Intonation.

K so when doing intonation, this is hard to explain in text but ok.

So before I adjust my bridge saddle to match the fretted note to the harmonic note, do I regular tune the guitar like I would normal then tune to the perfect harmonic note then adjust my saddle to match the fretted note to the harmonic already tuned note or...

do I find the perfect fretted note then adjust the saddle to match the harmonic note with the already tuned fretted note?

Confused please help fast.

C'mon what happened to all the help I used to get on these forums?

K so like sometimes we busy. Google be jammin ifu want fast.

Tune the open string to the proper pitch. Fret the string at the 12th fret, but press on it only enough to keep it from buzzing. If the fretted note is sharp, move the saddle back (away from the nut). If the note is flat, move the saddle forward (toward the nut). Retune the open string, fret at 12 and check again. Repeat until everything is correct, or until you just can't stand it anymore.

Don't intonate to harmonics, unless you play harmonics.

You cannot intonate to harmonics, you can only tune to them.

The 12th fret harmonic will always be half the string length regardless of where the saddle is set. That's why it's used as a reference to set the saddle when the string is fretted.

Tune the open string to the proper pitch. Fret the string at the 12th fret, but press on it only enough to keep it from buzzing.

I like to fret the string at the same pressure as I play, which is ever so slightly sharper than just-fretted.

And as above - harmonics in intonation just confuses people. All ya doing it matching the 12th fret note to the open note. Simple. Youdon't have to be anal about it either ... just reasonably accurate.

As an example (using an accurate tuner) fret a string on the 12th fret and while looking at the tuner fret it slightly harder. See how the note changes?

Now pretend you are in the throes of your legendary lead break - yup, you push pretty hard sometimes! :grin: And the variation of your fretting generally makes being anal about intonation moot.

Get it right but don't fret the minutiae.

C'mon what happened to all the help I used to get on these forums?

www.frets.com

Thanks

Did the intonation on my tele. It sounds great. I do need. New saddles but its sounding better. Thanks for all the help.

And as above - harmonics in intonation just confuses people. All ya doing it matching the 12th fret note to the open note. Simple.

I'm not confused by it at all. You can always find a way to get the fretted note to correspond to the open string, but it's a rare guitar that will intonate properly and get the harmonic to match the fretted note as well. Unless you're playing Roundabout non stop, forget about the harmonics and make the guitar play fretted notes accurately.

Ok so after doing my intonation, my g string is still falling out and in tune. Any tips?

Ok so after doing my intonation, my g string is still falling out and in tune. Any tips?

Man is it annoying. Someone has to know what I'm going through. It's like it's almost in tune or it's a bad string but it's not.

The string won't hold tune, it's unstable?

It'll be at the nut. Detune the string, pop it out of the slot and using a soft pencil mash some pencil lead in the slot.

Could be a nut slot that needs to be filed to the correct angle.

It could be the temperature in the room!

When I gig, I bring two guitars. When I pickup a cold guitar, I never tune it. I know it's going to be sharp. I just rub the strings to warm them up and let 'er rip!

Intonation is one of those things that we need to keep in perspective. I've see a few blokes nearly lose their minds over it!

Could be a nut slot that needs to be filed to the correct angle.

It could be the temperature in the room!

When I gig, I bring two guitars. When I pickup a cold guitar, I never tune it. I know it's going to be sharp. I just rub the strings to warm them up and let 'er rip!

Intonation is one of those things that we need to keep in perspective. I've see a few blokes nearly lose their minds over it!

It's not the room or a cold guitar. But I'll check out the nut.

There are inherent limitations in the written medium as applied to an aural endeavor. This thread rather proves that.

Besides, Arlo Guthrie was right when he said once you take LSD you realize there's no such thing as "in tune." Some have possibly tested that thesis too many times.

Brian

Thanks Brian...****ing Brian.

... present company excepted, of course. :wink: