| Learning to tune by ear is a necessary skill for | | | | identifying each string before you play it, like this... |
| every aspiring guitarist, you may wonder why I | | | | String 6 - E... (play note - slowly three times); then |
| say this with all the electronic tuning devices | | | | repeat the process: string 6 - E... (play note - |
| around why would someone bother to learn to | | | | slowly three times); do this for each string, |
| tune their guitar by ear. | | | | identify each note and play the open string slowly. |
| The answer is simple, music is a auditory art form | | | | In case you don't know the names of the open |
| not a visual medium, translated it means that | | | | strings of the guitar here they are: |
| your eyes can't hear and they never will! In a | | | | E--0--- string 1 |
| world where music is marketed 90+% by all | | | | B--0--- string 2 |
| sorts visual stimulation it's easy to lose sight of | | | | G--0--- string 3 |
| the fact that music is and always will be AUDIO | | | | D--0--- string 4 |
| (sound) not visual. | | | | A--0--- string 5 |
| Musicians rely on their ears to (a) learn to identify | | | | E--0--- string 6 |
| and re- create sounds on their instruments that | | | | The first string is the string closest to the floor |
| they hear on recordings; (b) to make subtle | | | | when you are playing. |
| changes in their instruments tuning should | | | | What we want to have is a recording of the |
| intonation problems arise during performance (due | | | | "sound" of the open strings of 'your' guitar that |
| to temperature changes caused by on-stage | | | | we will use as a reference "sound" and "pitch" to |
| lighting etc); and (c) constantlymanipulate the pitch | | | | tune your guitar with in future practice sessions. |
| of each note (using finger vibrato techniques etc.,) | | | | Each guitar has a different sound, no two guitars |
| so that their instrument will blend with other | | | | sound exactly the same; even guitars of the |
| instruments such as flute, piano and voice. | | | | same brand and model will sound different so we |
| You probably though it was just a matter of | | | | want to become aware of the tone of your |
| plugging your instrument in, watch the dial and | | | | guitar as well as the pitch. |
| you're done! Definitely not!!! | | | | Listening to a recorded guitar sound is also very |
| The truth is the perfect guitar has never been | | | | helpful for developing your musical 'ear', after all |
| built and neither has the perfect saxophone, | | | | that's how you hear guitars and other instruments |
| clarinet or bass our entire music system relies on | | | | from a recording with the sounds coming back to |
| the skilled musicians 'ear' to overcome the various | | | | you via the playback speakers; as you improve |
| intonation problems inherent with each musical | | | | your listening skills it will becomes easier for you |
| instrument. | | | | to work out music by ear and that can't be a bad |
| Like everything else the more you practice | | | | thing! |
| anything the better you get; and learning to tune | | | | The idea is to remember and recall the sound of |
| by ear simply takes practice... practice at listening | | | | each of your open strings, this takes time, be |
| to the sounds you are making and the more you | | | | patient with yourself, remember the more you |
| train yourself to listen to the sound(s) you are | | | | practice this type of intensive, concentrated |
| making the better the musician you will be! | | | | listening the better you will become and the easier |
| Step 1. Have an (1) experienced player tune your | | | | it will be for you to identify each tone. |
| guitar for you, (b) if you don't know any good | | | | The key is to practice everything s-l-o-w-l-y! |
| guitarists go to a music store and have them | | | | There are a number of ways you can learn to |
| tune your guitar for you or (c) use an electronic | | | | tune your guitar by ear however, I find this |
| tuner to tune your open strings to the correct | | | | method the best place to start, the important |
| pitch... then turn the tuner off and use your ears! | | | | thing is to practice listening and tuning by ear |
| Step 2. Record the sound of each open string | | | | every time you practice your guitar. |