Open Tuning with 3 Saddle Bridge?

[Gimble]

I did a search online and in the forum but could not find an answer:

Simple question, how do you intonate a 3 saddle compensated bridge for an open tuning, in open G (DGDGBD)specifically?

Same procedure as in standard tuning?

Any help will be welcome.

 

[eddiewagner]

Just do nothing

 

[Gimble]

Just do nothing

That was one of my thoughts, thanks.

 

[Boreas]

As long as it is properly intonated with the current strings, it should stay intonated in alternate tunings.

 

[TeleBackelaer]

Just do nothing

Yeah I never actually gave it any thought either. If your intonation is right for regular tuning, wouldn't it be good (or at least close enough) for open tunings as well?
I change to open tuning quite often and never had a problem. Then again, I don't play a lot of chords high up on the neck where intonation issues would be more noticeable.

 

[blue metalflake]

Can’t imagine any significant difference.

 

[Monoprice99]

Since 1 saddle affects 2 strings for string tension, tuning them in pairs, starting with the bass side of the set is a balanced approach to tuning any guitar.

Once all 6 strings are tuned for each note in D2,G2,D3,G3,B3,D4, a finer & more precise tuning as a complete set might be attained. At least that's the way I do them for individual or shared saddle bridges.

Open G Guitar Tuning with Online Tuner

Online Tuner for Open G Guitar Tuning. How to tune Open G through a microphone.

tuner-online.com

 

[Rufustelestrats]

Intonation is for the difference in length of string based upon the diameter of the string. This part does not change based upon the tuning.

 

[Gimble]

Thanks all!

As long as it is properly intonated with the current strings, it should stay intonated in alternate tunings.

Intonation is for the difference in length of string based upon the diameter of the string. This part does not change based upon the tuning.

I hadn’t thought about it this way, but makes sense.

One less thing to stress about!

 

[bottlenecker]

It depends on the tuning. Does it require different string guages?

 

[Gimble]

It depends on the tuning. Does it require different string guages?

No, I didn’t change string gauge.

At first I thought I might since lowering both E strings to D and the A to G, but they’re good - not flopping around.

And I guess a have natural soft touch because with a glass slide I seem to have enough string resistance not to rack the frets with slide.

 

[Gimble]

Since 1 saddle affects 2 strings for string tension, tuning them in pairs, starting with the bass side of the set is a balanced approach to tuning any guitar.

Once all 6 strings are tuned for each note in D2,G2,D3,G3,B3,D4, a finer & more precise tuning as a complete set might be attained. At least that's the way I do them for individual or shared saddle bridges.

Open G Guitar Tuning with Online Tuner

Online Tuner for Open G Guitar Tuning. How to tune Open G through a microphone.

tuner-online.com

Thanks for the link to the online tuner!

 

[Freeman Keller]

I did a search online and in the forum but could not find an answer:

Simple question, how do you intonate a 3 saddle compensated bridge for an open tuning, in open G (DGDGBD)specifically?

Same procedure as in standard tuning?

Any help will be welcome.

There are two parts to this question. First, "intonation" is the process of altering the open string length to compensate for the sharpening that happens when we fret it. The amount of compensation depends on string length, overall diameter, core diameter, frequency and the amount that it is stretched when fretting (ie action height). So yes, since frequency is part of the equation and will change when retuning, it will affect the compensation. The change is so small that most people will never notice (audiologists tell us that most people can't tell 5 cents difference.

But, the OP mentions playing slide in open G. Most electric slide players would tune up to open A to gain additional string tension or if tuning down to G would increase the string gauges for the same reason. I play a lot of open tunings on my acoustic guitars and always tune down, but those guitars get an increase in gauge. Changing string gauges has a big affect on the amount that a string needs to be compensated while fretting.

But there is one more thing, when playing slide you stretch the string very little so the "fretted" note is very close to the harmonic. Not only are you not pulling the string down to the fret, your slide is often not exactly over the fret. And really you have the world's best intonation device on your pinkie - a little bit of vibrato with the slide makes it sound perfect.

One last thing before I leave the subject - steel guitars, resonators, Weissenborns and similar instruments often have no compensation. Resonators frequently play horribly out of tune when fretted - phat strings, high action and the saddle at right angles to the strings all keep fretted notes out of tune. But played with a slide they sound fine.

 

[AAT65]

And really you have the world's best intonation device on your pinkie - a little bit of vibrato with the slide makes it sound perfect.

So long as you have the most convenient tuning measurement devices — your ears — doing their part!!

Playing slide is really more like playing violin in this particular sense: violinists are always grabbing a note and then adjusting intonation & you need to do the same when playing slide.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

I find open tuning to be so much more forgiving with intonation on my three saddle Tele, or any guitar, mainly because I'm not playing open chords at the neck but typically barring all the strings. And a few months back I finally dedicated one to 5 strings for open G tunes.

 

[Fretting out]

Just do nothing

I’m almost exclusively in open G I pretty much just intonate as usual or most the time leave it where they were set to standard

Haven’t had any issues because of the 3 saddle bridge

Although I also tune the high g flat and the b sharp to compensate for what I’m hearing as off

 

[bottlenecker]

steel guitars, resonators, Weissenborns and similar instruments often have no compensation.

This is a good point for the OP if they are going to play with a slide only. They should put straight barrels on and set them for zero comp. Chords played with a slide are put out of tune by compensation higher up the neck.

The only reason to compensate a guitar used for slide is if also fretting. I fret behind and in front of the slide when I play slide in the spanish position, and I make compromises in compensation and tuning. In DADF#AD, my F# string will go a little sharp when fretted. Since the major third in a chord is inherently sharp in 12 tone music, I tune to just-intonation by ear, theoretically about 14 cents flat. When fretting behind the slide to make it minor or fretting it up to put a fourth in the chord, it takes up that slack.

 

[Gimble]

Although I also tune the high g flat and the b sharp to compensate for what I’m hearing as off

I did come across this in passing in a video while researching this, but failed to rewind, so to speak, to catch it!

Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Gimble]

This is a good point for the OP if they are going to play with a slide only. They should put straight barrels on and set them for zero comp. Chords played with a slide are put out of tune by compensation higher up the neck.

The only reason to compensate a guitar used for slide is if also fretting. I fret behind and in front of the slide when I play slide in the spanish position, and I make compromises in compensation and tuning. In DADF#AD, my F# string will go a little sharp when fretted. Since the major third in a chord is inherently sharp in 12 tone music, I tune to just-intonation by ear, theoretically about 14 cents flat. When fretting behind the slide to make it minor or fretting it up to put a fourth in the chord, it takes up that slack.

I’m actually playing mostly chords and phrases with my index, middle and ring fingers and use the slide on my pinky sparingly to add some “flavor” now and again.

I seem to get the most mileage in what I want to hear using scale tones near the nut pulling off or hammering to/from the open strings and doing the same going to the IV and V chords using my index as a bar further up the neck.

This all came about as a result of a fretting hand injury and not wanting to lay off from playing as it healed, but found it so much fun and much closer to what I hoped to sound like that it’s become my new home.

 

[Monoprice99]

Thanks for the link to the online tuner!

It does show the numerical octave that open strings be tuned for, Standard E, E2 => E4 & also alternate tunings. The smartphone app tuners I have, whether it's the phone's sensitivity or the app's sentivity itself, seems to struggle with the E1 string of a bass guitar for tuning EADG as E1, A1, D2, G2.