Modern technology weirdness.

makkE · #1 12-02-2011, 12:25 PM

Just a small thing that happen at yesterday's guitarist audition that made me smirk.

He had a multi-fxs pedal. I could clearly see the tuner on it.

When it's time to tune, he asks us if we have a tuner for him Oo
We don't (all installed in our boards, would be a hassle).

I was just wanting to say "But you got a tuner there, don't you", when he gets out his iphone and starts a tuner app..

Weird, eh?

MatticusMania · #2 12-02-2011, 12:28 PM

Maybe he is unaware that his multi-fx pedal has a tuner on it? Or maybe tis not a very good one?

Also, why couldnt you have let him use yours? You could have handed him your lead and let him tune while your tuner was still attached to your board. I do it with my guitarists all the time cuz my tuner broke.

makkE · #3 12-02-2011, 12:36 PM

Well, we probably would have, if we had found nothing else, but he was quick to get his iphone out. Also our space is really small and it's a bit of a pain to move around when we're all plugged in...

pklima · #4 12-02-2011, 12:47 PM

The really modern answer is "oh don't bother tuning, if you're not off by too much just turn on the autotune in your effects unit and set it to T-Pain".

Bonerific · #5 12-02-2011, 07:22 PM

To show off that, "there's an app for that" lol I had guitar toolkit on my iPod. It really helps and the tuner was great!

D1on · #6 12-03-2011, 02:03 AM

What ever happened to "give me an A"

Derek5272 · #7 12-03-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1on

What ever happened to "give me an A"

Electronic tuners and readily available tablature. They discourage the development of one's ability to recognize differences in pitch by ear.

jeffbrown · #8 12-03-2011, 01:17 PM

Now THAT ^^ is a good one! SO true.

droo46 · #9 12-03-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1on

What ever happened to "give me an A"

That's what we do sometimes in my band...

Stumbo · #10 12-03-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1on

What ever happened to "give me an A"

+1

Or just point out that he has a tuner on his ME.

Neither one would be difficult to do.

Maybe the ME was brand new?

Audiophage · #11 12-03-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek5272

Electronic tuners and readily available tablature. They discourage the development of one's ability to recognize differences in pitch by ear.

pssh, as if there are differences in pitch that can be determined by ear. Nobody knew how to play in tune until the iPhone came out and introduced equal temperment.

IntrepidCellist · #12 12-03-2011, 10:35 PM

To be fair, I have perfect pitch and I prefer the convenience of a modern tuner.

Russell L · #13 12-06-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1on

What ever happened to "give me an A"

Or an E?

Oh never mind, I got a Snark now.

bassclef216 · #14 12-06-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1on

What ever happened to "give me an A"

Sorry...but there's nothing more annoying than listening to two guitarists trying to tune their guitars for 10 minutes buy alternately plucking strings and listening and then the obligatory...

"little low...little low...little low...little high...little low...little high...there it is. Next one. little low...little low...little low...little high...little high...little low. there it is...etc for all six strings.

I mean really. you can grab a tuner at the local music store for under $20. I was tuned up 30 seconds into the "guitards" little circus. Not to mention that I have to sit there quietly cause they must have complete silence to put two guitars in tune with each other but out of tune with the bass, keyboard, and piano. I Usually start asking if they want to borrow my tuner before they get to the A string, but it's like they have the need to prove that their ears are more finely tuned to pitch than a quality electronic tuner.

Derek5272 · #15 12-06-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassclef216

Sorry...but there's nothing more annoying than listening to two guitarists trying to tune their guitars for 10 minutes buy alternately plucking strings and listening and then the obligatory...

"little low...little low...little low...little high...little low...little high...there it is. Next one. little low...little low...little low...little high...little high...little low. there it is...etc for all six strings.

I mean really. you can grab a tuner at the local music store for under $20. I was tuned up 30 seconds into the "guitards" little circus. Not to mention that I have to sit there quietly cause they must have complete silence to put two guitars in tune with each other but out of tune with the bass, keyboard, and piano. I Usually start asking if they want to borrow my tuner before they get to the A string, but it's like they have the need to prove that their ears are more finely tuned to pitch than a quality electronic tuner.

While I personally take a while to tune by ear, I've known several musicians who can tune their guitars to a single note from a piano as well as any tuner.

Mykk · #16 12-06-2011, 07:30 PM

I would think 'tuning' by ear would be one of the tests a guitarist should pass during an audition, otherwise he may be one of those players that would play a half/whole step flat or sharp and not even realize it.... or while jamming ideas for new songs, he may not even realize he is in a completely wrong key.

Yes, recognizing pitch by ear would be most definitely important.

MaxSBM · #17 12-06-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek5272

Electronic tuners and readily available tablature. They discourage the development of one's ability to recognize differences in pitch by ear.

Agreed. My music teacher, thankfully, is an amazing guitarist and believes it is important to be able to tune by ear (surprisingly he is just 19. Or 18. I forget). I played violin for 6 years and could not tune by ear, when I got bass and guitar from him, I picked it up in a few months. Now I can tune fairly accurately in a minute or so.

nobodysfool · #18 12-06-2011, 07:54 PM

I just ask for an open G on the guitar (or a middle G on the piano), hit my harmonic at the 12th fret, and get my G string in tune, and then tune the rest of my strings using harmonics. Of course, you do have to have your bridge set correctly.....I do own a tuner, and my Line 6 LD300 has one built in, but I still do it by ear sometimes....

WokenDeer · #19 12-06-2011, 07:59 PM

Electric tuners are still a great thing to have though. It is a great thing to be able to tune by ear and know your pitches for sure. But in a band setting, and especially on stage, you want to be quick, and more importantly, quiet. No one wants to hear a band audibly tune on stage.

bassclef216 · #20 12-07-2011, 06:59 AM

That's mostly my point. If you want to practice your tuning skills in private and develop your "perfect pitch" more power to ya. I wish I could do that. I don't doubt that some musicians have the ability to tune by ear. I just hate waiting in silence while some try and show their musical geniousness by ear tuning while they making others wait. I get to a 9:00 rehearsal and am plugged in and tuned up by 9:03. The drummer is ready to go. The keyboardist hits the power button...we're all ready to start grooving but we have to wait for the:

ping ping..."low"...ping ping..."high"...ping ping..."low"...ping ping..."high"...etc.

good gosh just get a freakin tuner and get on with it. Like I said, if you want to train your ears that's awesome, just give the others a break. MaxSBM said this:

"when I got bass and guitar from him, I picked it up in a few months. Now I can tune fairly accurately in a minute or so."

Fairly accurately???? Really?? I mean what do you say to that? "Come on guys i'm only a little out of tune." So what do you do? Tune by ear to "fairly accurate" and then grab a tuner to get it exactly right?