By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_DuClos]James DuClos
What is tuning?
The most important part to playing music is making sure your guitar is in tune. If your guitar is out of tune, you might as well not play. What is tuning? Tuning is the notes that are produced by the strings when they are played open. When a guitar is in standard tuning, the strings should make the notes E, A, D, G, B, E when open. The strings are numbered from smallest to biggest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The biggest string is E and the smallest is E as well, sometime the 1st string is signified as a lowercase E, or 'e.'
Tuning Your Guitar
Tuning by ear is possible, but the best way to tune is by using an electronic tuner. Since tones move smoothly between one another and don't click into place the only way to make sure that your guitar is perfectly in tune. An E note can be flat and still be an E, only a tuner knows if it is sharp of flat.
Buying a electronic tuner when you first start playing is a must. Especially during the first few months of playing you may not be able to tell if your guitar is out of tune. This can be few dangerous to your ear because you will be learning chords and hearing them out of tune. This can potentially train your ear to think that a G chord sounds like an out of tune guitar. Just make sure to buy a tuner and tune before you practice, then strum the strings open or play a chord you know so you can learn what they sounds like in tune.
Making those first... noises...
When you first plug in make sure the volume on your guitar is up and your amp is turned on and up to about 20% volume. Pluck the strings with your pick or your fingernails. Either play the strings open or push your finger down on top of one between two of the metal frets to play a fretted note.
Plucking
If you're using a pick, hold it between your thumb and one side of your index finger. This is much like holding a pencil with your index finger. If you are using your fingers, there are many ways to pluck the strings. You can brush them with your thumb, flick with your fingers, or use your fingernails as a pick.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_DuClos http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar-Tuning&id=903976
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Guitar Tuning Guide: How To Tune a Guitar
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon]Mantius Cazaubon
Many beginning guitarists struggle when it comes to tuning the guitar. It's a major stumbling block for them. Some end up quitting altogether because every time they start to play what comes out doesn't sound right. A beginner should understand that guitar tuning is something you get better at with practice. Ear development takes time.
A beginner should practice tuning the guitar so that he can become better and better at it. Your friends won't be around all the time to tune your guitar for you.
How does one tune the guitar?
Well firstly, here's the standard tuning of a six string guitar:
6th string: E
5th string: A
4th string: D
3rd string: G
2nd string: B
1st string: E
The first string being the thinnest, and the sixth string the fattest.
Relative tuning: tuning an electric guitar by ear.
Let's assume that your 6th string is already in tune (an E note). You can tune your 6th string by using another guitar that is in tune, a tuning fork, a piano, an electronic tuner or even a midi file on your computer. Then, all you have to do is match notes on the adjacent strings.
Play the 6th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 5th string open.
Play the 5th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 4th string open.
Play the 4th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 3rd string open.
Play the 3rd string at the 4th fret. It should match the tone of the 2nd string open.
Play the 2nd string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 1st string open.
You can also tune your guitar by octaves.
An octave is the interval between two notes with the same name. In the scale: C D E F G A B C, the two C's are one octave apart.
Play the 6th string open. It should be one octave apart with the 5th string at the 7th fret.
Play the 5th string open. It should be one octave apart with the 4th string at the 7th fret.
Play the 4th string open. It should be one octave apart with 3rd string at the 7th fret.
Play the 3rd string open. It should be one octave apart with the 2nd string at the 8th fret.
Play the 2nd string open. It should be one octave apart with the 1st string at the 7th fret.
When your ear is sufficiently developed you should be able to tune your guitar by using chords. Just play a chord and tune the strings so the chord sounds right.
Learning to tune the guitar is very important. A must! But it is so much more convenient, faster, and more accurate to make use of a guitar tuner. Particularly in live situations and noisy environments. You will find an electronic tuner for 10-50 bucks online easily. You can order one today.
Mantius Cazaubon offers a buying guide to helping you choose an electric guitar that meets your needs on his site, [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com]http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com. Visit [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com]Electric Guitars Guide for electric guitar lessons, tips, and reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar-Tuning-Guide:-How-To-Tune-a-Guitar&id=74768
Many beginning guitarists struggle when it comes to tuning the guitar. It's a major stumbling block for them. Some end up quitting altogether because every time they start to play what comes out doesn't sound right. A beginner should understand that guitar tuning is something you get better at with practice. Ear development takes time.
A beginner should practice tuning the guitar so that he can become better and better at it. Your friends won't be around all the time to tune your guitar for you.
How does one tune the guitar?
Well firstly, here's the standard tuning of a six string guitar:
6th string: E
5th string: A
4th string: D
3rd string: G
2nd string: B
1st string: E
The first string being the thinnest, and the sixth string the fattest.
Relative tuning: tuning an electric guitar by ear.
Let's assume that your 6th string is already in tune (an E note). You can tune your 6th string by using another guitar that is in tune, a tuning fork, a piano, an electronic tuner or even a midi file on your computer. Then, all you have to do is match notes on the adjacent strings.
