By Teresa Norris
One of the most attractive things about playing the guitar over other instruments is the array of alternate or non-standard tunings that are available to the guitar player. These different tunings can make the guitar sound entirely different and add depth and uniqueness to the songs and melodies being written.
"Tuning" a guitar refers to the process of precisely adjusting each string to produce the correct note. In order to accomplish this, a "reference pitch" is necessary. A reference pitch is a correct note to which the guitar may be adjusted (either higher or lower) until it perfectly matches. The reference pitch may come from another instrument, such as a piano or another guitar, or a tuning device, such as a tuning fork or pitch pipe. Many electronic guitar tuners also feature a reference pitch emitter for tuning by ear. However, making accurate adjustments by ear can be challenging, and even frustrating, especially for beginning musicians.
Some parts of playing the guitar are obvious, for example: fretting chords, picking, strumming, etc. What is not so obvious is that developing a musical ear is just as important. For a beginner to really improve his or her musical ear, it is essential to consistently play in tune.
Not surprisingly, continually playing on an instrument that is out of tune will prevent a beginner from developing his or her musical ear at a normal rate. Making matters worse, many beginners do not want to spend much on their first guitar and therefore they end up with a cheaply made guitar that goes out of tune easily. The result can be real frustration.
Open Tunings: This is where a chord can be strummed without fretting or finge
Some parts of playing the guitar are obvious, for example: fretting chords, picking, strumming, etc. What is not so obvious is that developing a musical ear is just as important. For a beginner to really improve his or her musical ear, it is essential to consistently play in tune.
Not surprisingly, continually playing on an instrument that is out of tune will prevent a beginner from developing his or her musical ear at a normal rate. Making matters worse, many beginners do not want to spend much on their first guitar and therefore they end up with a cheaply made guitar that goes out of tune easily. The result can be real frustration.
Open Tunings: This is where a chord can be strummed without fretting or finge
Not surprisingly, continually playing on an instrument that is out of tune will prevent a beginner from developing his or her musical ear at a normal rate. Making matters worse, many beginners do not want to spend much on their first guitar and therefore they end up with a cheaply made guitar that goes out of tune easily. The result can be real frustration.
Open Tunings: This is where a chord can be strummed without fretting or fingering the individual notes. This would be used typically when a slide is employed in styles such as steel guitar and bottleneck playing. These were the tunings employed in blues music that was so influential in moulding the music of artists such as Keith Richard of the Rolling Stones.
There are many cheap "entry level" tuners, but be careful, as you may end up frustrated by a tuner that is unable to correctly determine the pitch of your strings.
Lower and Higher Tunings: The strings are all tuned either higher or lower by the same interval. These tunings are usually to accommodate the vocal range of the singer. For the higher tunings the guitar strings need to be very thin as they are under extreme tension (they are therefore prone to breakage).
About the Author:
Open Tunings: This is where a chord can be strummed without fretting or fingering the individual notes. This would be used typically when a slide is employed in styles such as steel guitar and bottleneck playing. These were the tunings employed in blues music that was so influential in moulding the music of artists such as Keith Richard of the Rolling Stones.
There are many cheap "entry level" tuners, but be careful, as you may end up frustrated by a tuner that is unable to correctly determine the pitch of your strings.
Lower and Higher Tunings: The strings are all tuned either higher or lower by the same interval. These tunings are usually to accommodate the vocal range of the singer. For the higher tunings the guitar strings need to be very thin as they are under extreme tension (they are therefore prone to breakage).
About the Author:
The present author is very knowledgeable apropos guitar tuner. Please have a look at their online site for more information.