I have always found relative tuning rather time consuming and frustrating. It takes a lot of tweaking to get most chords to sound more or less clean. I've recently come up with a method that works much better for me, that I'd like to share.
I believe that one of the main problems with relative tuning is, that small errors accumulate as you move from string to string. Also, all methods I've seen, tune an open string against a fretted string. This can introduce errors because a fretted string has slightly higher tension, and an open string may be affected by imperfections of the nut.
Therefore I'm now always tuning a fretted string relative to another fretted string. I use a tuning fork tuned to an A (440Hz) as a reference. I start by tuning the G-string, 2nd fret to that reference. Then I tune the A-string, 1st fret against G-string, 3rd fret. Then E-string, 4th fret against G-string, 1st fret. Finally C-string, 5th fret against E-string, 1st fret.
This gives me a fairly accurate tuning with very little further tweaking required.
I haven't found any description of my method anywhere online, so I'm wondering if I'm the fist one to think of it. And I'd like to know if other people find this useful as well, or I'm just compensating for a problem with my particular instrument.
Cheers,
Felix
I believe that one of the main problems with relative tuning is, that small errors accumulate as you move from string to string. Also, all methods I've seen, tune an open string against a fretted string. This can introduce errors because a fretted string has slightly higher tension, and an open string may be affected by imperfections of the nut.
Therefore I'm now always tuning a fretted string relative to another fretted string. I use a tuning fork tuned to an A (440Hz) as a reference. I start by tuning the G-string, 2nd fret to that reference. Then I tune the A-string, 1st fret against G-string, 3rd fret. Then E-string, 4th fret against G-string, 1st fret. Finally C-string, 5th fret against E-string, 1st fret.
This gives me a fairly accurate tuning with very little further tweaking required.
I haven't found any description of my method anywhere online, so I'm wondering if I'm the fist one to think of it. And I'd like to know if other people find this useful as well, or I'm just compensating for a problem with my particular instrument.
Cheers,
Felix