Play the 6th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 5th string open.
Play the 5th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 4th string open.
Play the 4th string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 3rd string open.
Play the 3rd string at the 4th fret. It should match the tone of the 2nd string open.
Play the 2nd string at the 5th fret. It should match the tone of the 1st string open.
You can also tune your guitar by octaves.
An octave is the interval between two notes with the same name. In the scale: C D E F G A B C, the two C's are one octave apart.
Play the 6th string open. It should be one octave apart with the 5th string at the 7th fret.
Play the 5th string open. It should be one octave apart with the 4th string at the 7th fret.
Play the 4th string open. It should be one octave apart with 3rd string at the 7th fret.
Play the 3rd string open. It should be one octave apart with the 2nd string at the 8th fret.
Play the 2nd string open. It should be one octave apart with the 1st string at the 7th fret.
When your ear is sufficiently developed you should be able to tune your guitar by using chords. Just play a chord and tune the strings so the chord sounds right.
Learning to tune the guitar is very important. A must! But it is so much more convenient, faster, and more accurate to make use of a guitar tuner. Particularly in live situations and noisy environments. You will find an electronic tuner for 10-50 bucks online easily. You can order one today.
Mantius Cazaubon offers a buying guide to helping you choose an electric guitar that meets your needs on his site, [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com]http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com. Visit [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com]Electric Guitars Guide for electric guitar lessons, tips, and reviews.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar-Tuning-Guide:-How-To-Tune-a-Guitar&id=74768
Monday, January 7, 2008
How to Tune a Bass Guitar
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon]Mantius Cazaubon
This material seeks to answer your question on how to tune a bass guitar. Well since I don't know exactly how many strings are on your bass guitar I shall present you with different options, namely, 4-string, 5 string, 6 string, and 7 string basses.
First of all we shall look at the standard tuning of bass guitars.
The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar from highest (thinnest string) to lowest (fattest string) is G-D-A-E.
On a five string bass the tunings are similar with the addition of a low B string.
On a six string bass guitar, a thinner (higher pitched) string is added, and is tuned to C. In other words on a 6 string bass guitar the settings are B-E-A-D-G-C, where B is the fattest string or lowest note and C the highest and thinnest.
On a 7-string bass a high F-string is added. The settings on a 7-string bass are B-E-A-D-G-C-F where B is the lowest and F the highest.
Tuning your bass is all about matching the pitch of your instrument to that of a bass guitar tuner, pitch pipe, tuning fork or a correctly tuned piano or keyboard. If you do not have a tuner or keyboard instrument, you can find an online tuner by doing a search.
Now all you have to do is match the pitch of the strings to the corresponding notes on your tuner. Hopefully your ears are sufficiently developed (musically), for you to hear this. When the note on your bass is the same as that of your tuner, the vibration patterns will match and you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound when you play the two notes. There will be no clash between the two notes.
So how do you tune your bass?
Loosen the string and tune up to the correct note. In other words your string should be well below the correct pitch and only then do you begin to tighten. That way you avoid breakage by tightening the string too much. Listen carefully to make sure the two pitches match and that there is no wah-wah-wah or clashing sound between the two notes.
As long as the notes are in sync, you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound. But if you pass the in tune point, you will begin to hear that undesired sound again, and it means that you will have to loosen on the string a little until you get back to the in tune point.
Tune all your strings one by one by matching the sound of the strings to the corresponding note on your tuner.
Tuning your bass is not hard. But as with any other instrument it involves practice. And of course, practice makes perfect. After a while you may find that you do not even have to rely on an electronic tuner to tune your bass. Hope you found this guide useful. Good luck.
Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]Bass Guitars Guide. A resource for [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]bass guitar reviews, information and tips on buying bass guitars online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Tune-a-Bass-Guitar&id=439902
This material seeks to answer your question on how to tune a bass guitar. Well since I don't know exactly how many strings are on your bass guitar I shall present you with different options, namely, 4-string, 5 string, 6 string, and 7 string basses.
First of all we shall look at the standard tuning of bass guitars.
The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar from highest (thinnest string) to lowest (fattest string) is G-D-A-E.
On a five string bass the tunings are similar with the addition of a low B string.
On a six string bass guitar, a thinner (higher pitched) string is added, and is tuned to C. In other words on a 6 string bass guitar the settings are B-E-A-D-G-C, where B is the fattest string or lowest note and C the highest and thinnest.
On a 7-string bass a high F-string is added. The settings on a 7-string bass are B-E-A-D-G-C-F where B is the lowest and F the highest.
Tuning your bass is all about matching the pitch of your instrument to that of a bass guitar tuner, pitch pipe, tuning fork or a correctly tuned piano or keyboard. If you do not have a tuner or keyboard instrument, you can find an online tuner by doing a search.
