How to tune harmonically

[Wintermute]

Harmonic tuning is a very accurate, very quick, and very easy way to tune a bass in fourths. (Standard tuning)

I'm going to assume that anyone reading this is already familiar with what harmonics are, and how to play them. If not, that's something to be covered in another thread, which you'll have to be familiar with first.

Harmonic tuning is a method of relative tuning. This means that all your strings will be in tune with each other. But they may still be out of tune. You need to be certain at least one of your strings is in tune before you start harmonic tuning, if you're going to be playing with anyone else.

As you probably know, the harmonic over the 5th fret is identical to the harmonic over the 7th fret on the next string up. This is the basis of harmonic tuning. Play the two harmonics together.

<7>
<5>

If the two strings are perfectly in tune, you will hear one, pure tone. If they are out, you'll hear an odd phase effect. The note will seem to pulse. The slower the pulse is, the closer the strings are to being in tune. Adjust the tuning until the pulsing slows down, and ultimately stops.

That's all there is to it.






If anyone's interested, I can explain why the pulsing effect occurs, but it's not necessary to know that to be able to tune harmonically. :thumb:

*****

Important note - the harmonics are only the same note if the bass is tuned in fourths (EADG). If other tunings are being used, harmonic tuning can't be applied.

Example - if you're tuned in Drop-D tuning (DADG), harmonic tuning can be used to tune the A, upper D and G strings, as they are in fourths. You'll have to use other methods to tune the lower D string, though. (such as a tuner, or conventional ear tuning)

[katana_manatee]

Example - if you're tuned in Drop-D tuning (DADG), harmonic tuning can be used to tune the A, upper D and G strings, as they are in fourths. You'll have to use other methods to tune the lower D string, though. (such as a tuner, or conventional ear tuning)

Tune the low D by playing the twelth fret harmonic and then doing the harmonic at the twelth fret on the normal D string.

[Wintermute]

Hah, good point. Didn't think that one through very well.

[katana_manatee]

Hah, good point. Didn't think that one through very well.

Still, someone could tune it in fifths like a cello and then they definately can't use harmonics as far as I am aware. You just chose a bit of a bad example.

[Larrivée-6-string]

Still, someone could tune it in fifths like a cello and then they definately can't use harmonics as far as I am aware. You just chose a bit of a bad example.


On two adjacent strings use the <3+> (or <3.2>) harmonic with the <5> on the higher string - like this:

|------------|
|-----<5>----|
|-<3+>-------|
|------------|

Th@'s how to get 5ths :)

[katana_manatee]

On two adjacent strings use the <3+> (or <3.2>) harmonic with the <5> on the higher string - like this:

|------------|
|-----<5>----|
|-<3+>-------|
|------------|

Th@'s how to get 5ths :)



Ah handy to know, thank you. :thumb:

[skingle]

Wow thanks wintermute I now understand :thumb:

[Yo.]

So, since I got my E string in a drop d, if I wanted to tune all the strings to drop d, Id use harmonic tunning on A D G?

[Akira]

So, since I got my E string in a drop d, if I wanted to tune all the strings to drop d, Id use harmonic tunning on A D G?
By all the string to drop D do you mean every string a full step down? If you do then yes, you could do harmonic tuning like Wintermute explained.

[Omega Red]

3_5_7_9_12 = Frets
B_G_D_B_G = G string
F#D_A_F#D= D string
C#A_E_C#A= A string
G#E_B_G#E= E string

that way you can match any tuning you want.

[Yo.]

By all the string to drop D do you mean every string a full step down? If you do then yes, you could do harmonic tuning like Wintermute explained.
Alright, thanks.

[ariayer]

um u do realize tuning by any harmonics apart from the 12 fret is really innacurate

good lesson apart from the fact that u should never ever tune like that

[bleeding_fingers]

You're a dumbass Aria. I wish I could shoot you in the face.

[ariayer]

um did i just say anything that was untrue?

[Omega Red]

um u do realize tuning by any harmonics apart from the 12 fret is really innacurate

good lesson apart from the fact that u should never ever tune like that
harmonics are a direct mathmatical ratio of string length and nodes. its a highly accurate way to tune.

[ariayer]

no sorry ur wrong do some research maybe

[Akira]

no sorry ur wrong do some research maybe
So you are accusing all the the many many guitarists who tune with harmonics wrong?
I'm not sure how it can be innacurate. You can hear the conflicting frequencies much better than with the 5th fret way.

[arialovesu]

yes , yes i am

read up iv explained it many times in guitar but most of them already know its wrong

yea read up bro

not tryin to start fights or nothin

[bleeding_fingers]

You're such a twat aria. Why don't you show us where you got this information, or something to prove that you're right and we're wrong?

[arialovesu]

um its common knowledge everyone in guitar forum knows this

its strange that u guys dont yet

mayb try google it realy is common knowledge


but sorry again for trying to help u guys

[eriatarka]

Maybe if you explained it a little bit,we might actually beleive you.Just because you say you've posted it a bunch of times before in the guitar forum,doesnt mean its true.

