Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Have you ever tuned your guitar, using the frets or an electronic tuner, only to find that it still sounds off when you start strumming? Many guitarists have noticed this problem. However, you can learn how to make your guitar sound better! Read more to find out, “Why does my guitar sound off tune?”
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Why Does My Guitar Sound Off Tune?
“Why does my guitar sound off tune?” Tuning with frets puts the guitar into an approximation of equal temperament, which compromises your guitar’s sound.
What is equal temperament?
- Equal temperament divides the octave into twelve equally spaced semitones.
- While this may sound like cool music theory stuff, it makes your guitar’s notes deviate from the harmonic series. (The vibration of the guitar’s strings creates the harmonics and determines what notes will sound good together.)
- This can leave you with an instrument that still sounds off tune even after you’ve tuned it.
How does this affect your guitar’s sound?
- Equal temperament won’t make your melodic notes sound bad.
- However, equal temperament’s divergence from the harmonic series becomes apparent when you play chords.
- You may have noticed this as a wavering chorus-like effect when you strum slow chord progressions. (Listen to the soundtracks for a comparative example.)
Equal Tempered Major Chord:
Major Chord Tuned with Harmonics:
My Guitar Sounds Off Tune. What Can I Do About It?
“My guitar sounds off tune. What can I do to make it sound better?” You can use harmonics to fine tune alternative tunings that will make your chords sound perfectly in tune:
- How to Tune Like a Rock Star
- Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- Sound Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- How to Tune the Classic Rock Open G Sound Using Harmonics
- How to Tune the Blues Rock Open D Sound Using Harmonics
Alternately, you can use a strobe tuner to get your chords sounding better than you’d be able to get with a conventional electronic tuner:
Final thoughts on “Why Does My Guitar Sound Off Tune?”
Here’s a summary of “Why Does My Guitar Sound Off Tune?”:
- The frustration you feel when your guitar sounds off, even after you’ve tried to carefully tune it, is the result of equal temperament.
- Tuning with frets or an electronic tuner forces your guitar into equal temperament.
- Using frets is the standard for tuning the guitar by ear.
- However, it doesn’t align with the harmonic series, which compromises the sound of your chords.
- To get a better sound, you’d need to fine-tune by ear using harmonics, or fine-tune using a strobe tuner.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament
- How Many of You Want to Know How to Tune with Guitar Harmonics?
- How to Play and Tune Parlor Guitar Style
- 2112’s Guitar Tuning
- How to Tune Country Blues Guitar
- Tune Your Guitar Like a Hawaiian
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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