Now all you have to do is match the pitch of the strings to the corresponding notes on your tuner. Hopefully your ears are sufficiently developed (musically), for you to hear this. When the note on your bass is the same as that of your tuner, the vibration patterns will match and you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound when you play the two notes. There will be no clash between the two notes.
So how do you tune your bass?
Loosen the string and tune up to the correct note. In other words your string should be well below the correct pitch and only then do you begin to tighten. That way you avoid breakage by tightening the string too much. Listen carefully to make sure the two pitches match and that there is no wah-wah-wah or clashing sound between the two notes.
As long as the notes are in sync, you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound. But if you pass the in tune point, you will begin to hear that undesired sound again, and it means that you will have to loosen on the string a little until you get back to the in tune point.
Tune all your strings one by one by matching the sound of the strings to the corresponding note on your tuner.
Tuning your bass is not hard. But as with any other instrument it involves practice. And of course, practice makes perfect. After a while you may find that you do not even have to rely on an electronic tuner to tune your bass. Hope you found this guide useful. Good luck.
Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]Bass Guitars Guide. A resource for [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]bass guitar reviews, information and tips on buying bass guitars online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Tune-a-Bass-Guitar&id=439902
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
How To Tune A Guitar
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Stewart]Bruce Stewart
Feeling frustrated and wanting to play music that actually sounds good, what really counts when you are playing is that your guitar is in tune with itself and any other instruments you might happen to be playing with. Learning how to tune a guitar is the single most important concept for a beginning guitarist to learn. Unfortunately it can and is often a first stumbling block, the real reason most new guitarists tend to sound bad is most likely because the instrument isn’t in tune. How to tune a guitar will help you keep your guitar in tune you will always sound great, if your guitar is not in tune you will never sound good. Check the tuning frequently especially while practicing, the act of playing the guitar causes it to go out of tune, you should get into the habit of tuning your guitar each time you pick it up to play.
You can tune your guitar a number of different ways and it is highly recommended that every musician own some sort of electric tuner, this is the easiest and most accurate way. You can find tuners that work with electric guitar, acoustic, or both. By becoming familiar with how to tune a guitar, the more quickly you’ll be able to do it with practice many guitarists can get their instruments tuned in one minute.
As previously stated it is recommended that some form of electronic tuner is helpful. However it is strongly suggested that you learn to tune a guitar with one note off a fixed source by ear this will train your ear to the pitch of each note, by tuning your guitar you are correcting the pitch of each string. The electronic tuner listens to the pitch of each string as you strum it one string at a time, and generally uses an easy to understand display, this lets you know if the pitch is too high or too low. Knowing how to tune the guitar by ear is extremely valuable especially at times when you don’t have access to another device.
All the practice and the best technique in the world will not help what your playing sound right if your guitar is out of tune, the major difference between a good sounding chord and one that sounds just awful is in the art of tuning. How to tune a guitar will serve as a foundation for an ongoing experience which will have you playing any guitar style confidently, play anytime no problem. http://howtotuneaguitar.wordpress.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Stewart http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Tune-A-Guitar&id=711114
Feeling frustrated and wanting to play music that actually sounds good, what really counts when you are playing is that your guitar is in tune with itself and any other instruments you might happen to be playing with. Learning how to tune a guitar is the single most important concept for a beginning guitarist to learn. Unfortunately it can and is often a first stumbling block, the real reason most new guitarists tend to sound bad is most likely because the instrument isn’t in tune. How to tune a guitar will help you keep your guitar in tune you will always sound great, if your guitar is not in tune you will never sound good. Check the tuning frequently especially while practicing, the act of playing the guitar causes it to go out of tune, you should get into the habit of tuning your guitar each time you pick it up to play.
You can tune your guitar a number of different ways and it is highly recommended that every musician own some sort of electric tuner, this is the easiest and most accurate way. You can find tuners that work with electric guitar, acoustic, or both. By becoming familiar with how to tune a guitar, the more quickly you’ll be able to do it with practice many guitarists can get their instruments tuned in one minute.
As previously stated it is recommended that some form of electronic tuner is helpful. However it is strongly suggested that you learn to tune a guitar with one note off a fixed source by ear this will train your ear to the pitch of each note, by tuning your guitar you are correcting the pitch of each string. The electronic tuner listens to the pitch of each string as you strum it one string at a time, and generally uses an easy to understand display, this lets you know if the pitch is too high or too low. Knowing how to tune the guitar by ear is extremely valuable especially at times when you don’t have access to another device.
All the practice and the best technique in the world will not help what your playing sound right if your guitar is out of tune, the major difference between a good sounding chord and one that sounds just awful is in the art of tuning. How to tune a guitar will serve as a foundation for an ongoing experience which will have you playing any guitar style confidently, play anytime no problem. http://howtotuneaguitar.wordpress.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Stewart http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Tune-A-Guitar&id=711114
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