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How Exactly Do Electric Guitar Tuners Work?

by Steven Wagenheim
23 replies
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Okay, for some reason, even playing against a keyboard, I am having
trouble tuning my electric guitar by ear these days, so I'm thinking of getting
an electric guitar tuner.

How exactly do they work?

I figure you have to plug the guitar into the tuner and that's how it picks
up the sound, but how does it know which string you're playing when you
go to tune it? Do you have to tell it? And then when you start adjusting
your string tension and pluck it, the tuner shows the frequency?

As you can see, I've never used one of these before so any help you can
give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill View Post

    Electric guitars use magnetic pickups to pick up (sorry) the vibration of the string. That info is sent to your tuner which translates it into readable form. It has no idea which string is which. I it only understands the pitch (based on that vibration information) that it measures.

    That was about clear as mud, eh?

    I use a clip-on tuner that measures the vibration through the body of the instrument and it works like a champ. Cheap, too.
    So in other words, I have to know the frequency of each string in order
    to tune it?

    Or does it send the info back in the form of E, A, B, etc?
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Hey Steven,

    I played guitar for about 8 years, I still do - as soon as I get another
    one. Had to sell a very nice Fender a few years ago for quick cash, you
    know the deal.

    But I used a tuner for a long time.

    The kind I had could be used either acoustically, or electronically. I'll explain...

    It had a digital meter on it, and of course there were markings to let you
    know if you were dead on in-tune, or flat or sharp.

    I guess it was a smart tuner because it knew what string you were playing. You
    could just plug your cord from the guitar to the tuner, and then you just tuned
    it. No amp hookup needed, but the volume knob on the guitar needed to turned
    up.

    Or, you could plug into an amp, not the tuner, and the built-in mic on the tuner
    would pick up the sound, and you can tune it like that.

    It was a clever design because no matter what string you were playing, the digital
    display would display the correct note for that string. It was pretty cool, and I
    bought that one about 5 years ago. So I imagine there are even better ones out
    there you can get.

    So in other words, I have to know the frequency of each string in order
    to tune it?
    No. It processed it all on its own.

    EDIT: I was trying to remember, there was a small selector switch for each
    string from low E to high E.

    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Here you go...

    Shop Practice & Performance Aids, Tuners & Metronomes, Tuners | Musician's Friend
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Steven,

    See my edit to the post, at the bottom.

    The tuner I had would give you all the info you needed in
    the display so you knew exactly where you were tuning your
    strings. You could tune it however you desired.

    I think it was an AWAI tuner. Ran on two triple A batteries.
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Take your guitar into the your local guitar shop
    and have them check/set your intonation for you.

    It sounds like your intonation may be a little
    out of whack which makes it all but impossible
    to tune well, especially by ear.

    A well set-up guitar tunes fast and easy, stays
    in tune better and plays perfectly - well worth
    the few bucks they'll charge you.

    Have them look at dressing the frets for you
    as well.

    Sabine makes good inexpensive tuners.

    Brian

    ADDED: Intonation is the distance (read tension, which
    begets your pitch) between the nut and the 12th fret
    versus the distance between the 12th fret and the bridge
    saddle.

    They should be perfectly equidistant, but over time
    it needs minute adjustment.
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    Brian McLeod
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      You know what guys?

      I am just too stupid to live. Really...just shoot me now.

      I was just looking at my Boss ME 50B effects and it HAS a built in tuner.

      It took me a while to figure out how to use it (I can't find the instruction
      manual) but I got it.

      Best my guitar has sounded in ages. Every string was just a little bit
      flat.

      So either my ear is off or my electronic keyboards are off...not sure which.

      Anyway, thanks for all the help...but yeah...I'm an idiot.

      Sheeeeeeesh :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        So either my ear is off or my electronic keyboards are off...not sure which.
        Keyboards also need tuning sometimes, due to oscillator drift. Depending on your model, there's generally a tiny set-pot which alters the reference frequency... and can be adjusted with a jeweler's screwdriver. Older analog models have them externally accessible, newer digitals usually need to be partially disassembled.

        You can also plug most synthesisers into most guitar tuners.

        You can plug most consumer microphones into your tuner, too. Want to improve your ability to sing on key? Break out the tuner. You'll be amazed.
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        "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          You can plug most consumer microphones into your tuner, too. Want to improve your ability to sing on key? Break out the tuner. You'll be amazed.
          This coming from a guy who just this passed Friday said he can't sing.

          Hey folks, if you want a treat...drop by the Friday Night Chat and listen to
          me and Caliban and see if you can tell who is who.

          OMG...Too funny.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            This coming from a guy who just this passed Friday said he can't sing.
            I can, actually, just not particularly well. I'm no American Idol contender... but I'm not William Hung, either.

            But the general consensus on the FNC is that because I did a crappy job singing the chorus of "Country Roads" one night when I was about eight sheets to the wind, I must not be able to sing anything ever.

            EDIT:

            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            Hey folks, if you want a treat...drop by the Friday Night Chat and listen to me and Caliban and see if you can tell who is who.
            It's not going to be that hard. I got my camera problem fixed, so you'll get to watch my eyes get squinty.
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            "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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        • Profile picture of the author javistuff
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          Keyboards also need tuning sometimes, due to oscillator drift.
          I could just have bet my best pair of jeans you were an "oscillator" and synts kind of guy... so nice to found another one!
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Well that's cool, Steven. Damn bells and whistles will get you
    every time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Bill wins again for "Worst Pun of the Week".

    Pretty soon we'll have to give him the Life Time Achievement Award .
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      Bill wins again for "Worst Pun of the Week".
      Kurt, that was only two thirds a pun...

      P.U. :p

      ~Bill
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