What is a guitar tuner? All about guitar tuners. Types of Guitar Tuners

Nowadays, in my opinion, only the lazy don’t do clothespins. If you enter the coveted words “heafstock tuner” on ebay, you will get a lot of results - from cheap Chinese handicrafts to branded products from, Boss, Korg and others like them.

And one of the first, if my memory serves me right, was.

It is difficult to judge how one tuner differs from another; personally, it seems to me that mostly in design and price. And if we talk about branded models, then, it seems to me, their accuracy and speed of response will be at the same good level. I’ll warn you right away that this is a speculative conclusion, because I did not conduct tests from measurements.

The price for a clip-on tuner starts at 5 bucks for a Chinese noname. I won't consider them.

Let's start right away with brands.

Snark is a relatively new brand, but it’s worth taking a closer look at.

The design is not bad, the screen is large, easy to read, and the accuracy and speed of adjustment are beyond praise, and all this at a price of $10.

Here, for example, is its comparison with the cool and all-branded Peterson StroboCip, which costs 5 times more.

Next let's look at Korg Pitchclip PC-1.

Planet Waves. Well, I won’t repeat myself here, look. I’ll tell you better about their new model PW-CT-12NS. This is really interesting.

They also have their own clip-on tuners. Fender. This Fender FT-004 And Fender FCT-12.

Clip-on tuners from Fender

They cost about the same, around 15-20 bucks and, as far as I understand, they differ only in design. Apparently these tuners are not very popular, because... I couldn't find it from the video on YouTube.

Of course, the guys from Boss.

Well, let's finish with the high-end tuner Peterson StroboClip Clip-On.

Of course, each manufacturer has its own marketing tricks and gadgets that should distinguish their product from others. But, by and large, if the tuner is chromatic, fast and accurate, then no one is interested in all the other marketing noodles.

The purpose of this superficial mini-review was not to thoroughly describe all the information about these devices, but simply to show that they exist. =)

Personally, out of all this variety, I really liked the mini-tuner from Planet Waves and precisely because of its size. We must take it. =)

PS: By the way, delivery of any of these tuners to our vast Motherland costs about $5.

Despite the emergence of special metal alloys for strings that hold tuning better, and attempts by guitar manufacturers to introduce auto-tuning systems into instruments, an ordinary guitar tuner remains a popular tool for guitarists. Keeping your instrument in fine tune and always being in tune with other musicians is one of the factors for a successful rehearsal or performance.

The range of guitar tuners in music stores is truly huge - manufacturers offer many different devices that differ in price, form factor and functionality. SAMESOUND selected the best guitar tuners of different types for tuning guitars, basses and acoustic instruments.

Types of Guitar Tuners

Conventionally, guitar tuners can be divided into four types, differing in the method of connection and sound perception:

1. Clip-on tuners;
2. Tuners that attach to the sound hole of the guitar;
3. Tuners in the form of an external module;
4. Tuners in the form of an effects pedal (stompbox tuners).

Clip-on tuners

Clip-on tuners attach to the headstock and are suitable for tuning electric guitars, basses and acoustic instruments. Such tuners are equipped with a small display and a special piezo sensor that reads vibrations on the body of the instrument and converts them into information about the pitch of the sound. One type of such device is a tuner that is attached to the sound hole of a guitar. Unlike regular clip-on tuners, sound hole tuners are only suitable for tuning acoustic guitars.

External modules

Tuners in the form of an external module are a small rectangular device that runs on batteries and sometimes on mains power. Such devices are equipped with line inputs for connecting guitars and basses, as well as a built-in microphone for tuning acoustic guitars or any other instruments. Sometimes such tuners are combined with metronomes, which is useful for students and teachers.

Tuner pedal

Tuners in the form of an effects pedal (stompbox tuners) are suitable for tuning electric guitars, basses and electro-acoustic instruments. Such tuners are designed for use at concerts, are placed in and operate from the mains. In addition to being used only with power instruments, such devices are distinguished by a polyphonic operating mode, which allows you to tune all strings at the same time.

