, 440 Hz is the standard frequency for an A4 pitch. If you work in a band with no wind instruments, the whole band can take that reference since the tuning pegs allow for an infinite turning range.

Having wind instruments in a band creates a problem because those instruments don't have such "infiniteness" for tuning. The valves and/or barrels are very limited and extreme weather may be an inconvenience. The colder the weather, the lower the pitch (again, for wind instruments. Strings are the opposite) and, under extreme weather conditions, it is very possible that there will be no room for moving the valve/barrel to properly tune the instrument. Calibrating the tuner to a different center (A4=438, for example) is the way to compensate for that. If a big band is going to play in an really hot place, 442 Hz or higher will be needed for the wind instruments to allow for proper tuning. Needless to say, the whole band must use that reference.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Hertz doesn't necissarily mean pitch, as in too high or low of an octave, it is the frequency (or wavelength) at which a note vibrates

Errr... Hertz = pitch = frequency = wavelength.

A "note" is a relative term, sort of an arbitrary definition, which may be at a different frequency (pitch, wavelength, Hz) depending on the tuning required by the band.

[Essthreetee]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Errr... Hertz = pitch = frequency = wavelength.

A "note" is a relative term, sort of an arbitrary definition, which may be at a different frequency (pitch, wavelength, Hz) depending on the tuning required by the band.

So then...if you bump the Hz down to say 430 and tune all the strings to that...is that the equivalent of tuning down a step or something???

Just trying to learn more everyday....

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by Essthreetee

So then...if you bump the Hz down to say 430 and tune all the strings to that...is that the equivalent of tuning down a step or something???

Just trying to learn more everyday....

For a semitone lower, the reference should be 415.30 Hz. Here's a table of frequencies.

[Essthreetee]

VERY COOL....thank you.

[rakirksey]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Errr... Hertz = pitch = frequency = wavelength.

Not to be a nit-picker, but Hz (1 / 1 second) is the unit for frequency and frequency is equal to the speed of propagation in a particular medium/wavelength.

Which is why a lower frequency has a longer wavelength.

[jenderfazz]

Originally Posted by rakirksey

Which is why a lower frequency has a longer wavelength.

Yup. Wavelength and frequency are related but not the same.

Another potential application for adjusting A440 would be a grand piano that's slightly off for whatever reason. It's easier for other musicians to tune to the piano (for example, to A438).