
Output/Mute/Bypass: most with an instrument or line input tuners (including all rack and floor tuners) also have one or more outputs.This has two main advantages - a clean signal with no background noise usually gives a more accurate and stable reading, and this method also enables silent tuning, so the audience doesnt have to hear clanging open strings between songs. Instrument/line input: this is usually a jack socket enabling an electronic instrument to be connected directly to the tuner.External mic input: there are situations in which an external microphone gives better results - this enables the selection of a higher quality microphone appropriate to the instrument, venue or other conditions.This is obviously the easiest way to tune acoustic instruments such as sax or acoustic guitar, but while it works fine at home, the background noise in live situations can lead to unreliable tuning, or simply cause the tuner to give up. Integrated mic: most handheld or pocket tuners have a built-in microphone - the tuner is simply placed close to the instrument or amp.InputĪny tuner must have at least one type of input, although many models have two or more. The calibration range is usually around 435-445Hz, adjustable in steps of 1Hz, but may be as wide as 380-490Hz with finer adjustment on more specialised models. Some period performance ensembles tune to other pitches (most often A=415Hz, which is nearly a semitone below modern pitch), and also instruments with a fixed, non-standard pitch are sometimes encountered (old pianos/organs, tin whistles, accordions), where there is no choice but to tune the rest of the band to this instrument. However, some tuners can be calibrated to a higher or lower reference. This is the accepted standard for most modern orchestras and nearly all modern instruments. Most tuners are set to modern concert pitch by default, where the note A above middle C is tuned to 440Hz. While a few specialised guitar tuners feature presets for alternate tunings (where the relationship between the strings is different), in general, chromatic tuners are far better suited to this application. Some guitar tuners incorporate flat tuning modes (effectively calibration presets see above) so that the player can simply select the desired flat tuning of one or more semitones down, and then proceed as normal.
Bass online tuner manual#
Many guitar tuners are switchable between manual and auto, although chromatic tuners tend to use auto mode only, rather than a 12-position slider! If youre just starting out though, manual mode is invaluable as it doesnt require you to have any feel for whether the note youre tuning to is actually the right one.Īs mentioned previously, flat tuning is common in many heavy rock styles. This is recalculated as necessary, for example when tuning newly changed strings. Auto tuning is generally much simpler: the tuner analyses the incoming pitch, assumes that the target note is whichever note is closest, and then displays the name of this note.

For example, when tuning a guitar, the slider must be set to E, then A, and so on.

In manual tuning mode, the user must specify the target note before tuning, usually by means of a slider switch.

There are two basic tuning modes, and most models use one or the other, although some are switchable. In any case, many chromatic tuners also have a guitar mode. Unless you are a guitarist with absolutely no interest in alternate tunings and no need to tune other instruments, a chromatic tuner is probably the best bet for all but the complete beginner. While many guitar tuners offer some additional features such as a flat tuning mode (reflecting the common practice of tuning the whole instrument flat by a semitone or more), chromatic tuners are generally much more flexible. E A D G B E, whereas a chromatic tuner, as the name implies, covers all twelve notes common to Western music. A guitar tuner is designed for tuning the instruments strings to their standard pitches, i.e. Basics & Specialised Features Guitar/Chromaticīroadly speaking, there are two types of tuner available: instrument-specific tuners - lets call these guitar tuners as the vast majority are designed for guitar or bass and chromatic tuners.
