Uke Tuners

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

Why do you think ukulele and other string instrument players play with a tuner stuck on the head of their ax? If they see that it's outta tune, do they stop and tune it? Is it to show how careful and professional they are? Is it to show-off that they sometimes tune up? Does anyone keep an eye on it as they play so they can fret in tune?

Some pegheads are super beautiful--snazzy even. Why clamp that ugly Snark on it?

Maybe I'm being an old fogey, but they bug me.

ld:

janeray1940 · Jul 23, 2016

I keep one of those mini tuners clamped on the headstock of each of my ukes - you can barely see it, it's not in the way, and most importantly, keeping it attached all the time ensures that I won't forget it when I leave my house to play. I'm not blessed with the skills to be able to tune by ear, so a tuner is pretty important for me. And I keep it turned off except for when I'm actually tuning.

But yeah - it drives me kinda batty when I'm playing next to someone with a big ol' Snark attached to their headstock, turned on, with the lights flashing with each strum or note. I'm guessing most folks leave them attached for the sake of convenience but I don't understand leaving it turned on with the lights flashing at all. But hey, to each their own.

Mivo · Jul 23, 2016

I only leave it on when the strings are a few days old and go out of tune constantly. The added weight aside, I also don't really trust that the pressure of the clamp or the rubber won't be harmful to the finish or the headstock. Aesthetically, though, I have no preference.

I'd still like to learn how to reliably tune with a fork, but that is slow going so far. The electronic tuners are just very convenient.

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

Very funny post, janeray, I guess I've never really noticed whether they're turned on or not.

As far as tuning by ear; I sometimes tune my instruments by ear so that they are PERFECTLY in tune, and then I check them with a tuner, and they are WAY! WAY off--not anywhere close to being in tune. Nice ears . . .

ld:

UkeStuff · Jul 23, 2016

I was wondering if this thread was meant to stir up some debate. I'm a music teacher and I don't have perfect pitch. I don't trust my ears for tuning (unless in a hurry) and I don't even know any modern piano tuners who tune without a tuner.

HMS's podcast touched on tuning a few episodes ago, and it was brilliant. The guys on the podcast are a combination of musicians, luthiers, set-up specialists, and sales people. Their understanding of equal temperament and issues with equal temperament were right on. People think that a ukulele that goes out of tune is a defective ukulele.

Also of great interest to me was the posted document about instrument intonation.

But of all the discussion, it comes back to the ukulele and its strings,'which are stretchy. The second you play any string instrument, it will start to go out of tune (likely undetectable to anyone without the use of a very specific tuner and/or perfect pitch).

If a person has a tuner on their headstock...and I am doing so with 100 ukuleles...I don't care as long as it is being used on occasion to tune the instrument. At a ukulele jam yesterday, I had to tune 3 times, which I doubt is uncommon.

Of greater concern to me is how to ask another (adult) player to tune their ukulele when it is clearly not in tune and they do not have a tuner on hand. How do you say, "Hey, your uke is out of tune," without sounding like a jerk/snob?

janeray1940 · Jul 23, 2016

Choirguy said:
Of greater concern to me is how to ask another (adult) player to tune their ukulele when it is clearly not in tune and they do not have a tuner on hand. How do you say, "Hey, your uke is out of tune," without sounding like a jerk/snob?

I've been trying to figure this one out for years! Although my ears aren't good enough to tell when my uke is *in* tune, it's often very clear to me when I'm out of tune - or someone else is. When I'm playing with others and notice this, I check my own tuning and hope that others will follow by power of suggestion, but - usually not.

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

No, Choirguy, I didn't post this thread to stir up debate, though debate is often very informative. I posted it to to share an opinion.

If you insist on tuners on the peghead, then plunge ahead! No debate--different strokes for different folks!

ld:

janeray1940 · Jul 23, 2016

Booli said:
Why not after YOU tune, turn to the other person(s) and say, 'Hey let's make sure we are all in tune (with each other)'

I do it all the time and never had anyone act offended, and in fact most folks agree and reply with something along the lines of 'Good Idea, thanks!'

Seems like that's how it *should* work, right?

But I know from experience that sometimes people are a bit... sensitive. Although I suppose if it's aimed at the group as a whole, rather than just the person who sounds out of tune, it shouldn't cause offense.

Croaky Keith · Jul 23, 2016

I'm all for digital tuners.

Much easier to use than any other method that I know of.

I tune up, take it off, & then play.

