mentalextra Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Am I missing something obvious. My digital tuner wont let me get anything by an E for my top string, is there a trick for this or do I need a "supa duper" tuner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Does your tuner pick up any note, or is it fixed at EADG via a slider / selecter. If the latter, set it to D and all should be well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwells Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Try the 12th fret instead too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 (edited) [quote name='zero9' timestamp='1349716243' post='1829548'] Does your tuner pick up any note, or is it fixed at EADG via a slider / selecter. If the latter, set it to D and all should be well. [/quote] I thought setting it to "chromatic" would do it, but it doesnt seem to work? So, I am looking at tuning the E standard but at the second fret to give "d"? Edited October 8, 2012 by mentalextra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwells Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 What tuner do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I've got three One built into my Crate practise amp which has no problems, one of those dinky little plastic Korg ones that my niece currently has on loan & a cast metal Danelectro pedal one which always struggles to pick up an open E. I just fret it at the fifth when I'm doing the A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 [quote name='simwells' timestamp='1349718867' post='1829596'] What tuner do you have? [/quote] Just one of those plastic cheapy things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Tune your A, D, G strings as normal. Then tune the low D so the 5th fret harmonic is the same note as the 12th fret harmonic on your high D string. When you're close, you'll hear the two notes "beating" against each other, and the closer you are the slower the beat frequency. When there's no beats, you're in tune. Simples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Does the tuner have a 'flat' button? If it does, press it twice and two flats will appear on the screen. Now tune the bottom string to that note, which is D. Don't forget to set it back to normal for the other strings though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1349766873' post='1830107'] Just one of those plastic cheapy things [/quote] Mine's an old Yamaha chromatic tuner, cost about £15 at the time and it works fine. For less than £20 you should be able to get a great tuner which will do it - well worth the money IMO (especially if you want to set up your bass, change string gauges etc etc). Failing that, you'll need to use your ears as suggested above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 there's something nice about an open D that you just don't get from a B string on the 3rd fret. Try tuning to the harmonic on the 12th fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1349766873' post='1830107'] Just one of those plastic cheapy things [/quote] Quite often cheap tuners will struggle to track the very bottom end of the range on a bass, so you'll have no lick going below standard tuning. Tins if good workarounds already posted though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Wouldnt tuning 2nd fret on E string work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 [quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1349794602' post='1830630'] Wouldnt tuning 2nd fret on E string work? [/quote] Yeah, I mentioned that further up. Nobody said anything so I guess not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFerguson Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 match it by ear to the d string? both harmonics will ring out without a "wavering" sound, surley thats the easiest way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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