Cat's Fax 101

I use my ear often after I tune using a tuner. I like hitting a harmonic and listening to the oscillations. when they get in sync the strings are tuned.

Sure, YOU do...but most just do not. It's shameful that lots of newbies just rely upon a digital tuner and nothing else.

Every time it comes up, the whole "tuning issue" always turns into a food fight...so...maybe someone'll toss the first cream pie! 8)

Cat

I teach my students to listen for those oscillations - they're called "beats". It's how symphony violinists tune.

I love it when they first hear them (I'll map out how they work on a whiteboard, and then do a behind-the-nut bend on my guitar to demonstrate against a pitch on a piano). Their eyes light up when they "get it" - and I know they're learning to really listen!

I agree with Cat - it's an invaluable skill.

noteboat explains things perfectly. a natural teacher.

Yeah...GN's lucky to have so much free advice! I can see it's Note's "raison d'etre". I even understand some of it...

But for the Newbies out there...as well as for the incredibly lazy...my goodness, you MUST have your ear "know" what's on and what's not. What DB & Note say is good advice. Listen to the beats generated. I try to avoid the subject...because of the steam that starts to come out of my ears. But you should have a cultivated "second nature" to what's in tune and what's not. If you really want to go somewhere with six strings stretched over some wood, hey, this is Guitar 101...what can I say to that?

NOTE: As I am writing this...FOX news has some live act playing a pop tune they are trying to move up the charts. They are on their way to full employment as a band, they ain't half bad and they have good material. Not half bad...except for the out of tune six string. Ugh! International exposure and the idiot's out of tune. Wait until the rest of the band get to watch their clip in the green room. :shock: :arrow: :|

Shameful... :oops:

Cat