Best Guitar Tuners

A guitar tuner is a relatively simple device to manufacture. For this reason, you can find a huge number of cheap Chinese NoName devices of varying quality in stores. Such tuners usually cost from 300-500 ₽ - inexpensive. The main disadvantage of such devices is that you are buying a pig in a poke - Chinese tuners can turn out to be either an excellent device for every day or a waste of money.

The best guitar tuners on the market are made by Korg, D'Addario, Planet Waves, TC Electronic and Boss. The range of these manufacturers includes many devices that differ not only in their appearance and form factor, but also in their range of functions.

TC Electronic PolyTune 3

The third version of the flagship tuner from TC Electronic. The PolyTune 3 polyphonic guitar tuner checks the tuning of all strings at once: just swipe across the strings and the display will show information about each string.

The device determines the pitch with an accuracy of 0.1 cent, and thanks to the full bypass, PolyTune 3 can always be kept on in the effects chain. The presence of a built-in BONAFIDE buffer eliminates any distortion and signal loss, regardless of the number of pedals in the effects chain and the length of the cables. Without exaggeration, TC Electronic PolyTune 3 is the best guitar tuner on the market and a real must-have for any guitarist.

Boss TU-3

The Boss TU-3 stompbox tuner is an updated version of the most popular Boss TU-2 stompbox tuner for live musicians. The unit offers a bright LED display with confirmation of correct settings, automatic bypass and the ability to power 7 additional BOSS pedals. The TU-3 is equally adept at tuning both regular and all-bass basses, and thanks to its Flat Tuning setting, guitarists can tune even downtuned guitars.

The Boss TU-3 Guitar Tuner is a versatile Swiss army knife and a true workhorse that can handle tuning any guitar in the studio or on stage.

Korg GA-40

A universal guitar tuner in a compact body. The device is powered by batteries that provide up to 85 hours of continuous operation of the Korg GA-40. The tuner can be used to tune 6- and 7-string electric guitars (including baritone instruments), as well as 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses. Thanks to the built-in microphone, the compact device can also tune acoustic instruments.

Additionally, the Korg GA-40 is equipped with a large display, a small speaker for outputting a reference note, a bypass, and an automatic shutdown function after a certain period of inactivity, which saves battery power.

D'Addario NS Micro Soundhole Tuner

Type:
Recommended cost: $16,49
Average cost in Russia: 800 ₽

The main feature of the D’Addario NS Micro Soundhole Tuner guitar tuner is its mounting - the device is attached to the sound hole of an acoustic guitar, remaining completely invisible to listeners. An ultra-sensitive piezo transducer picks up even the slightest vibrations passing through the body of the instrument and transmits information to the tuner display, which occupies most of the device.

Despite its size, the guitar tuner does an excellent job of tuning the guitar, and the attachment to the resonator will allow you to always carry the tuner with you - the tuner attached to the guitar cannot be forgotten.

Boss TU-30

The Korg TU-30 is the ideal assistant for students, teachers and those who practice frequently. The device is a mixture of metronome and chromatic tuner and offers precise tuning of electric guitars, basses and acoustic instruments, as well as an abundance of metronome rhythmic patterns. Thanks to its battery operation and compact design, the TU-30 fits into any pocket of your guitar case or backpack.

The Korg TU-30 is the best guitar tuner for those who are learning to play guitar or who frequently use acoustic or electro-acoustic instruments.

TC Electronic UniTune Clip

Type: clip-on guitar tuner
Recommended cost: $29,99
Average cost in Russia: 2499 ₽

TC Electronic UniTune Clip is a new product from the Danish company, which replaced the PolyTune Clip model, and one of the best clip-on guitar tuners. The device is attached to the headstock and offers two operating modes - chromatic and stroboscopic. The UniTune Clip features tuning accuracy of up to 0.02 cents, quick response to pitch changes, automatic display rotation based on tuner position, and 18 hours of battery life.

