A Tunning question

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

can a steel guitar go out of tune like someone had turned the keys to raise the pitch very high on each string, I went to practice on it and had to retune it back to 440, I have never seen this happen on a steel
guitar before, I don`t have kids here that would play with it, what would cause this to happen, I have not changed strings for quite some time, so maybe I need to put a new set on the guitar. Steveb carter D-10 8+5.

rpetersen · From: Iowa

Temperature change is about all that I can think of - It's suprising when you take them from a warm to cold enviroment how much they will change!
Put your tuner on and slide your hands up a string and watch your tuner from just that little bit!

------------------
Ron Petersen &
The Keep'n Tyme Band

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I have often experienced ALL my strings to be sharp of pitch the next day after setting them dead on. I am sure this is due to expansion/contraction in the cabinet because of temperature changes where the guitar is located, plus as the poster said, one's hand temperature can make a decided change in the tuning of most plectrum instruments.

This is why some advise not to change your tuning until you have played it a while after an absence, since your hands will warm up the strings making you retune them once again.

I did not realize the above for a long time. And I use to chase my tail. Now I wait til I have played several songs before tuning it IF it needs it; and suprisingly it usually doesn't!

carl

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

[quote]ALL my strings to be sharp of pitch the next day after setting them dead on. I am sure this is due to expansion/contraction in the cabinet [/quote} Or it could be due to contraction of the string as it cools.

Skip Mertz · From: N.C. (deceased)

Steve , I just tell the band to tune to me!

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

This is just one more reason that I use an in-line tuner on stage. Once the stage lihjting comes on the guitar does wander in the first couple of songs. Also when playing outside. I can check my tuning on the fly in an instant.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 28 September 2003 at 12:09 PM.]

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Thanks everyone for the replies, now I don`t feel alone on this issue, I thought I was losing my mind, I know I had just tuned the guitar the day before I practiced on it, and I checked it before I started to play, and noticed every string was tuned up high, I was beginning to think there was a ghost in the house that enjoys playing steel guitars.
maybe the body of guitar expanded or contracted, looks like it will be some mystery. steveb carter D-10 8+5.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

I have the same experience. Warm hands vs. air-conditioning. Try this little experiment, next time you see/hear a string a little sharp. Run your bare finger along the length of the string one time. This will flat the string about 2-4 cents. This proves to me that string temp alone affects the tuning.

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Hello Ron, got your advise on the string,
I have been using D`Addarios, but never had
problems of strings going sharp on me, especially this brand, I have been using this string for years, even on my MSA.
Steveb carter D-10 8+5.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

And don't try to restring the darn machine when it's cold. My attic isn't that warm in the winter, and that's where my studio is. Last winter, when the room was about 40 degrees, I tried playing and I broke a 3rd string, I went thru four 0.011 strings before I realized it was just too darn cold to be doin' that.
Warmed the room up and everything got better.

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Hey Ray, I won`t tune my guitar in the cold
anymore, I bought Gloves to do that with.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Steven,

I really believe it is a change in temperature; getting a few degrees colder than when I tuned it. I see this almost every day.
IT is still hot in Dallas and my guitar room is airconditioned to about 73F. When I first sit down, I check my root note against a Peterson strobe tuner. It will show sharp as will all the other strings.

I play for several minutes,until the bar no longer feels cool in my hand, and then check my tuning. Usually right on. A few tweaks and the guitar is ready. (If I spend more than a few minutes tuning, I put the bar in my pocket to keep it warm, and I keep one hand on the strings, to keep them warm.

This is getting too long, but...
I changed the temp in my guitar room to a few degrees warmer(trying to save on my light bill) and my dobro, six string Taylor, and six string nylon guitar all went flat. A few degrees makes a big difference.

I don't believe that it matters what brand of string. Steel expands and contracts at a known scientific rate.

I think the best time to tune is after 20 minutes or so of regular playing. Tune it, take a break, and come back. It will have changed. But after a few minutes of playing again, it will come back in.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

After playing a steel for awhile, the strings and some other parts come up close to body temperature (98 degrees). Then, when it sits overnight, everything comes back to room temperature, more or less. This difference (of 20 to 30 degrees) affects the tuning significantly! Therefore, as Carl said, it's best to just play for about 5 minutes before you start tuning!

You'd be surprised how an "out of tune" guitar will creep back in tune (stabilize) as you play, and it's especially important not to try and tune the pedals until the guitar has stabilized!

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