Talk:Guitar/Tuning the Guitar

"A thicker string produces lower notes than a thinner string because the moves more air when in motion."

Um, no? Length, mass and tension. Vibrating string --81.224.39.148 (talk) 03:32, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

This section could use one other partial method (as most people view this on computers that have sound cards & speakers), using Winamp or the UNIX equivalent XMMS. pure tones can be played from them (like A440) so you can tune by ear. 'tone://440' is the syntax used for such (without quotes). -anon

I have merged the content from Tuning the strings to this page and deleted the link on the main page to the old article. --NickPenguin 08:46, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

The article writes "A perfectly tuned A string resonates at a frequency of 440 hertz." but isn't the guitar 'A' one octave below the 440 hz A? So it would be 220 HZ 62.194.16.204 17:12, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

Please explain better how the diagrams work.

Added fith fret method to tuning by ear section, just small but I thought i'd mention it.

--Michael Campbell 15:24, 5 January 2007 (UTC) Michael Campbell

The A on the 5th fret of the high E string is 440Hz. The A string is 2 octaves lower than this (there's another A on the second fret of the B string). This means the A string is really 110Hz. But maybe you can listen to a 440Hz sound to tune this string too.

Placeholder for removed material from this section
I've removed a big chunk of material and have pasted it here for later inclusion into the correct section on Amps.

MATERIAL REMOVED:

Amplifier setup
Unless your amplifier only has the preamp control, you have many other knobs you can play with to make your guitar sound great. Before you begin setting up your amp, you should always make sure that you:


 * 1) Set all the volume knobs and gains to its lowest setting.
 * 2) Set the guitar volume to the lowest setting, and plug it into the amplifier. Always plug in before you turn the amp on, so you do not make it "pop".
 * 3) Turn on the amplifier. If it is a tube-based model and has the standby switch, throw it to standby mode too, to warm up the tubes.
 * 4) If it's a tube base model, Wait at least 15 seconds; optimally you should give it 5 minutes, especially for the large amplifiers. Otherwise skip to next part.
 * 5) If you have a passive pickup, plug into "high" plug. If you have an active pickup, plug into "low". If you have only one plug, just plug it in.

After this, there are three main ways that have been used.

Method 1:
 * 1) Bring the guitar's volume knob somewhere between low volume and medium. Play a chord
 * 2) Begin to bring amplifier master volume up (if you have one), then channel volume, then gain up, to 5. This should be your basis for setting up. If it's too loud, bring down the volume, and if not enough distortion, bring up the gain.

Method 2:
 * 1) Bring the amplifier's gain and volume to 11
 * 2) Tweak the volume with the guitar volume knob. If there are too much distortion bring down the gain.

Method 3:
 * 1) Bring the guitar volume knob to its max.
 * 2) Gradually bring up the volume on the amplifier. You should not need to bring it above 2.
 * 3) Bring up the gain; bring down the volume when needed.

Aside from the gain and volume setting, you may want to tweak the EQ settings. Here's a few samples:
 * Clean: Clean channel; Gain 1-5; bass 5, mid 5, treble 5
 * Blues: Overdrive channel; Gain 5; bass 7, mid 3, treble 5
 * Metal: Overdrive channel; Gain 11; bass 11; mid 2; treble 7

When you have finish playing, turn all the knobs to the lowest settings first. If it's a tube amplifier, you may even need to let it cool down (either on standby or just on) for another 5 minutes.

Tremolo Bar torque
One of the first things you will have to set up on electric guitar, especially if you find the tremolo bar keeps falling toward the ground. There are a few different methods. Ideally you want the bar at a 45 degree angle toward the ground, allowing it to be easily grabbed.
 * On a low end models like Squier Stratocaster, you just need to screw in the tremolo bar, by rotating the bar clockwise, Until it tightens up. The problem with model is that you do not have much control on the bar's position during playing.
 * On other models, that you merely plug in the whammy bar, you may have a capscrew, which you insert the bar through it into the bridge. Afterward, screw it in until tighten.
 * Another approach for the plug-in whammy is to tighten with an Allen Key hole, nearby the bar's hole on the bridge. The instruction booklet will usually explain where it is, and how to tighten it.

END OF MATERIAL REMOVED

--Sluffs (discuss • contribs) 16:55, 5 February 2013 (UTC)