Lets face facts, guitar playing is not jet science people. Surprisingly you can find tips just watching musicians at places like the blues festival North Carolina. There are times however when even great musicians have trouble overcoming basic guitar tuning problems. Just about everybody will encounter this problem at some time. Do not give up, try not to forget these simple strategies to help overcome this problem.
Always remember a tuner is just that, a tuner. They are nice and neat and fun to have around and use. Chances are you, like almost everyone else, has used one. They will help you to find the right note when it is struck. But, chances are after strumming for 20 minutes the string will be a little sharp. Learn to hear the notes so you can tune by ear.
Never ever twist your strings flat. The most common string people have problems with is the G string. When tuning it, if you are a little sharp, grab the string and bend it. This takes all the looseness out. If you leave it in, the string will work flat a short time after you begin playing it. This works on all strings, so stretch them, stretch them as hard as possible.
If you are waiting any period of time before you are starting to play, always try to tune up around half step. This helps you save time by not losing your settings so your time will not be wasted. This half step can also help remove any slack that is left on the string.
Use whatever approach works for you. This means knowing your playing style and instrument. If it stays exactly on key after playing half an hour, leave it. If it moves a little sharp, bump it a little flat. Learn your own instrument because it is unique. Tune it for what you are playing.
Try tuning to a specific chord. Personally I have always had problems with the F chord. Though in truth I generally do a lazy F with my thumb muting the low E. Because I have small fingers I generally tune for an F and make it just a little flat. This is an example of going to a specific chord.
Speaking of the chords, most people think one of the simplest to form is the D chord. It's really not. If you begin having problems keeping the D tuned, tune for that particular chord and then play around it. By learning to play out around the chord you teach your ear what playing in tune is.
One of the easiest things to do that will yield big results is to practice your playing in tune. Most people like playing flashy, or like speed demons. Though what they do not do is play consistently in tune. By taking the time to practice every day learn different things by watching musicians at places like the blues festival North Carolina. Practicing these simple things will often help people with overcoming basic guitar playing problems
Always remember a tuner is just that, a tuner. They are nice and neat and fun to have around and use. Chances are you, like almost everyone else, has used one. They will help you to find the right note when it is struck. But, chances are after strumming for 20 minutes the string will be a little sharp. Learn to hear the notes so you can tune by ear.
Never ever twist your strings flat. The most common string people have problems with is the G string. When tuning it, if you are a little sharp, grab the string and bend it. This takes all the looseness out. If you leave it in, the string will work flat a short time after you begin playing it. This works on all strings, so stretch them, stretch them as hard as possible.
If you are waiting any period of time before you are starting to play, always try to tune up around half step. This helps you save time by not losing your settings so your time will not be wasted. This half step can also help remove any slack that is left on the string.
Use whatever approach works for you. This means knowing your playing style and instrument. If it stays exactly on key after playing half an hour, leave it. If it moves a little sharp, bump it a little flat. Learn your own instrument because it is unique. Tune it for what you are playing.
Try tuning to a specific chord. Personally I have always had problems with the F chord. Though in truth I generally do a lazy F with my thumb muting the low E. Because I have small fingers I generally tune for an F and make it just a little flat. This is an example of going to a specific chord.
Speaking of the chords, most people think one of the simplest to form is the D chord. It's really not. If you begin having problems keeping the D tuned, tune for that particular chord and then play around it. By learning to play out around the chord you teach your ear what playing in tune is.
One of the easiest things to do that will yield big results is to practice your playing in tune. Most people like playing flashy, or like speed demons. Though what they do not do is play consistently in tune. By taking the time to practice every day learn different things by watching musicians at places like the blues festival North Carolina. Practicing these simple things will often help people with overcoming basic guitar playing problems
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