Making a Custom Tuning Chart With a Tuner?

Leo Grassl · From: Madison TN

Hello all and happy New Year!

I have been playing steel for about 8 months now. Its all I do when Im not at work and its all I think about when I am. Anyway Im looking for some help to getting closer to conquering my biggest frustration...TUNING!

I've been tuning mostly by ear which has worked the best for me so far, and I've tried all the charts I can find but Im still not satisfied.

The most in tune I get is when local experts tune my guitar for me and it plays like butter. I was wondering if anyone has had their guitar tuned by someone (or tuned it themselves) and then "captured the tuning" with a high tech tuner? The tuner I have now is a sonic research stompbox but it cant capture tunings. Does anyone/has anyone done this successfully with a peterson or like tuner?

Thanks a lot,

Leo

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Players often use the user presets in the Peterson tuners to enter their own offsets. It doesn't "capture" the tuning. You to enter them in by hand. I don't believe there is any tuner that will automatically capture the offsets and store them.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Stuart Legg · Posted 2 Jan 2012 12:54 am

Making a Custom Tuning Chart With a Tuner?
Quote: The most in tune I get is when local experts tune my guitar for me and it plays like butter. unquote.
Break it down into two parts 1. a tuner 2. a tuning chart.
Let that local expert tune it and then check it with the tuner and make a chart and next time you need to tune just whip out your chart and your tuner and you're all set.

Ransom Beers · Posted 2 Jan 2012 4:54 am

Tuning Chart?I don't need no stinkin' chart,(jus' kiddin').I have a Boss TU-2 that I use,seems to get close enough for the way I play.My guitar stays in tune pretty good.

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

I have done this with a teacher.
Had them tune... and then I recorded the settings with a Peterson tuner.
It really doe not work or translate that well...
Seems odd I know but this is something that just has to be learned and practiced until you find a method that works for you.
A good start is a Peterson or Peterson style tuner and remember how lucky we are to have these tools when starting PSG.
As years go by you will likely evolve and shift opinions on tuning as you develop.
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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

a Peterson tuner will indeed be helpful as to program your own tuning
but first " tuning by harmonics " is essential :

the E9 tuning has 2 chords E & B
when you tune, you'll have refer to both
(as well as A w: pedals A & B engaged)
Tune your Es to 440 or 442 (whichever you want to use)with pedals A& B down first
release A& B & your off

lever E lowers Es a half
lever F raises Es a half
lever G raises F#s a whole
lever D lowers Eb a half
lever V lowers Bs a half

you will be using frets 5 - 7 - 12 - & 4 !
you can get a harmonic on the 4th fret - certainly not as easy as on frets 5,7 & 12
look for it, it's there

here we go :

Open/no pedals for starters - pedals & levers will follow
using harmonics on each :
on left reference tone / on right string to tune

E : string 8 fret 5 / string 4 fret 12

B : string 10 fret 5 / string 5 fret 12

F# : string 5 fret 7 / String 1 fret 12 - string
F# : string 1 fret 12 / string 7 fret 5

G# : string 8 fret 4 ( yep 4) / string 6 fret 5
G# : string 4 ( yep 4 ) / string 3 fret 5

Eb : string 5 fret 4 / string 2 fret 5

E : string 8 w: A&B fret 5 / string 6 w: A&B fret 7

A : string 6 w: A&B fret 5 / string 3 w: A&B fret 12
A : string 6 w: A&B fret 12 / string 9 fret 7

C# : string 5 w: A&B fret 12 / string 10 w: A&B fret 5
C# : string 6 w: B&C fret 4 / string 4 w: B&C fret 7
C# : string 6 w: B&C fret 4 / string 5 w: B&C fret 5

Eb : string 2 fret 12 / string 4 w lever E fret 12
Eb : string 2 fret 12 / string 8 w: lever E fret 5

B(G# lever): string 5 fret 5 / string 7 w: lever G fret 4
G# : string 3 fret 12 / string 1 w: lever G fret 12

F : string 5 w: A&B fret 4 / string 4 w: lever F fret 5
F : string 4 w: lever F fret 12 / string 8 w: lever F fret 5

Bb : string 7 fret 4 / string 5 w: lever V fret 5
Bb : string 5 w: lever V fret 12 / string 10 w: lever V fret 5

D : string 9 fret 5 / string 2 w: lever D fret 12

---------------------------------------------------

when tuning strings 1(F#) - 2(Eb)- 7(F#) note that the root/reference is B ......NOT... E
F# being the fifth & Eb being the third of B :
the fifth of B gets the same treatment/value as the fifth of E
the third of B gets the same treatment/value as the third of E
last but not least (the plot sickens lol)
when tuning F# on string 4 w: pedal C : F# is the root tone since the ref is an F# minor chord
here again it will get it's own treatment/value

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I used the Jeff Newman tuning (Referenced to 440, NOT 442) then tweaked what was needed to get my guitar in tune. I did this with an old msnusl Korg tuner (I think it was a WT10) and then updated the Jeff Newman tuning chart with my changes.

I now have a Peterson Strobe O Flip tuner and have my tunings programmed into it.

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Crowbear is correct and helped me get mine programmed and write this guide. Maybe it will be of some help to you, if you go in that direction.

Look in "Strobo Flip Info" near the bottom of this page:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=594320d13092d8fb

Leo Grassl · From: Madison TN

Thank you all so much for your input! I dont know what Id do without you guys...

Crowbear, I just spent a few hours investigating the harmonics tuning you showed

me and its got

me much closer then anything I have used so far. I can actually play along with my

Jam tracks without cringing every couple of bars and stopping to tweek some

pedal or lever. I cant tell you how grateful I am! The last few nights I've been

having nightmares about tuning (no joke, I havn't slept well in days because of this)

but tonight is gonna be restful one I am sure.

Leo Grassl · From: Madison TN

Dick,

The link you posted said it was an invalid page or something... Do you think you

could try posting it again? Id be interested to check it out for sure.

Thanks for all your help, I really do appreciate it.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Leo, i'm glad to know that tuning by harmonics was conclusive for you
tuning by harmonics gets you in best
there will always be a bit of compromise since the main chords or keys in the 0 position are E B A F#minor, & D

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I was once told by a famous Nashville steeler that I was tuning "wrong" when he saw me tune the bass C string on the C6th with a harmonic.

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

Email sent...

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