| Author |
Topic: Intonation |
Jason Williams
From:
Seattle, Washington
|
Posted 21 Feb 2010 5:55 pm |
|
| It has recently been brought to my attention that my playing is occasionally inconsistently out of tune. I've always been complimented on my aural abilities with other instruments, so this was kind of a blow to the ego. I realize it's the nature of the beast, but what can I use to practice my intonation if I can't hear that I'm playing out of tune? Any tools, thoughts? |
|
|
 |
Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
|
|
|
|
Barry Hyman
From:
upstate New York, USA
|
Posted 21 Feb 2010 6:16 pm
|
|
Practicing over something else -- a rhythm track, a drone, a Casio keyboard, Band In A Box -- anything -- is better for intonation than practicing steel by itself.
Nothing helps a musician's pitch discrimination more than singing, even if you are never going to sing on stage.
Another device is to tune by ear and then check yourself with the tuner. An alternative is to play notes with the bar, adjust the intonation to what you think sounds right, and then look at a tuner to see what it says. Tuners have their problems, but they don't lie...
Good luck, It took me thirty years before I was satisfied with my intonation, and I still miss notes every day...
_________________
I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com |
|
|
|
Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 21 Feb 2010 6:30 pm
|
|
I will assume that you have a well tuned guitar to start with. If not, that's the first thing to tackle.
But aside from that, you might try playing along with some tracks...don't play anything fancy, just simple chords...and concentrate on your intonation. Use various chord inversions all up and down the neck, and sustain them while paying careful attention to matching the track's tone centers.
Once you've done this for a while, it should start to become almost a reflex...a habit that comes naturally.
You might also try playing simple, single note, scales along with a track...just rudimentary stuff, and again, focus on being in tune with the track.
This will get your ear trained to recognize tone centers in various chord structures, and through various chord changes. Playing alone with no other music present can allow poor intonation to sound OK...especially on an instrument that has no frets to force correct intonation.
There are a bunch of guys on this forum that probably have better procedures, or advice, and who are more educated in this area, but this worked very well for me back when I was a young buck learning this addictive behavior!  
Give it a try, and I wish you the best.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
|
|
|
Robby Springfield
From:
Viola, AR, USA
|
Posted 21 Feb 2010 10:20 pm
|
|
I couldn't stress it enough...record yourself playing with tracks of some kind. It doesn't have to be a fancy setup, just a jambox will do in a pinch.
_________________
Robby
www.power3productions.com |
|
|
|
Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
|
|
|
|
Ray McCarthy
From:
New Hampshire, USA
|
Posted 22 Feb 2010 3:40 am
|
|
| I agree with Robbie--I didn't know I was playing off key until I recorded myself playing along with commercial recordings. It didn't seem to me that I was off key while playing--it only became apparent when I heard the playback. But it was quick work after that to start playing on key. |
|
|
|
Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
|
Posted 22 Feb 2010 8:27 am
|
|
I use Band in a box to practice with and have recorded live with a small Tascam. Ahem
Korg makes a 25 dollar tuner (TM-40) that has a metronome with a little volume-balance adjustment.
the tuner lets you have a note in any key, output for head phones or connect to an amp.
Try licks or scales to a droning note and metronome.
It will surprise and sharpen you up.
To buy this click on <B>The Austin Steel Guitar Co-op</B> and support us at no cost to you.
Best deals , Best price, Guaranteed
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes
Last edited by Ken Metcalf on 22 Feb 2010 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Jason Williams
From:
Seattle, Washington
|
Posted 22 Feb 2010 10:28 am
|
|
| Thanks everybody for the exercises and advice! If I had this much good advice playing six string guitar, I'd be giving John Mayer a run for his money Thanks again! |
|
|
|
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 22 Feb 2010 11:02 am
|
|
Jasons only been playing for a year but already sounds great. He's gonna be a killer player. You sounded in tune to me last time we played together. Sounded real good actually.
but yeah recordings are your friend/enemy.
check into that franklin excercise too...doing that I noticed my intonation up high to be lacking. |
|
|
|
