tuning by ear

[billy freedom]

most toilets flush in Eb

 

most car horns are in the key of F

[The Phrygian Kid]

most tuning forks are only four bucks on ebay... ;)

[LJ]

I use the boss TU-2 pedal tuner. cost about 99 dollars new. But for electric tuning it allows you to mute while tuning giving others around you peace.It doesnt have a built in mic so not soo good for acoustics. But for electric guitar tuners it is the best Ive ever heard.And its not as expensive as others Ive seen.And you can tune your guitar in silence on a dark stage while standing. And without disconnecting your cable. I also have the boss TU-12 for my bass and acoustic. It has a mic built in or you can run it inline. I do keep an A tuning fork in most of my acoustic cases so I dont need to carry one at all. I find it easier to begin my tuning from the A string. Tuning in F wouldnt work for me.And Eb is only when I play with certain bands so Id rather use my TU-2 than waste the water. Haaaa
Thanks for the info Billy

[billy freedom]

my tuner is chromatic made of hardwood in america in 1992 ive dropped it at least a hundred times a year. it still works. my tibetian monk chant/ mongolian throat/didge voice is in E, i usually use this when i cant find the tuner. i dont like tuning forks the tune in my head overides the sound of the guitar. and i hate vibration on my tooth. i think euro car horns are G#.

[LJ]

I dont put the fork in my mouth. Who did u learn that from?I hit it then put the ball end on the bridge. And I believe the standard phone dial tone is in e. When I was much younger I could tune to Eb by ear everytime. Too bad i wasnt going for Eb when I did it.

billy freedom said:

my tuner is chromatic made of hardwood in america in 1992 ive dropped it at least a hundred times a year. it still works. my tibetian monk chant/ mongolian throat/didge voice is in E, i usually use this when i cant find the tuner. i dont like tuning forks the tune in my head overides the sound of the guitar. and i hate vibration on my tooth. i think euro car horns are G#.

[billy freedom]

i learned it from a canadian guy he plays with dwight yokum now. good to know about the phone dial tone. i usually get the fat E right then its a matter of rockabilly basslines in G until i get it ll right. when i travel my most precious things i cant lose is my passport and my tuner.

[billy freedom]

oh i forgot i also play harmonica. if the harmonica is old the guitar has to be tuned to the slightly out harmonica, not the tuner. the 4th hole blow on any harmonica is the key its in. i take masking tape tape all but the fourth hole. and tune up. its like a piano in your pocket.

[steve "roots" howard]

I can tune my wife out by the sounds of her natural frequencyssss

[The Phrygian Kid]

We all learn to do that!!
eventually theyre like a wee bug buzzing round...

+ side to tuning fork.. give it a bash and set the planks singing next time ur looking at wood.. U may be amazed how much more resonant one piece is to the next.. The staff at bunnings think im crackers..

steve "roots" howard said:

I can tune my wife out by the sounds of her natural frequencyssss

[billy freedom]

blowing into an empty bottle of bud gives you a perfect G

[Denys Lord]

I tried tuning my uke by ear and I found it very difficult sticking the knobs in my ear and trying to turn them was horrible so I'm back to using my fingers to tune my uke.

[Fitzhugh]

I think dial tones in US are A440, not E. I can't check, though, because all I have is a cell phone that doesn't give dial tones :( Because of this I had to search youtube for a beginners "how to tune your guitar" video just to get a pitch the other day... no tuner, lost tuning fork, new strings...

[billy freedom]

yeah its A440 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial_tone, good to know. but yeah thats my whole point things get lost or forgotten and im too dependent on a tuner.