Bass tuner

*Lynz* · 7th August 2003, 06:56 PM

Ok i've been playing bass for five years and i still can't tune it (shameful i know). In the past i've always relied on boyfriends to tune my guitar for me (even more shameful i know) so now i'm stuck with just me and i can't fucking tune my bass. I got a bass tuner thing but when i tried to use it and it said it was in tune it was blatantly obvious it wasn't. I may not be able to tune it myself but i know what it fuckin sounds like out of tune. So yeah the point of this is basically does anyone have any advice? Like maybe i'm using the tuner wrong or something but it's not exactly brain surgery. I just wanna be able to tune my guitar dammit!!!!!!!!!! Help!!!!

Johnny · 7th August 2003, 07:41 PM

Our bassist just uses my cheap 10 quid guitar tuner to tune his bass and itr works fine.
I'd say try a new tuner.

*Lynz* · 7th August 2003, 07:43 PM

Yeah that'd probably be a sensible idea huh? hehe

Misanthropy · 7th August 2003, 08:14 PM

Quick way to check your guitar is in tune:

Play the fifth fret on the E string, it should be the same note as an open A
Play the fifth fret on the A string, it should be the same note as an open D

etc. The only different one is the B string, and you don't have that on a bass

DJ_is_ghetto · 7th August 2003, 09:18 PM

I'm not trying to be wide, but maybe you've got it on the wrong key, cause some tuners you can change from 440 hz (A) or maybe you've just tuned the string to the wrong note. I do that sometimes but no-one notices cause i can't play anyway.

*Lynz* · 7th August 2003, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Misanthropy
Quick way to check your guitar is in tune:

Play the fifth fret on the E string, it should be the same note as an open A
Play the fifth fret on the A string, it should be the same note as an open D

etc. The only different one is the B string, and you don't have that on a bass

Thanks, i reckon that will help a lot

alien_syndm · 8th August 2003, 02:02 AM

As long as the intonation is fine on your bass the following is also very useful. The harmonic on the fifth fret of the E string should be the same as the harmonic on the 7th fret of the A string. Similarly the harmonic on the 5th fret of the A string should be the same as the harmonic on the 7th fret of the D string. And of course 5th harmonic on D, 7th harmonic on G. If you have a 5 or 6 string bass you should get the idea for the other strings.
Another thing you can use to help you is the harmonic at the 12th fret on the E string should sound the same as the 7th FRETTED note on the A string. Similarly harmonic at 12 on A is same as 7th fretted note on D and so on.
When tuning always tune up, ie if a string is too tight ie sharp, loosen it to below what it should be(make it flat) and then tighten it up to the required level. If you tune down you can get slip at the machine heads causing the string to go out of tune whilst you are playing.

Bobsy · 8th August 2003, 09:19 AM

If its a quick Tune ( i dunno if its spelt a different way, like kwik or quik) then then they are shite, ive had pretty bad experience with them in the past and it needs to be nearly in tune already to be able to pick up.

Talcum · 8th August 2003, 10:05 AM

Is it specifically a bass tuner you've got? Mine is a guitar and bass tuner, so it's possible you're looking at the wrong bit?

*Lynz* · 8th August 2003, 02:38 PM

well my tuner's at my parents house right now cos i forgot to bring it back up with me last time i was home so i'm not sure but i'll check it out when i get it back. And thanks to everyone who gave me advice, tis much appreciated!

Hopefully i'll be able to tune my bass all on my own now, yay!

7th August 2003, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lynz Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 2,189	Bass tuner Ok i've been playing bass for five years and i still can't tune it (shameful i know). In the past i've always relied on boyfriends to tune my guitar for me (even more shameful i know) so now i'm stuck with just me and i can't fucking tune my bass. I got a bass tuner thing but when i tried to use it and it said it was in tune it was blatantly obvious it wasn't. I may not be able to tune it myself but i know what it fuckin sounds like out of tune. So yeah the point of this is basically does anyone have any advice? Like maybe i'm using the tuner wrong or something but it's not exactly brain surgery. I just wanna be able to tune my guitar dammit!!!!!!!!!! Help!!!!

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7th August 2003, 07:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Johnny is latin for sexy. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glenrothes Posts: 5,137 Band: Aces High	Our bassist just uses my cheap 10 quid guitar tuner to tune his bass and itr works fine. I'd say try a new tuner.

7th August 2003, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lynz Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 2,189	Yeah that'd probably be a sensible idea huh? hehe

7th August 2003, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Misanthropy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,101	Quick way to check your guitar is in tune: Play the fifth fret on the E string, it should be the same note as an open A Play the fifth fret on the A string, it should be the same note as an open D etc. The only different one is the B string, and you don't have that on a bass

7th August 2003, 09:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
DJ_is_ghetto Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glenrothes Posts: 639	I'm not trying to be wide, but maybe you've got it on the wrong key, cause some tuners you can change from 440 hz (A) or maybe you've just tuned the string to the wrong note. I do that sometimes but no-one notices cause i can't play anyway.

8th August 2003, 02:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
alien_syndm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: dundee Posts: 1,435	As long as the intonation is fine on your bass the following is also very useful. The harmonic on the fifth fret of the E string should be the same as the harmonic on the 7th fret of the A string. Similarly the harmonic on the 5th fret of the A string should be the same as the harmonic on the 7th fret of the D string. And of course 5th harmonic on D, 7th harmonic on G. If you have a 5 or 6 string bass you should get the idea for the other strings. Another thing you can use to help you is the harmonic at the 12th fret on the E string should sound the same as the 7th FRETTED note on the A string. Similarly harmonic at 12 on A is same as 7th fretted note on D and so on. When tuning always tune up, ie if a string is too tight ie sharp, loosen it to below what it should be(make it flat) and then tighten it up to the required level. If you tune down you can get slip at the machine heads causing the string to go out of tune whilst you are playing.

8th August 2003, 09:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bobsy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 3,333 Band: Concurrence, Priveleged Girls After School Club	If its a quick Tune ( i dunno if its spelt a different way, like kwik or quik) then then they are shite, ive had pretty bad experience with them in the past and it needs to be nearly in tune already to be able to pick up.

8th August 2003, 10:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
Talcum Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: wherever makes me c00l, dickhead. Posts: 1,129	Is it specifically a bass tuner you've got? Mine is a guitar and bass tuner, so it's possible you're looking at the wrong bit?

8th August 2003, 02:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lynz Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 2,189	well my tuner's at my parents house right now cos i forgot to bring it back up with me last time i was home so i'm not sure but i'll check it out when i get it back. And thanks to everyone who gave me advice, tis much appreciated! Hopefully i'll be able to tune my bass all on my own now, yay!