Korg Pitchclip PC-1

Type: clip-on guitar tuner
Recommended cost: $19,99
Average cost in Russia: 900 ₽

Inexpensive and compact chromatic clip-on tuner Korg Pitchclip PC-1 is one of the most popular guitar tuners. With its ease of use, tuning accuracy down to 0.1 cent, and bright display with mirroring capabilities, the Pitchclip PC-1 has become an essential accessory for guitarists around the world.

Boss TU-12EX

The multifunctional guitar tuner Boss TU-12EX is equipped with three types of indications at once - LED, arrow and sound, which increases the accuracy of tuning. The chromatic device will help you tune electric guitars and basses, as well as acoustic instruments due to the built-in microphone. Two operating modes (Chromatic and Flat) and the range of sounds perceived by the tuner is from E subcontractave (E0) to C fifth octave (C8), making it easy to tune guitars to any alternative tunings.

The device can operate from the mains, always remaining connected to the effects circuit, or from batteries. The main disadvantages are the lack of a power adapter included and the high cost due to the high precision of settings.

Korg RP-C1 Rimpitch

Type: soundhole mount guitar tuner
Recommended cost: $49,99
Average cost in Russia: 1500 ₽

Following on from D'Addario's popular soundhole-mounted acoustic guitar units, Korg has released its own series of tuners with a similar mount. The Korg RP-C1 Rimpitch guitar tuner, unlike the D’Addario NS Micro Soundhole Tuner, is distinguished by a more visual indication system - each string on the tuner body has a separate LED. The adjustment accuracy is 1 cent, and the device itself can work up to 12 hours on a single battery charge.

Planet Waves NS Micro Tuner

Type: clip-on guitar tuner
Recommended cost: $25
Average cost in Russia: 1200 ₽

The D'Addario company produces guitar equipment and accessories not only under its own name, but also under the sub-brand Planet Waves. Moreover, sometimes the names of products may contain the names D’Addario and Planet Waves at the same time.

Planet Waves NS Micro Tuner is a clip-on version of the miniature guitar tuner D’Addario NS Micro Soundhole Tuner. The advantages are the same - a sensitive piezoelectric element, a bright display and a miniature size. Additionally, the device was equipped with an “M” button, which activates the visual metronome, and calibration keys.

The NS Micro Tuner is the ideal choice for acoustic and classical guitarists who want an accurate, yet compact headstock-mounted unit.

TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini

In 2014, TC Electronic released a smaller version of one of the best guitar tuners - PolyTune 2 Mini. In addition to its size, the device is distinguished by the presence of the MonoPoly function, which automatically switches the tuner’s operating mode: hitting one string activates the usual “string-by-string” mode of operation, hitting all strings activates polyphonic tuning.

Additionally, PolyTune 2 Mini boasts a bypass, as well as a standard jack, like on Boss pedals, increasing the versatility of the miniature stompbox. Add to this a bright display that can be seen even from a height of two meters, support for alternative (lowered) guitar tunings and playing with a capo, as well as the ability to tune the bass, and you understand that PolyTune 2 Mini is one of the best guitar tuners on the market.

Korg Pitchblack Poly

Polyphonic tuner from Korg, characterized by high accuracy and versatility in operation. The dimensions of the Korg Pitchblack Poly do not exceed the size of an ordinary pedal, and the device itself will fit into any pedalboard.

The small stompbox with bypass support offers polyphonic and mono tuning for electric guitars and basses, support for instruments with a capo, and the ability to use alternate and lower tunings. The tuner can easily tune 6- and 7-string electric guitars and 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses, and with 0.01-cent accuracy, guitarists can be confident in the sound of their guitars.

