Tuning With Harmonics
You may wish to review Harmonics and Better Harmonics before continuing with this lesson.
Tuning with harmonics is more accurate that unison tuning because some of the reference pitches are closer to the original source. Another advantage to tuning with harmonics the ability to hear both the reference pitch and the pitch being tuned simultaneously while adjusting the tuning with the left hand.
We know that the 1/4 string length harmonic at the 5th fret is an octave higher than the open string and that the 1/3 string length harmonic at the 7th fret is an octave higher than the fretted note at that fret. Now, we can use that information to tune the guitar. Here are the steps:
STEP 1:
Tune the 6th string to an outside source which is known to be in tune
(such as a tuning fork, piano, or an electronic tuner).
STEP 2:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the sixth string (E) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the fifth string (E), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 3:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the fifth string (A) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the fourth string (A), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 4:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the fourth string (D) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the third string (D), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 5:
Play the 7th fret harmonic on the sixth string (B) as a reference and then play the open B string, tuning it to the reference pitch. You may want to play the open B with the right hand over the soundboard to compensate for the change in timbre.
STEP 6:
You have two choices. You can:
1) Play the 7th fret harmonic on the fifth string (E) as a reference and then play the open high E string, tuning it to the reference pitch. This harmonic is easier to play because the fraction of the string length is larger.
or
2) Play the 5th fret harmonic on the sixth string (E) as a reference and then play the open high E string, tuning it to
the reference pitch. This option is more accurate because you are tuning directly to the source string.
Either way, you may want to play the open high E with the right hand over the soundboard to compensate for the change in timbre.
Tuning with harmonics is more accurate that unison tuning because some of the reference pitches are closer to the original source. Another advantage to tuning with harmonics the ability to hear both the reference pitch and the pitch being tuned simultaneously while adjusting the tuning with the left hand.
We know that the 1/4 string length harmonic at the 5th fret is an octave higher than the open string and that the 1/3 string length harmonic at the 7th fret is an octave higher than the fretted note at that fret. Now, we can use that information to tune the guitar. Here are the steps:
STEP 1:
Tune the 6th string to an outside source which is known to be in tune
(such as a tuning fork, piano, or an electronic tuner).
STEP 2:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the sixth string (E) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the fifth string (E), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 3:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the fifth string (A) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the fourth string (A), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 4:
Play the 5th fret harmonic on the fourth string (D) as a reference and then play the 7th fret harmonic on the third string (D), tuning it to the reference pitch.
STEP 5:
Play the 7th fret harmonic on the sixth string (B) as a reference and then play the open B string, tuning it to the reference pitch. You may want to play the open B with the right hand over the soundboard to compensate for the change in timbre.
STEP 6:
You have two choices. You can:
1) Play the 7th fret harmonic on the fifth string (E) as a reference and then play the open high E string, tuning it to the reference pitch. This harmonic is easier to play because the fraction of the string length is larger.
or
2) Play the 5th fret harmonic on the sixth string (E) as a reference and then play the open high E string, tuning it to
the reference pitch. This option is more accurate because you are tuning directly to the source string.
Either way, you may want to play the open high E with the right hand over the soundboard to compensate for the change in timbre.
Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Coffey All Rights Reserved Internatonal Copyright Secured
