Guitar tuners

[Fly]

Hi mark I had this exact same problem months ago when we did a week in an alternative tuning and even resorted to doing what you said finding the note on another string and tuning by ear as my tuner would only seem to let me tune eadgbe automatically. I found an old tuner which I had and this allowed me to tune a note so maybe it is your tuner there’s plenty of apps where if you pay they have the alternative tunings built in. I have a new guitar now that has a built in tuner which is really good it lets me tune any notes. Someone might have a better answer as I never found a solution with the tuner I had but that might just be my inexperience also.

[tailsawaggin]

Hi Mark,

Tuning by ear is great for people who can do it, but for people like me, there is technology. I have a couple of preferred solutions — the first is a simple clip-on chromatic tuner like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Snark-ST-2-Multi-Instrument-Chromatic-Tuner. You really can’t go wrong with these — when you pluck the string, it shows you what note you’re playing and its degree of sharpness or flatness, so to tune to open D for example, it’s just a matter of tuning each of your strings down until the display says it’s right.

My other favorite is this tuner app for iDevices: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guitar-tuner-easy-tune-chords/id838981369. It defaults to standard EADGBe, but under the settings menu there is a HUGE list of alternate tunings available, and there’s almost certainly an Android equivalent if that’s your preferred platform.

Cheers,

tails

[the-old-coach]

Tails- Thanks for the answer. When I turn that G string down- (looking for that F#)- does it actually display “F#” ? Seems like some I saw may display the “F”, but there colors that you have to go to “off of “center” – (F) either flat or sharp. What you suggest you may be exactly what I need.

I can get it pretty close using the “fretting another string” method, and going by ear, but I thought having something that displays it- (F#)- clearly would be more accurate, faster and downright coooooooler!

Oops- (edited)- all of this is referring to the clip-on tuner- (the first one). The second method is WELL beyond my electronic-skill-level😀

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[tailsawaggin]

Hi Mark,

Yes, it shows the note name including the sharp, so as you’re tuning down from G it will show you getting flatter and flatter until it’s no longer a flat G but a sharp F#, then it will pass through F# to F, and so on. I think it’s just what you’re looking for. 🙂

[the-old-coach]

Tails-

Sounds like that’s it– Thanks!

Mark

[Wm.Jacobson]

I’ve seen tuners that have a dot on the display, instead of a sharp or flat symbol. Look at your tuner again. [answer is obsolete]

Aside: you can always do it the old-fashioned way. I recently watched John Knowles tune his guitar by first tuning the A string to concert pitch, and tuning the rest of his strings using relative pitch and harmonics.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Wm.Jacobson.

[Moonhare]

My tuner is a really cheap (<$10) korg clip on. I will be investing in a new one (Christmas list maybe?) such as the one @tailsawaggin suggested but even mine shows what note you are on including all the # notes. If your one is only set to do standard tuning then your next investment should be a new tuner. I’m lucky that I can happily tune a guitar by ear using the 5th fret harmonics, but that’s certainly not for everyone and you still need an initial note to work from. I was the kid that tuned everyone’s guitars for them at primary school using either a tuning fork or pitch pipes. I didn’t even play guitar back then! Hope you get sorted out. Darren

[Bill_Brown]

Hi @mkjohnsons , I have a Snark clip-on (Guitar, Bass & Violin) tuner that does exactly what @tailswaggin is describing – and it was only $10. I had no problem when going into and out of the open D tuning. Definitely a good one to have👍

[the-old-coach]

To all- Many thanks for the help and advice.

The first line- of my first post- in this thread was- “Full disclosure- my inexperience is on full display here🙃”.

So now—– pretty-damned embarrassed—– I must admit that it is all completely “operator-error”.

I had to do a little digging to find out the solution was ridiculously simple😳

Upside- after all your help and advice, I will be buying a different tuner!

Thank you all again- (now I’ll go back under my rock)

Mark

[tailsawaggin]

Like many things in life, it isn’t obvious until you already know the answer. 😉

[Bill_Brown]

There is no shame here @mkjohnsons , you asked and the Community answered – that’s what makes TACland so great – we’re all here to help each other🤩

[Emil]

Hi Mark, you can download BOSS Chromatic Tuner (TU-3).

I’m a beginner and have clip on Fender tuner and had hard time with alternate tuning. This tuner will make it easy for you, shows you sharps and flats and its free. Cheers!