(Others seem to leave it attached, which looks ungainly to my eye, but maybe so that they don't forget or lose it.)

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

Ya know, if you've ever watched banjo players, you might see that they tune constantly and without a tuner! I don't know if they're just nervous or showing off or what.

My banjos sometimes sound bad, but it's not the tuning.

ld:

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

uke1950 said:
I'm all for digital tuners.

Much easier to use than any other method that I know of.

I tune up, take it off, & then play.

(Others seem to leave it attached, which looks ungainly to my eye, but maybe so that they don't forget or lose it.)

I couldn't agree more. Your post is "right on"!

ld:

janeray1940 · Jul 23, 2016

Down Up Dick said:
Ya know, if you've ever watched banjo players, you might see that they tune constantly and without a tuner! I don't know if they're just nervous or showing off or what.

Isn't it because they switch tunings for different keys (or something)? I used to go to an acoustic jam with mixed instruments a bunch of years back, and I remember the leader telling the banjo players to tune to G or tune to C or whatever. This was a beginners' jam, I'm guessing more experienced players just *know* when and what to switch to?

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

janeray1940 said:
Isn't it because they switch tunings for different keys (or something)? I used to go to an acoustic jam with mixed instruments a bunch of years back, and I remember the leader telling the banjo players to tune to G or tune to C or whatever. This was a beginners' jam, I'm guessing more experienced players just *know* when and what to switch to?

Yeah, of course you're correct, but they also fiddle with their tuning buttons constantly.

ld:

Tootler · Jul 23, 2016

Down Up Dick said:
Ya know, if you've ever watched banjo players, you might see that they tune constantly and without a tuner! I don't know if they're just nervous or showing off or what.

My banjos sometimes sound bad, but it's not the tuning. ld:

Down Up Dick said:
Yeah, of course you're correct, but they also fiddle with their tuning buttons constantly. ld:

Guitarists are the same. They are always tweaking their tuning pegs. Some have an electronic tuner clipped on others do it by ear.

I use the same D'Addario tuners that Janeray does and I leave them permanently attached to the headstock. As she says they are unobtrusive and leaving them attached means they are to hand if I need to check the tuning. They are not too expensive so I have one on most of my ukes, certainly on the ones I take out regularly.

I find that once a set of strings is settled, they need very little attention but I always check if I go anywhere with a uke as there will be some movement. I tune with the electronic tuner then check by ear, not the other way round. If I'm picking it up to play at home, I just do a quick ear check, and if it sounds OK, I'm good to go. If I've gone to an open mic/singaround, I will tune when I arrive at the venue then do a quick ear check when it's my turn to sing. For a two or three song set I find I rarely need to retune.

JessicaM · Jul 23, 2016

Choirguy said:
Of greater concern to me is how to ask another (adult) player to tune their ukulele when it is clearly not in tune and they do not have a tuner on hand. How do you say, "Hey, your uke is out of tune," without sounding like a jerk/snob?

Yes! This. I'm not a great player, but I'm a pretty darn good hearer

and if my uke is out of tune it's like nails on a chalk board. If someone near me is very out of tune it makes it hard for me to enjoy playing. I'm all for tuners out and at the ready!

JackLuis · Jul 23, 2016

The longer I play the more I learn about how to tell if I'm in tune. I keep a couple of tuners on my head stocks and switch them over when I pick up the next uke. Nylon needs touching up more that steel stings I take my tuners off more often than not, but I find my Snark is more visually offensive than my fold down Image tuner. Without a tuner, I'd have not gotten as far as I have with the uke.

stevejfc · Jul 23, 2016

I believe it's mostly out of laziness that they are left on.......................Another downside to leaving them on, is that you burn through the batteries much quicker.

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

stevejfc said:
I believe it's mostly out of laziness that they are left on.......................Another downside to leaving them on, is that you burn through the batteries much quicker.

They may also scar the peghead too and ruin its looks.

ld:

janeray1940 · Jul 23, 2016

stevejfc said:
I believe it's mostly out of laziness that they are left on.......................Another downside to leaving them on, is that you burn through the batteries much quicker.

To clarify, I assume by "on" you mean turned on, not just attached. I definitely don't leave mine turned on, but I have to say it's been 3+ years of leaving my mini tuners on and despite playing and tuning every day, I don't think I've ever had to replace a battery yet. Those things last!

Down Up Dick · Jul 23, 2016

You're lucky, janeray, I've changed batteries lots of times, but they aren't too expensive.

ld:

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