Sometimes you may find that you tune your guitar perfectly and still it sounds out of tune when you start playing it. This usually happens because tuning the strings isn't always enough. You also have to check and adjust the guitar intonation setup.
With correct intonation, your guitar should play in tune in every fret on the neck. If it is out, the instrument is usually in tune in the first few frets. However, as you play down along the neck towards the body of the instrument, it starts losing pitch.
To fix the problem, you need to change the length of the strings from the nut and the bridge saddles. The nut is located at the top of the neck. It has a slot for every string. The bridge saddles are the parts on the body of the instrument where you fasten the other end of each string. To adjust the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles, you need to move the bridge saddles.
The first step in adjusting the tonality is to put new strings on your instrument and to tune them. Use the tuning that you're going to play in. This does not necessarily have to be standard tuning. You will find it easier to use an electronic tuner, which will also give you a more accurate reading than tuning by ear.
Now you can start checking the intonation of each string. The most accurate way to do this is to use the harmonic of each string. To play the harmonic, keep the string open. In other words, don't press it down. Only pick the string very lightly and quickly release your finger. This should give a chiming sound. You may have to move your finger around a little along the string until you find the position that gives you this sound.
For checking intonation, you need to play the note at the twelfth fret and then compare it with its harmonic. This means you should play the note at the twelfth fret and then play the harmonic at the twelfth fret too. The reason why you should use this specific fret is that it is the octave point. The harmonic at the twelfth fret should give you a note exactly an octave higher than the note you get when you play the note in the normal way.
You can now use your tuner to compare the pitch on each note to its harmonic. If the harmonic is exactly an octave higher, you don't have to adjust anything. If the note is flat, which means that it has a lower pitch than its harmonic, you will have to move the bridge forward towards the head of the instrument. In contrast, if the note is sharp you will have to move the bridge backward towards the body. After each adjustment, compare the note to its harmonic again.
On an electric guitar, there are separate bridge saddles for each string. You can adjust each one individually. On an acoustic guitar, however, you can't move the bridge and you will need a luthier to help you with your guitar intonation setup. Once it's done, you may find that you can't stop playing.
With correct intonation, your guitar should play in tune in every fret on the neck. If it is out, the instrument is usually in tune in the first few frets. However, as you play down along the neck towards the body of the instrument, it starts losing pitch.
To fix the problem, you need to change the length of the strings from the nut and the bridge saddles. The nut is located at the top of the neck. It has a slot for every string. The bridge saddles are the parts on the body of the instrument where you fasten the other end of each string. To adjust the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles, you need to move the bridge saddles.
The first step in adjusting the tonality is to put new strings on your instrument and to tune them. Use the tuning that you're going to play in. This does not necessarily have to be standard tuning. You will find it easier to use an electronic tuner, which will also give you a more accurate reading than tuning by ear.
Now you can start checking the intonation of each string. The most accurate way to do this is to use the harmonic of each string. To play the harmonic, keep the string open. In other words, don't press it down. Only pick the string very lightly and quickly release your finger. This should give a chiming sound. You may have to move your finger around a little along the string until you find the position that gives you this sound.
For checking intonation, you need to play the note at the twelfth fret and then compare it with its harmonic. This means you should play the note at the twelfth fret and then play the harmonic at the twelfth fret too. The reason why you should use this specific fret is that it is the octave point. The harmonic at the twelfth fret should give you a note exactly an octave higher than the note you get when you play the note in the normal way.
You can now use your tuner to compare the pitch on each note to its harmonic. If the harmonic is exactly an octave higher, you don't have to adjust anything. If the note is flat, which means that it has a lower pitch than its harmonic, you will have to move the bridge forward towards the head of the instrument. In contrast, if the note is sharp you will have to move the bridge backward towards the body. After each adjustment, compare the note to its harmonic again.
On an electric guitar, there are separate bridge saddles for each string. You can adjust each one individually. On an acoustic guitar, however, you can't move the bridge and you will need a luthier to help you with your guitar intonation setup. Once it's done, you may find that you can't stop playing.
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