Guitar Intonation. Introduction Intonation happens AFTER Set Up. Intonation happens AFTER Set Up. Intonation refers to the instrument being in tune along.

Guitar IntonationGuitar Intonation

IntroductionIntroduction

Intonation happens AFTER Set Up.Intonation happens AFTER Set Up. Intonation refers to the instrument being in tune along the Intonation refers to the instrument being in tune along the

fretboard. or simply stated, getting the guitar to play in tune fretboard. or simply stated, getting the guitar to play in tune with itself.with itself.

Intonation is an iterative processIntonation is an iterative process Open tune the guitarOpen tune the guitar Measure the frequency of each string and adjust string length Measure the frequency of each string and adjust string length

accordingly.accordingly. Check intonation by playing up and down the fret board.Check intonation by playing up and down the fret board.

Tune open stringsTune open strings

Standard Tuning big to little…Standard Tuning big to little…

E, A, D, g, b, eE, A, D, g, b, e

Intonation

Getting the guitar to play in tune with itself

Should be one octave from open string to 12th fret

IntonationIntonation

•Use Scope software•12th fret to bridge saddle•Sharp = string too short, turn CW to lengthen•Flat = string too long, turn CCW to shorten

IntonationIntonation

Intonate after tuning openIntonate after tuning open Detune string before moving Detune string before moving

saddle!saddle!

IntonationIntonation

Any time you move the bridge Any time you move the bridge saddle, the open string must be saddle, the open string must be retunedretuned

Then re-check the 12Then re-check the 12thth fret to see fret to see if it is an octave higher, or flat, or if it is an octave higher, or flat, or sharp.sharp.

RepeatRepeat

IntonationIntonation

Guitar neck will change shape Guitar neck will change shape with seasonswith seasons

Guitar will Guitar will ““settle insettle in”” over the next over the next 3-6 months3-6 months

Adjustments will be necessaryAdjustments will be necessary

Scope software link Scope software link freefreehttp://www.zeitnitz.de/Christian/scope_en

Scope softwareScope software

Tune the guitar, open strings, using Tune the guitar, open strings, using SCOPE softwareSCOPE software

E - 82HzE - 82Hz A - 110HzA - 110Hz D - 147HzD - 147Hz g - 196Hzg - 196Hz b - 247Hzb - 247Hz e - 330 Hze - 330 Hz

Scope softwareScope software

ScopeScope

Choose Frequency Analysis display no peak hold

ScopeScope

Set Zoom slider to 20 and right-hand scroll all the way to the left to see frequencies in the range of the guitar

ScopeScope

Set Band pass frequency filter to isolate desired frequencies, otherwise you will see many harmonic overtones!

Adjust cut-offs for each string and octave

Review1. Intonation happens AFTER Set-Up2. Open tune strings EADgbe3. Measure frequency of strings and

adjust string length accordingly4. Any time saddles are moved, retune

5. Repeat steps 4 & 5 as needed6. Check intonation by playing up and

down the fret board. Let’s rock!!

CongratulationsCongratulations

This concludes guitar intonationThis concludes guitar intonation

dhunt@swell.k12.in.usdhunt@swell.k12.in.us