Tuning and Playing at the Same Time

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:35 PM

There's a certain amount of showmanship going on there... If I drop my bass E string down an octave so I can get a super low E and then take it back up, who cares... Mostly that's what you'll see... Fat E up or down or A string from open G to Double dropped D...

Of course there are also open tuning where the Fat E tuner can be used much like fretting...

But it's more show than go... Shouldn't confess to that but I have...

B~

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: PHJim
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 07:27 PM

There are the Scruggs/Kieth/Bump tuners meant for retuning while playing. Originally designed for use on banjos, they are also quite popular with Telecaster players.
There is also a devise known as a B-Bender, popularised by Clarence White, that bends the B string by leaning on the strap.

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: foggers
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 06:46 PM

I am with Ray on this one; tuning by ear is best but an electronic tuner is good in noisy situations, I also find I can talk and tune when using one. This is useful when playing gigs as I am usually re-tuing me banjo between numbers whilst fending off banjo jokes from the other band members....

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: DMcG
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 10:54 AM

The most impressive I remember was an amateur, when a string broke while he was playing. Unfazed, he carried on unaccompanied while he fished another string out of his bag, fitted it and tuned it quietly next to his ear while he continued singing into a mic, and was finished in time to resume the accompaniment before the song ended ... and the song didn't have 30 verses!

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 10:25 AM

I've seen them doing it in the midst of a loud fast electric blues number. Charlie Musslewhite's band comes to mind. Among others. While they solo.
(:-( O)=

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 10:16 AM

I would mostly agree with Bernard but you do need a relatively quiet environment to do it properly. - do you remember the one "How do you get an accordianist/drummer to play?" "Start tuning your guitar!".

Apart from the more expensive strobe tuners, the ones most people buy can't accurately tune an instrument and it is necessary to adjust things dependent upon the key in which you intend to play. I resisted buying a tuner for several decades but do find them useful for noisy environments and making sure I'm tuning to the same pitch as everyone else.

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 05:53 PM

Yea. I got lazy like that. I think it's easier to tune a steel guitar with electronics.

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 05:50 PM

Thereby hangs the problem... I don't EVER use an electronic tuner, because my ear is better... and I play acoustic, so distortion isn't an issue.

I reckon people's ears have become lazy by being too reliant on electronics.

At our folk club, people often ask me to tune thier instruments (not just guitars) because I can do it quicker by ear than they can with a tuner - and I get it right!!

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 04:33 PM

I just tune and play. I know just playing puts it out of tune. But I don't trust my ears to be able to do that. I mostly rely on electronic tuners these days.

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 04:14 PM

It can be done, even with an acoustic guitar. But (based on my personal experience) you're better off getting in tune before you start playing.

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 04:07 PM

Yea. But are you really ever in tune? Or do you mask it with distortion?
(:-( P)=

Subject: RE: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 03:59 PM

Because we can!!

Subject: Tuning and Playing at the Same Time
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 18 Aug 12 - 03:47 PM

You've seen it I'm sure. Somebody playing really hot electric blues solos and cranking on the machine heads while they play. How do they ever stay in tune?? Why do they do it?
(:-( O)=