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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1673.0. "Bass Tuning problem " by YENREF::HUDELOT (DECBringue ...) Wed Feb 07 1990 13:40

    Although I have quite new strings on my Precision Bass, it stays in
    tune for quite a long time. But from times to times I have to retune
    it. I have a problem with tuning the E string. When I play it and look
    at the tuner niddle, I can see than the frequency decreases a little
    bit after a tenth of second. Then the frequency I get is the one I 
    get with the harmonic and stays the same until it ends.
    
    I guess the last frequency is the right one, so I don't
    mind of the overfrequency I get for a tenth of second. 
    
    But this means that the first sound I get is *not* the right one. Did
    any of you encounter the same problem? Do you know the reason? What
    should I do?
    
    This happens with any kind of E-string and increases a little bit when
    the string gets older (I *try* to play at least an hour each day as I
    am a one year beginner so my strings often get old).
    
    Any advice?
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1673.1ANNOYING AIN'T IT????HAMER::KRONBILL-THE-WONDER-MUTANTWed Feb 07 1990 14:2518
     yep all the time but I hear it ....not see it on a tuner-
    the lower the string is tuned to (and also if you pick the string
    near the middle actually stretches the string for a split second
    causing the tension on the string to be greater for the amount of
    time that it takes the string to return to "normal vibration"
    this problem becomes even more evident when using an octave or pitch
    shifter because the box will "lock on"to the string's sharper pitch
    and in that miniscule amount of time that it takes for the the box
    to re-adjust to the correct pitch; it is aggravatingly out of tune!
    a simple work-around is to use a heavier string guage- or pluck
    closer to the bridge- which will due to the loss of leverage not
    allow you to pull the string so far. As far as the use of pitch
    shifting goes; either put a noise gate on the input with the attack
    time set high or suffer with it!!!
    -hope I shed some light;
    - BILL 
    
    
1673.2Physics 101AQUA::ROSTEveryone loves those dead presidentsWed Feb 07 1990 14:298
    
    This is just physics at work.  Plucked strings naturally start off
    slightly sharp (for the reasons mentioned in .1).  
    
    As far as working with tuners, I see this on *all* my strings, all the
    time.  It's really no big deal.
    
    							Brian  
1673.3WAVE it.MFGMEM::DERRICOWed Feb 07 1990 15:199
    (Just bouncing it back-)
       
      So if there is a greater amount of tension on the string at that
    time, the string vibrates faster until the tension settles?
    
      If your intonation was out, would this make the problem worse?
    
    
    (THe_one_who_needs_to_review_his_Physics...)
1673.4PEGWEFXEM::COTEBain DramagedWed Feb 07 1990 15:5813
    Intonation won't effect it.
    
    The pitch change is just the same as hitting the string and then
    turning the machine head. The string starts out at one tension and
    then drops in pitch a bit as the tension is relaxed.
    
    Drums do the same thing, go flat over time.
    
    I was playing with a friend's Casio guitar controller over the weekend.
    The pitch change was real apparent. Not only did it drop, it came back
    up a little...
    
    Edd
1673.5BAGELS::KNOXbut now I try to be amusedMon Feb 12 1990 17:228
    
    Do you tune your bass using the open strings ??
    If you have your intonation set up well, try tuning to the
    5th fret harmonic. It gives you a much more even tone with
    better sustain. Also, you don't need to pluck the string very
    hard to get a steady signal.
    
    /Bill
1673.6you maybe right, I may be crazy.DISCVR::JONEILLWed Apr 11 1990 11:4916
    I have a bass tuning question as aposed to a problem. Dir/title
    said there wasn't a note and rather than start a new one thought this
    might be a s good a place as any to ask. I've been teaching myself
    the bass guitar for about 7months now and learn most of my songs from
    the radio or recorded music. I've noticed that sometimes I have to 
    change my tuning from somg to song, maybe band to band is a better 
    explaination. I'm probably a ways off from playing in a group in
    front of anyone but was wondering, do you people that go out and play
    now have to change your tunning from song to song or do you play it
    from where you start?(huh). I mat have wasted space with this question
    and have the answer myself in that the only reason I change is cause
    Im the only one out of tune with the record, in a band, I'd already
    be in tune with the others so I would'nt have to change. So, is it me
    or is this something that everyone does from time to time? Thanks for 
    listening and any comments are apreciated.
                                                             Jim
1673.7You're OK, It's The RecordingsAQUA::ROSTBass is the placeWed Apr 11 1990 12:3113
    Re: .6
    
    No, the only dumb questions are the ones you *don't* ask.
    
    The need to retune when playing along with recordings is because seldom
    are two recordings in tune with each other.  This is *not* something
    you need to worry about when playing with people because (hopefully!)
    everyone will get in tune before you get started.  You may need to
    *touch up* your tuning while playing (strings do go out of tune while
    playing, but on bass it's not as bad a problem as with guitars) but,
    no, you don't retune for every song.
    
    							Brian
1673.8one for the old technologyHUNEY::MACHINWed Apr 11 1990 12:446
    
    This is another good reason to stick with vinyl until they bring out a
    cd player with pitchshift. Just jimmy the pitch control on your record
    deck -- it's quicker than re-tuning your bass!
    
    Richard.
1673.9ROYALT::TASSINARIBobWed Apr 11 1990 12:4413
     One other possible reason for being out of tune to record or tape is
    that the speed of the turntable or tape deck could be too slow or too
    fast.
    
     Since I do the taping for everyone in my band, I try to record so
    everyone has the same tuning. It has been embarassing when some folks 
    learned it in one key, and the others in a different key. Some players
    don't like to have to change keys on the fly. 8-)
    
      -1 is correct when he says that when you play in a band you all tune
    together and this problem goes away.
    
       Bob