It doesn't detect the string name. Assuming it is set to CHROMATIC mode (see my middle couple of paragraphs about that), it detects the note that you are playing. If it says F then your E string is a whole semitone SHARP so it sounds like an F. don't give tuners more credit than they deserve... they have no way to know what string you're playing. They listen to a note, find the closest in-tune note to what you're playing, and tell you how close it is to being in tune on THAT note.
if your E string is closer to being in tune to F than to E, then it'll call it an F, probably a pretty flat F.
If it says it's a D#, or a C, or whatever, then it's really flat and you need to tune it higher until it says E, and says in tune.
ALSO - and this might be important - SOME CLIP ON TUNERS will not change the note they display until they hear silence for a second or two. So play your E string, see what note name it says. if it STILL says F after you've loosened the tuner a bit (1/4 turn maybe), then your string is still sharp, OR you are turning the wrong tuner when you try to adjust the string. So then stop the strings from vibrating, so it's silent, wait for the snark display to go blank or settle or whatever, then play the E string again. only the E, don't let other strings vibrate significantly also because that will throw off the tuner.
If it STILL says F then maybe your tuner is broken, or you're turning the wrong one, or maybe your tuner is NOT set to chromatic or BASS or GUITAR mode.
Regarding Chromatic mode for the tuner... .I leave tuners in chromatic mode always because they work perfectly for all instruments, assuming you know how to use a tuner and know the notes you're supposed to be tuned to.
But for a beginner, sometimes setting a tuner or guitar mode, or maybe bass mode if it has that, will only show the main notes that a bass can tune to, which means it shouldn't show an F - it'll just show an E but very sharp.
maybe you have the snark set to some strange instrument? somethign that has an F string but does not have an E string?
if your E string is closer to being in tune to F than to E, then it'll call it an F, probably a pretty flat F.
If it says it's a D#, or a C, or whatever, then it's really flat and you need to tune it higher until it says E, and says in tune.
ALSO - and this might be important - SOME CLIP ON TUNERS will not change the note they display until they hear silence for a second or two. So play your E string, see what note name it says. if it STILL says F after you've loosened the tuner a bit (1/4 turn maybe), then your string is still sharp, OR you are turning the wrong tuner when you try to adjust the string. So then stop the strings from vibrating, so it's silent, wait for the snark display to go blank or settle or whatever, then play the E string again. only the E, don't let other strings vibrate significantly also because that will throw off the tuner.
If it STILL says F then maybe your tuner is broken, or you're turning the wrong one, or maybe your tuner is NOT set to chromatic or BASS or GUITAR mode.
Regarding Chromatic mode for the tuner... .I leave tuners in chromatic mode always because they work perfectly for all instruments, assuming you know how to use a tuner and know the notes you're supposed to be tuned to.
But for a beginner, sometimes setting a tuner or guitar mode, or maybe bass mode if it has that, will only show the main notes that a bass can tune to, which means it shouldn't show an F - it'll just show an E but very sharp.
maybe you have the snark set to some strange instrument? somethign that has an F string but does not have an E string?
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