1 Topic by micky the mooch (edited by micky the mooch 2009-12-30 06:50:34)

  • From: North East England
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 207

Topic: low E tuning

Hi fellow chordians! merry christmas and a happy new year to you all,


I think this may have been covered somewhere else (though i cant find it)

I have a problem tuning low E using a clip on tuner, it either does not register or needle jumps around like a squrrill with its bum on fire lol big_smile.(thats what youget rubbin` chili on the nuts)lol
Ave done searches and using "Harmonics" is mention alot with telling you clear how too ( i depress on 12th fret, shows up correct tuning but to high E ????)

its the only string i have bother tuning, though i dont know how correct my tuner is. just found out its also has a  chromatic setting

Sorry i cant tune by ear, am not that clever, though am just starting to pick out when certain strings are outa tune. Its a start big_smile

any advice?

Cheers Micky

cool Dont Stop Kid Keep Rockin'  !! cool
  • From: Cardiff, Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 182

Re: low E tuning

If you tune the harmonic correctly then the string is in tune.
The high E is what you get from the harmonic on the 5th fret.
The 12th fret gives you the E between the high and low E. (There is not a string tuned to that in standard EADGBE)
It might help when tuning the low E string, if the harmonics don't work too well, to pluck it near the middle rather than over the sound hole.

  • Registered: 2006-07-27
  • Posts: 31

Re: low E tuning

This must be fairly common; I have the Intellitouch PT2 and it has trouble with the bass strings on both my regular guitars and some of my cigar-box instruments.

I've found it helps to completely damp all the strings, and then only pluck the string lightly.

  • wlbaye
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: Black Hills So Dak
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,284

Re: low E tuning

Howdy,
I have had two intellitouch tuners and neither one would pick up the Low E string. They both quit working and I have since changed to Crafter chromatic tuners and both of the ones I have pick up the Low E string every time. The intellitouch tuners are twice the money as the Crafter tuners, about $ 25.

Later, Wayne P

wlbaye's Website

  • wonk
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-06
  • Posts: 5

Re: low E tuning

Bottom line is you have a terrible tuner.  Take your guitar to a local music shop and practice tuning with different tuners to find the easiest to work with.  You'll be much less frustrated.

  • From: Chico, Ca.
  • Registered: 2007-09-08
  • Posts: 327

Re: low E tuning

find a keyboard

I thought ; If I had one idea,
and took it from beginning to end.
I would try another.

marcalan's Website

  • From: Alabama Gulf Coast
  • Registered: 2008-06-24
  • Posts: 1,819

Re: low E tuning

I bought a First Act mini-tuner and metronome at Wal-mart for $25. BIG MISTAKE! Darn thing could not tune lower guitar strings or bass - then it froze up and died after a few months.
My big old Korg GT-2 tuner I paid $25 for ten years ago can hear my acoustic, or take a plug-in for my electric and even hear my bass guitar and tuba.
toots

We pronounce it "Guf Coast".
Ya'll wanna go down to the Guf?

tubatooter1940's Website

  • Registered: 2009-08-11
  • Posts: 1

Re: low E tuning

Try moving your tuner on the headstock ... I find closer to the E string machine head works for me

  • From: New Hampshire
  • Registered: 2007-02-17
  • Posts: 845

Re: low E tuning

ukesailor wrote:

Try moving your tuner on the headstock ... I find closer to the E string machine head works for me

I'll try that, it makes sense.  I have an intellitouch tuner that had a hard time tuning the Low E string.  I changed the batteries and it can still be a tad rascally with that string, but it improved quite a bit.  Enough that I'm not cursing it anymore.  lol

"I don't have pet peeves...I have whole kennels of irritation."  --Whoopi Goldberg

ozymandias's Website

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: low E tuning

I got an Intellitouch tuner and am severely disappointed.  It goes through batteries like nobody's business, it doesn't tune the low E well, and it's difficult to see and slow to respond.  I much prefer my chromatic tuner.

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: New Hampshire
  • Registered: 2007-02-17
  • Posts: 845

Re: low E tuning

Zurf wrote:

I got an Intellitouch tuner and am severely disappointed.  It goes through batteries like nobody's business, it doesn't tune the low E well, and it's difficult to see and slow to respond.  I much prefer my chromatic tuner.

- Zurf

I see other people in my class using other types of clip on tuners.  I'll have to check them out.  I am slowly getting better with tuning by ear, I have reached a point where I sometimes disagree with my tuner.  LOL

"I don't have pet peeves...I have whole kennels of irritation."  --Whoopi Goldberg

ozymandias's Website

  • Registered: 2009-11-16
  • Posts: 605

Re: low E tuning

Go on the internet and type in guitar tuner, there are a bunch of free tuners sites that you use right of the computer