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Tempered Tuning for Acoustic Guitar
By Kevin Ryan
The Method:
Tuning Notes:
A)
When you tune
the following fretted notes to the harmonics, tune them "beatless"--
i.e., without any hint of "rolling" or pulsating as the two
notes synchronize. When two notes get closer, their
"beating" slows down until it disappears altogether when
they are perfectly in tune. This is very important!
This is the skill to be gained!
B) In each step below, pluck the harmonic
first. Then fret and pluck the designated string. This
allows you to hear both notes simultaneously. Then tune the
appropriate string.
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| 1. |
Tune the D string to a known source |
| 2. |
Pluck the 12th fret
harmonic of the D then tune the G (fretted at the 7th
fret) to this harmonic. |
| 3. |
Pluck the same 12th
fret harmonic of the D then tune the B (fretted at
the 3rd fret) to this harmonic |
| 4. |
Pluck the 12th fret harmonic of the G and
tune the High E fretted at the 3rd fret to
this harmonic |
| 5. |
Tune the 12th fret harmonic of the A
to the G fretted at the 2nd fret (pluck the
harmonic first!) |
| 6. |
Tune the 5th fret harmonic of the Low E
to the High E open (pluck the harmonic first!) |
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Note:
To apply the tuning method to
alternate tunings, all you have to do is find the proper
fretted note on the string you are tuning and tune it
beatless to a 12th fret harmonic on a string below it. Easy
as pie.
Final
advice: take note that old strings are more difficult to
tune than new strings. This is because of uneven stretching
of the string and the subsequent erratic vibration
patterns. In some instances, old strings are impossible to
tune correctly. If you have difficulty achieving good
intonation, change strings.
Kevin Ryan
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Download
Tuning File |
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