Guitar Intonation Guitar Intonation
Dec 17, 2015
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
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