guitarists, do you use a tuner?

[Hink]

I do not, in fact the only tuner I own is in my pod...I tune to my keyboards for one string, then depending on the tuning I use either octaves or relative notes. For example Am EAEACE, I tune the low A to the keyboard, then I tune the second A to the lower one. From there I bring the middle E in until it's right (it's easy to tell the interval with a fifth), then tune both other Es (up one, down one) then I fret a C# on the C string and tune to A major. Other tunings I do in the same fashion, generally using chords, fifths and octaves...

[Sascha Franck]

I voted yes - but usually I prefer tuning be ear. Even if my Tom Anderson (which is what I'm mainly using) has that Buzzy Feiten tuning system, I still feel more comfortable with ear tuning.
But then, I'm playing live pretty often, so a tuner is a must. And even at home, sometimes my ears are behaving funny, so I allways crosscheck after tuning by ear (mind you, most of the times my ears are sufficient though).

[scamme]

Yes! I have to tune at least the high E string.

[Har]

I use a Peterson VS-II virtual strobe tuner...got it several months ago and have completely fallen in love with it. I know some people seem to find it a bit too accurate and say that it takes too long to tune up with it, but I've found the opposite to be true, especially when using an instrument with good quality tuning-heads.
In live situations I often have to quickly drop the E string on my bass to a low D and with the Peterson I can lock it in perfectly much more quickly than the other two guitarists in the band using other tuners.

[Stupid American Pig]

K-tuner is what I mainly use, but I sometimes use my Jstations piss poor tuner or the ibanez tuner I ahve when I can find it. I usually tune to the tuner and then tune by ear to make sure its correct.

[ffffffffffffffffffffffff]

Indeed. His name's Jackson and he's awfully good.

[IIRs]

I consider a tuner essential for live playing, both to allow silent tuning on stage, and also becuase I occasionally tune up too well when I do it by ear (ie: too specifically to the one chord I'm holding so other keys sound out.. much more likely to happen when trying to do it quickly on stage btw!)

When recording however, I start by using the tuner, but sometimes I will deliberately do what I try to avoid on stage, ie: tune specifically to the key in which I'm playing.

<edit> my tuner is built into my pre-amp / fx unit:



..so I can't forget to bring it!

[sjm]

depends on
a) can I be arsed to find the tuner
b) whether I am at home - I don't take the tuner to the park

Depending on the situation, I'll either just tune the guitar to itself (although it tends to be pretty close to concert pitch), by playing along to an mp3 or by tuning one string to the keyboard and taking it from there.

If I'm going to record, I'll definitely use the tuner.

[Hink]

I consider a tuner essential for live playing, both to allow silent tuning on stage, and also becuase I occasionally tune up too well when I do it by ear (ie: too specifically to the one chord I'm holding so other keys sound out.. much more likely to happen when trying to do it quickly on stage btw!)

When recording however, I start by using the tuner, but sometimes I will deliberately do what I try to avoid on stage, ie: tune specifically to the key in which I'm playing.

<edit> my tuner is built into my pre-amp / fx unit:



..so I can't forget to bring it!

I change tunings when using my hardtail mid song, I don't use the "same note" or harmonic method. If I strum a chord and one note is out of tune I know it know which one it is and can tune a guitar when no one thinks you're tuning. I tune by the harmonic structure and ingretity of the chord(s) (major or minors, but I prefer minors).

[IIRs]

If I strum a chord and one note is out of tune I know it know which one it is and can tune a guitar when no one thinks you're tuning. I tune by the harmonic structure and ingretity of the chord(s) (major or minors, but I prefer minors).

Don't you find that tuning one chord perfectly can leave others sounding out? Although, I suppose if you change tunings between tracks that implies you use open tunings, so you are really tuning to a specific key each time..?

Although I don't play live much these days, I used to do my best to achieve equal tempered tuning so that any key was ok.. I stick to boring conventional tunings myself!

[Sascha Franck]

Don't you find that tuning one chord perfectly can leave others sounding out?

Most defenitely.
That's something the Buzzy Feiten system is all about. And, it really works nicely for a lot of stuff (not on everything though).

[kovacs]

I either use a pitch fork or simply pick up the phone to listen to the dial tone (A 440 over here).

Or, if I remember it, I use the tuner on my PodXT.

[Cordelia]

Playing live I definitely need my tuner (TU-12). You can always tune to a fluorescent light. I believe they buzz a perfect Bb.

[IIRs]

simply pick up the phone to listen to the dial tone (A 440 over here).

I have been known to get a rough G from 50Hz mains hum though!

[androidlove]

I've always tuned without a tuner. When playing with a keyboard accompaniment, I'd tune to its E. When playing with another guitarist, we'd just pick a guitar and tune to its E (We did the same thing in a punk band I was in). I got this pedal a few months ago. The new fangled thing takes the place of stomp boxes and amps. Its also got a tuner. Now I find If I'm gonna record, I just use it to tune up fast.