[ariaishot]

um wat can i say

u should be able to find out how to tune on google

im not exactly tellin u guys a secret

[Mailman]

um wat can i say

u should be able to find out how to tune on google

im not exactly tellin u guys a secret
i searched on google

couldn't find anything on downfalls of harmonic tuning

link me up some man

[ariakkake]

ask ur teacher then if u hav one

[ariakkake]

oh great work again bass forum

the very first link that comes up on google explains it perfect

http://www.noyceguitars.com/Technotes/Articles/T4.html

clap clap for the bass forum again

[Mailman]

oh great work again bass forum

the very first link that comes up on google explains it perfect

http://www.noyceguitars.com/Technotes/Articles/T4.html

clap clap for the bass forum again
ha

i didn't get that result, i wouldn't have been that doughy to miss that

thanks, i didn't doubt that harmonically tuning is wrong, just why

I do have a teacher btw, he said harmonically tuning is wrong but didn't go into depth :(

[ariakkake]

yea jus tryin to help u bros out

[fingerstyle]

if your bass's intonation is correct (relative to the other strings), then the nodes of each string should be in the correct place and harmonic tuning works.

YOU still havent told us all why it doesnt work.

[ariakkake]

um mayb its a good idea to read the link i provided then retard

[Mailman]

yeah "fingerstyle" just click the link earlier quoted

[Wintermute]

True, on a fretted instrument geared for the Equal Tempermant system, harmonic tuning isn't quite as accurate as a hardware tuner would be - its appeal lies in being very quick, very easy, and in most cases, easily accurate enough.

However, especially with fretless instruments, the Just Intonation system it does tend to (I think - running off the top of my head here) is frankly just as good, and not far from Equal Tempermant anyway. And it actually works better with wind instruments and vocals, which don't use Equal Tempermant anyway. And possibly because of harmonic tuning, classical stringed instruments often use JI tuning, rather than ET. Yes, there can be a little dissonance with instruments like piano, but a little dissonance can be a good thing.

The bottom line - try out harmonic tuning for yourself. If you're happy with the way it sounds, good. If not, stick to your tuners. *shrug*

[kilian]

I normally just tune up one string and harmonically tune the rest, check it with a few octaves and then I'm done.

Sometimes it's a bit off, but I take that for granted. They didn't have those super high end quality tuners back in the days of the Beatles and they also became rich, famous and well known.

[ariakkake]

so using harmonics is obviously the only way a bass gtar can be tuned apart from a tuner

ok fair enough

[fingerstyle]

yeah "fingerstyle" just click the link earlier quoted

I read that and understood it before I posted. However, it doesn't 'proove' anything. He's telling us not to use harmonic tuning, whereas that article is merely explaining the small 'inaccuracies' that occur when you tune with harmonics.

"It should now be apparent that the harmonic method of tuning is inaccurate, but if you understand why, you can compensate for its inadequacies and still use it."

Also I'd like to point out that the 'major' inaccuracies occur between the G and B... on a guitar.

[ariakkake]

yea

u sure r a retard buddy

give 'im a clap every1

[fingerstyle]

um u do realize tuning by any harmonics apart from the 12 fret is really innacurate

good lesson apart from the fact that u should never ever tune like that

It's a bit rich calling me a retard.

:amaze:

[YDload]

see aria, this is why you keep getting banned. you really need to stop harassing the bass forum people. it doesn't matter if you're right or not because you're still trolling them. calling them retards and telling them they're wrong (but not giving any explanations until about a page later) is not a very nice thing to do. if you keep it up, you're always gonna start flamewars in the bass forum regardless of how strong your argument is, because they only remember you as "that guitarist fag who can't type."

just trying to help

[fingerstyle]

Yeah, before this thread gets closed... good job on the article Wintermute! Alot of people have trouble tuning without a tuner, especially those who are just starting out on bass.

[ariakkake]

i was jus trying to help sorry wide

and btw u r wrong , this is not y i get banned

i get banned for spam in the pit and only that

ever

thx for ur input anyway tho

[ariakkake]

and i apoligizes for calling ppl retards i am pretty sorry

[YDload]

and i apoligizes for calling ppl retards i am pretty sorry

well theres not much i can do about it cause i really dont know if youre right about harmonic tuning or not. i just know that i have bad intonation as far as the positions of the bridge saddles are concerned, so i wouldnt tune harmonically anyway

[ariakkake]

yea im gonna try to change my ways wide

u been a real eye opener to me wide

thx bro

[Hardinge]

nice article wintermute

[tim_commerfordism]

Nice article. I knew it all but it was all thorough. Please excuse the Aria noob..

[jasc15]

this is a pretty good explanation of why not to use the harmonic method of tuning. http://www.zentao.com/guitar/lesson4/index.html#Tuning