Switched to Equal Temperament

Greg Lambert · Post by **Greg Lambert** » 26 Sep 2021 4:57 pm

Now my 3rds sounds off when A&B are pressed when I play with no backing tracks ... But with backing tracks Im right on .... What gives ???

Jon Voth · Post by **Jon Voth** » 26 Sep 2021 6:35 pm

They are off, you can notice it when you play alone. But with other music you are right with the rest that is equally tempered and you get used to it. Could that be it?

Ron Pruter · Post by **Ron Pruter** » 26 Sep 2021 7:36 pm

That's why I like splitting the difference and tuning 3 and 6, and the A pedal 10 cents flat. I can live with that.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 27 Sep 2021 12:57 am

Jon's explanation is good, as is Ron's remedy.

All tuning systems are the same: either ET with the thirds flattened or JI with them sharpened.

It is only the method of arriving there that varies.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Sep 2021 7:49 am

Ian Rae wrote: All tuning systems are the same: either ET with the thirds flattened or JI with them sharpened.

It is only the method of arriving there that varies.

Except that I tune JI, and don't sharpen or flatten anything. I make appropriate adjustments with the bar and attempt to maintain JI when the pedals or levers are used. Of course, with C6th, that doesn't work as well because most majors are expanded, and the emphasis isn't on just major and seventh chords. When you veer off of just major and seventh chords, the beats aren't as objectionable for some reason. To my ear, the minor, sixth, ninth, diminished, and augmented chords seem to tolerate (conceal?) the beats a lot better.

Regardless of the way you tune, the goal is always to try to sound pleasing and in-tune with the rest of the music. It's what you sound like when you're playing (and not how the guitar is tuned) that's important.