2 Lester Flatt Style Rhythm Guitar Instruction Taught By Chris Sharp Video 2 Tuning

[daniel5630]

This is a great video. I will also add my two cents worth, and hopefully not to discredit anything you are teaching regarding guitar tuning. If you mute the other 5 strings when tuning, you get a cleaner tune, if that is a correct term, because it isn't picking up frequency response from other strings. Piano tuners position felt in between strings when tuning for that purpose and it does help when tuning a guitar. Keep the good notes coming! Hope you don't mind my input.

[tlb45]

This is a great video with good pointers for most players. I would add that since guitar tuning machines are simply metal gears made with average tolerances, they do have their faults and can move during playing vibrations. Over my 50+ year career, I have found my best tuning results come from always taking the note below the target and tuning UP to it. This puts equal tension on the gears and eliminates most problems of worn tuner gears.

Tom Boyd

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

I mean no disrespect my friend but there are lots of better Ear Training Methods then an electronic Tuner.

Also, in the "Bluegrass World" musicians tend to play with mostly "STRING" players. In the "Jazz World" musicians play with Piano Players and Horn Players so Tuning is VERY DIFFERENT. A "House Piano" is often slightly sharp or flat soan electronic tuner won't work there.

In the "Classical World" the Orchestra tunes to the OBEO because of its fixed pitch.

DDR

DDR

[Studio607Productions]

There are also different temperaments (Pythagorean, Werckmeister, Kirnberger, Young, etc..) Most players in the modern world use the Concert Reference pitch of 440 A and and Equal temperament. I agree that there are many forms of ear training. I own several sets of training CDs made by different companies. Most people don't. The guitar lessons are meant for anyone from beginner on up.

[Studio607Productions]

The easiest, and cheapest, way to start correctly hearing how to tune your instrument is with a tuner. I use a strobe tuner but again, most do not which is why I chose to demonstrate the tuner with a more common one. Tuning with a piano is fine if you understand what an in tune instrument sounds like against a reference. If you don't then it's time to use a tuner (maybe one that will allow you calibrate it?) until you can.

[Studio607Productions]

Unless you tune each string to a piano and each string of the piano is in tune with itself then you're only reinforcing bad tuning habits. Nothing is more accurate than a strobe and they can be calibrated and made to use most temperaments or reference pitches. If one wants to truly learn how to tune and how to keep an instrument in tune then there is no substitute for a tuner. "Guessing" doesn't work. Learning to hear frequencies does.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

A 440 is the Standard in Western Music unless you're playing Quartertone Music or Modern Micro-Tonal Music.

My mom tought me how to tune a Guitar when she gave me my first lesson and I'm sure I played and Sang Out Of Tune for Years.

For Serious Ear Training, you need two people and a Piano. Everything else is Good and has Real Value but is Partial. Then, just start to Transcrbe Everything You Can off of Records and CD's and take part in Jam Sessions as often as possible.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

Thank's for sharing.

I start with my High E string and I "Rough Tune" the guitar without a tuner. Then I "Fine Tune" the strings with an electronic tuner.

It's better for the development of your ears if you take a pitch from a piano or another instrument and then tune without the help of an electronic tuner.

When you're playing with other musicians, a tuner is essential but practicing tuning is like practicing a song, it's an important skill to develop.

DDR a important

[Studio607Productions]

I used to feel the same way until I started tuning with a tuner on a regular basis. There is no better ear training than to play an instrument that is always in tune. Then when you get trapped without a tuner you know how to tune. If you try to practice tuning without one you can develop bad habits such as tuning the B string flat. Guitars become accustomed to being in tune as well and tend to stay in tune better if kept in proper tune. I have to respectfully disagree with you on this point.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

That's in the Bluegrass World where they don't use Piano, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion. It's 95% String Instruments and Voice.

Give a listen to traditional Music that is being performed on "Period Instruments." Talk about "Out Of Tune. Most wind instruments ARE NOT evenly tempered.

Still, the music sounds beautiful. The sound can sound a Bit Harsh to our Modern Ears but it's really Beautiful to hear that Pure and Natural Sound. Music isn't ment to be "Forced" into tune by technology.

[DickBowdenFromMaine]

Interesting advice. I suppose Chris (or someone) could someday do a whole series on how with many bluegrass guitars you have to "cheat" and not tune EXACTLY with the tuner sometimes! I liked how he related this discussion to a tape of listening to Flatt tune up in a "hotel". Nice touch.