Lesson One - Tuning

Of utmost importance is to have an instrument tuned correctly. Prolonged playing on an incorrectly tuned instrument will damage the ears' ability to perceive true pitch. In a concert hall string musicians are always given- A 440 as the concert pitch.

Special care should be taken to develop a good ear for recognizing true notes. As the guitar is a fretless instrument, a players ear is the only guide to correct pitch.

A guitars' pitch may rise and fall according to local weather conditions. The instruments wood structure is susceptible to moisture and temperature absorption, therefore causing the wood to distort and the pitch to become inconsistent. The elasticity of the strings as well as the pegs trying to unwind are other factors to take into account. Storage of the guitar inside its case will help prevent tuning fluctuations as well as keeping it safe from accidental knocks.

To bring a string into tune a reference tone is needed. When the string rings in phase with the reference note there will be no pulsation and the string will be in tune. A beat is heard when two frequencies are out of tune with each other. Their phase will be out of sync with each other.

Holding the instrument for tuning.

What is Concert Pitch?

Concert pitch A440 (A above middle C vibrating at 440 cycles per second) is universally accepted as the pitch to which all instruments should be tuned. It ensures that when instruments play together, they will all be in tune with one another.