Harmonic Tuning

[theosd]

On bass. I do it all the time and my guitarist tells me off for some reason or another. It's always been the best way for me to check my strings are all in tune with each other mid-set, and it's not so annoying for the punters either, being harmonics and relatively fast!

Anyone else a proponent of this method?

(ie. harmonic on the E string, 5th fret matches A string 7th fret, etc)

[BullDoG_37]

all the time when i dont have my tuner with me

[Jimbobntnr]

in practice = ok. Gig = no.

[theosd]

Jolly good. Guitarist says that it's not accurate on a bass. I'm sure this is just groove envy, and nothing to worry about.

[BenJammin]

Jolly good. Guitarist says that it's not accurate on a bass. I'm sure this is just groove envy, and nothing to worry about.

Harmonics are harmonics. I don't see why it would be less accurate on bass.

I tend to tune with harmonics unless my bass is grossly out of tune.

[theosd]

in practice = ok. Gig = no.

Would you like to expand? I do it at least once per set every gig and am never out of tune because of it.

[theosd]

That's what I mean, obviously I'd use a tuner before I start, but throughout the evening it's just a check.

[Jimbobntnr]

Would you like to expand? I do it at least once per set every gig and am never out of tune because of it.

very very few people in the audience want to hear you tune. You should go muted tuner during a gig.

[trumpeter]

If I know I'm fairly close, or have been wailing on one string I tend to use harmonics, its really clear to my ear, but in general I can tune to a song no biggie.

[o b s]

I always tune by harmonics if I'm tuning acoustically, its just the easiest way to tune a bass really. I usually use an electronic tuner though, more accurate and silent.

[BullDoG_37]

when i play without the amp and dont have my tuner around i just jam my ear against the body and play the notes, or place the headstock on a wooden table to amplify it a little

[EADG]

Guitarist says that it's not accurate on a bass.


Guitarist is wrong

[Claypool22]

Jaco used to do it all the time. I dont see why your guitarist says it's not accurate.

[JBass]

its the most accurate way to tune your bass...even when you have a tuner, use the 12th fret harmonic instead of the open string

i always tune using harmonics, your guitarist should do the same:thumb:

[TheClap]

Jaco used to do it all the time. I dont see why your guitarist says it's not accurate.

:lol:

You're right, but you seemed to miss everyone else explaining how they tune to harmonics to mention jaco.

But yeah, Harmonics are a lot more accurate then fretting.

[o b s]

its the most accurate way to tune your bass...even when you have a tuner, use the 12th fret harmonic instead of the open string

i always tune using harmonics, your guitarist should do the same:thumb:

I think the 5th fret/7th fret method works better. For me anyway.

[HaVIC5]

I always tune by harmonics if I'm tuning acoustically, its just the easiest way to tune a bass really. I usually use an electronic tuner though, more accurate and silent.
Not true. Cheap quartz tuners are no better at tuning than your ear (both have a +/- 5 cent theoretical error rate).

[o b s]

Not true. Cheap quartz tuners are no better at tuning than your ear (both have a +/- 5 cent theoretical error rate).

Are you taking into account the rest of the band setting up/tuning up/warming up/general noise making? Also, half of my point (which was just a reiteration of a previous point) was that tuning with a tuner is silent.

[HaVIC5]

Are you taking into account the rest of the band setting up/tuning up/warming up/general noise making? Also, half of my point (which was just a reiteration of a previous point) was that tuning with a tuner is silent.
I'm just combating a popular myth. If we're going to argue all of this again, I'm going to have to redirect you to my mammoth posts in the thread about rackmount tuners.

[o b s]

I don't really care about the issue, I just had to quell that 1-up attempt.

[Naminator]

There is no point in tuning in harmonics when all our strings are out.

Reference pitch ftw.

My guitarist has A.P.

Hey Mike sing an F for us.

/tunes bass.


Oops grammar Nazi....