At which point does being out of tune become a problem?

[Fynn]

I'm not asking because I have trouble tuning my instruments, I'm asking because I've never thought about how much out of tune an instrument has to be, to be noticably bad sounding.
Of course this depends on the instruments range, and the purpose of the instrument in the song, and so on. So let's just assume were talking about something like a Jamerson bass line.
I know from modular synths and orchestras, that the out of tune sound between different voices can actually be a good thing and pleasant sounding. But of course there is a line where it becomes noticably bad sounding.

To be even more specific, when I pick up my p bass to noodle around on it, it's usually a bit out of tune, but not so much that it would bother me. I still usually tune, but I noticed that I can even play along with songs, basically doubling the bassline, and it still sounds perfectly fine. I feel like I can be out by something like 20 cent and it's still just fine.

What are your experiences with this? Have you used controller out of tuneness for a specific sound before?

 

[doctone]

Have you used controller out of tuneness for a specific sound before?

Yes, I have been playing soprano saxophone for some time.

 

[MuseChaser]

Yes, I have been playing soprano saxophone for some time.

The saxophonist's credo.... "Better to be sharp than out of tune."

 

[smogg]

I spend a lot of time under headphones so even small increments annoy me. In the open air plus or minus a few cents I can tolerate but after that it becomes distracting.

 

[Geepers]

When the mesh screen comes down and people start throwing things.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

This question is more complicated than it seems.

It may lead to more questions before it can, (or more likely cannot) be answered in a simple way.

 

[KenD]

What is "in tune" really? In our equal temperament world today something or another is always out of tune

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

This is how the frets would look on a guitar that can be tuned more precisely, (true temperment) than one with the customary fret position/intonation compromises found on most guitars.

Sorry if this post does not answer the original question.

 

[pepj]

I'm very picky about pitchy vocals and horns so as soon as I hear it out of tune, its too much.

 

[fdeck]

If you would cringe at hearing it in a recording, it's out of tune.

 

[turf3]

Keep in mind that context is important. Complex and thick harmonies sound bad with smaller deviations in tuning than simple diatonic harmonies. A good argument can be made that the use of the more complex harmonies of the late Classical and Romantic periods was enabled, at least in part, by the development of wind instruments that were better in tune and the development of the modern iron-frame piano that stayed in tune far better than the old wood framed ones or the harpsichord.

 

[Fynn]

Keep in mind that context is important. Complex and thick harmonies sound bad with smaller deviations in tuning than simple diatonic harmonies. A good argument can be made that the use of the more complex harmonies of the late Classical and Romantic periods was enabled, at least in part, by the development of wind instruments that were better in tune and the development of the modern iron-frame piano that stayed in tune far better than the old wood framed ones or the harpsichord.

That's very interesting.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I'm very picky about pitchy vocals and horns so as soon as I hear it out of tune, its too much.

 

[Cadillac_Mike]

This is how the frets would look on a guitar that can be tuned more precisely, (true temperment) than one with the customary fret position/intonation compromises found on most guitars.
View attachment 7138640
Sorry if this post does not answer the original question.

 

[J Wilson]

Never.

Play with an instrument not easily tuned (an out of tune acoustic piano for instance) or a tining-deaf steel guitar or slide player, I promise you'll never ask this again.

Be an artfully out of tune 2nd sax in a Jazz big band, or a can't quite tune 3rd chair viola or French horn in a symphony, you'll be a greeter at Wally World next week.

You can bat around the various 'what's really in tune' or tempered tuning shortcomings, but in the real world, if you want to be a professional, you get in tune and stay in tune if you want to work.

Ya need directions to WalMart?

 

[Anjohl]

Depends on which string! I think on the Low E or A string, a cent or two is going to stand out big time. B or high E will have more tolerance I think!

 

[elgranluis]

I'm not asking because I have trouble tuning my instruments, I'm asking because I've never thought about how much out of tune an instrument has to be, to be noticably bad sounding.
Of course this depends on the instruments range, and the purpose of the instrument in the song, and so on. So let's just assume were talking about something like a Jamerson bass line.
I know from modular synths and orchestras, that the out of tune sound between different voices can actually be a good thing and pleasant sounding. But of course there is a line where it becomes noticably bad sounding.

To be even more specific, when I pick up my p bass to noodle around on it, it's usually a bit out of tune, but not so much that it would bother me. I still usually tune, but I noticed that I can even play along with songs, basically doubling the bassline, and it still sounds perfectly fine. I feel like I can be out by something like 20 cent and it's still just fine.

What are your experiences with this? Have you used controller out of tuneness for a specific sound before?

My Peterson tuner uses “controlled out of tuneness” on my rickenbacker 330-12.

In a bass , as long as I don’t hear the sound waves “wobbling “ against whatever thing they are out of tune with , I don’t mind.

 

[MVE]

The perception of being in tune is very reliant on the length of time a note is played.

Two tones out of tune played very quickly are much less noticeable than holding a whole note, and waiting as the beating becomes very apparent.

But to answer the OP, the concept of “in tune” is a very broad subject. Books have been written about it… and countless TB threads.

Is a M7 or m2 chord ever in-tune??? Lol

Pure tone, like computer tones, can be in-tune, but string instruments like a bass have so many overtones, nothing is ever truly “in-tune” with anything else, its always a spectrum.

 

[srosenthal13]

Ah, the luxury of being a drummer. There are no tuning issues that can't be remedied with a roll of gaffer's tape.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you would cringe at hearing it in a recording, it's out of tune.

Not me, I like The Beatles.