Losing my mind tuning a five string

[mid_life_crisis]

There may not be anything anyone can do to help me but I just need to scream.
I was practicing with my 5 string last night. Doing basic stuff, like a newb should. So I'm doing scales, root G in this case. It just didn't sound right. So I get out the tuner. It's a little off so I get the tuning correct according to the electronic, plug in, tuner. Now it sounds worse. I check the tuning by ear and it just sounds terrible. I verify that the tuner thinks life is lovely and sure enough it thinks everything is in tune. I tune by ear anyway and do some scales and now it sounds right.
Can an electronic tuner go out of tune, or am I losing it?

 

[rutty24]

just a quick question. what are you tuning the strings to? BEADG or EADGC?

 

[Already In Use]

Can you calibrate your tuner? Look for A 440hz.

 

[mid_life_crisis]

BEADG and I'll go get it out and check the base tuning.

 

[mid_life_crisis]

It is set to 440.
The batteries were about to die, so I swapped those and it didn't make any difference. If the tuner can be trusted, the intonation on this thing must be way the hell off, because tuning by ear to the sixth fret yields tuning much closer (not quite right though) when checked by the tuner than using the fifth fret does.
I'm bringing it in.

 

[somegeezer]

Has your bass been set up? Your intonation is probably miles off.

 

[greggster59]

Try tuning with this:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Already In Use]

It is set to 440.
The batteries were about to die, so I swapped those and it didn't make any difference. If the tuner can be trusted, the intonation on this thing must be way the hell off, because tuning by ear to the sixth fret yields tuning much closer (not quite right though) when checked by the tuner than using the fifth fret does.
I'm bringing it in.

You can set intonation yourself. Instrcutions are probably here. I did 3 of mine and they all came out OK. Just took a bit since I had zero experience. I'd have to look it up to do it again. All you do is adjust string length at the bridge to have the open string and 12th fret in tune. Longer or shorter string to fix flat or sharp notes at the 12th fret. Thats my simple explanation.

 

[wagstaff]

Has your bass been set up? Your intonation is probably miles off.

+1

If your bass isn't intonatated correctly it will cause the bass so go out of tune further up the neck.
It's all part of the basic set up of an instrument that can save £££ if you learn to do it yourself, all you need is:
A Tuner
An Allen Key
and a screwdriver.

There are lots of guides available on the net to help you intonate the instrument.

You'll find that after a good set up your instrument will be much more enjoyable to play

Mark

 

[mid_life_crisis]

Has your bass been set up? Your intonation is probably miles off.

It was supposedly set up at the store. I'm not happy at the moment.
The tuner also has a microphone so I'm going to see what it
thinks the pitches are from an online tuner.

 

[knuckle_head]

Are you tuning to attack or resolve? Tune to attack.

 

[greggster59]

This Jerzy Droid Bass setup guide is a great reference and shows you how to adjust your intonation:

http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/ultimate-guide-to-perfect-bass-setup.html

 

[mid_life_crisis]

It's the tuner.
It doesn't register low B or E properly. If I tune A, D and G then do the lowest two by ear, it all falls in line.
Thanks to all of you. The links were a help to verify what was going on.

 

[greggster59]

My tuner has trouble with the low E and I often, provided I know the intonation is correct, will tune it using the 12th fret harmonic.

 

[Already In Use]

It's the tuner.
It doesn't register low B or E properly. If I tune A, D and G then do the lowest two by ear, it all falls in line.
Thanks to all of you. The links were a help to verify what was going on.

I have one tuner that clips on the headstock. That also doesnt work for the bass..Good news!

 

[Stanley Pugh]

If it is a guitar tuner alone some will have problems.
If you have one that has a bass option that will work fine.
I have a Korg ga 30 , does bass and guitar $14.99 music 123.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I used to have a tuner that didn't register the B or E strings very well. The solution (until I bought a better tuner) was to tune using harmonics instead of open strings.

Of course, all bets are off if your instrument hasn't been intonated.

 

[JTE]

No, the 12th fret harmonic IS exactly in tune with the open string, no matter where the bridge saddle is, that's the physics of a virating string. Using the 12th fret harmonic or an open string will tune the string correctly.

If your intonation is wrong, fretted notes will be out of tune, but that'll be the case whether you tune with the harmonic or the open string.

John

 

[Jazzdogg]

No, the 12th fret harmonic IS exactly in tune with the open string, no matter where the bridge saddle is, that's the physics of a virating string. Using the 12th fret harmonic or an open string will tune the string correctly.

If your intonation is wrong, fretted notes will be out of tune, but that'll be the case whether you tune with the harmonic or the open string.

John

My point was that the tuner could "hear" harmonics better than open strings. That is all.

 

[Metal Mitch]

This Jerzy Droid Bass setup guide is a great reference and shows you how to adjust your intonation:

http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/ultimate-guide-to-perfect-bass-setup.html

Looks like an interesting guide, but the signup form is sourced from a 3rd party email marketing site. I won't post the links here - a good adblocker should catch it right away.