Other distinctive features include the presence of two bright displays. One displays the note being played or information about the tuning accuracy of all strings of the instrument, and the second shows deviations in pitch from ideal values. The displays operate in four different display modes to enhance the guitarist's experience.

Korg GA-CS

The compact multifunctional tuner from the Japanese company Korg is lightweight and has two bright displays. The device runs on two AAA batteries and is suitable for tuning electric guitars and basses, as well as acoustic instruments. The rubberized body, stylish appearance, light weight and tuning accuracy of up to 0.1 cent will please not only professionals, but also amateur and beginner guitarists.

Roadie Automatic Guitar Tuner

Roadie Automatic Guitar Tuner is a smart tuner that automatically tunes acoustic and electric guitars. The device is placed on the peg of the instrument and reads the vibrations passing through the body. Noticing a deviation from the ideal value, Roadie adjusts the string - the guitarist does not need to twist anything, the device will do everything itself. By default, the tuner is configured to work with standard guitar tuning, and alternative tunings can be selected in a special application for smartphones.

The manufacturer's website presents several Roadie models, differing in the strength of rotation (a standard Roadie will not be able to tune a bass guitar - it is not strong enough), as well as the updated Roadie 2, equipped with a display and a more sophisticated display system.

In this article I will give step-by-step instructions how to tune a guitar using a tuner And how to use this tuner. The fastest and most accurate way to tune your guitar is to use an electronic tuner.

Exactly An electronic tuner will help you tune notes on your guitar newbie This tuner is simple and intuitive; anyone can master this simple device.

You must know and be able to use a tuner or some other sound source, unless of course you want to play in tune with other instruments or voices.

This is a reliable way to ensure that each instrument plays in the same tuning as all other instruments. Plus, they're designed to take into account that you'll be tuning your instrument to standard guitar tuning.

The electronic tuner is a convenient device, which seems to have magical powers. More modern electronic tuners are made specifically for guitars and can “feel” which string you are tuning at the moment and tell you whether the string sounds higher or lower than the required pitch.

Tuner for guitar online via microphone

The only thing these devices don’t do is turn the pegs for you (although there seem to be some of those already out there!). In general, progress does not stand still and The tuner uprising is just around the corner). A guitar with a tuner is the latest word in musical science and technology.

What does the tuner show?

In any tuner, when tuning a string, two things are shown:

• Guitar notes closest to the current string sound (E, A, D, G, B, E)
• and a direction that tells us that the string needs to be either tightened or loosened to achieve unison with the nearest note.

How the tuner works

So, what is a guitar tuner? If we describe the tuner as simply as possible, we will get a device with an arrow (or a dot in the middle of the screen).

If the arrow is in a vertical position, this tells us that the string is tuned correctly and sounds in tune. unison from the tuner.

If the arrow is deflected to the left, then the string sounds a little lower than the reference pitch and the string needs to be tightened a little, if the arrow goes to the right, then the string is overtightened and needs to be loosened a little.

If the tuner uses indicators instead of an arrow, then we follow a similar scheme: the more indicators (“lights”) are lit to the left (lower) of the center, the more the string needs to be pulled, respectively, the more indicators to the right (higher), the more the string needs to be lowered .

Step-by-step setup

To tune your guitar using a tuner you need:

1. connect the guitar to the tuner with a cord (if you use an electric guitar) or use the built-in microphone of the tuner (to tune an acoustic guitar, it is convenient to use clip-on tuners; it is attached to the neck near the pegs). Most models offer the ability to use both settings;
2. pull the string and look at the tuner screen;
3. The tuner display will show you how close you are to the desired note and in which direction to go. Keep in mind that some older graphical tuners require you to select the note you want to tune the guitar string to before you start tuning the guitar;
4. tighten or loosen the tuned string depending on the tuner readings;
5. repeat this procedure for all six strings of the guitar;

Every time you pick up a guitar, even if it's not plugged in, there's nothing worth playing before you tune it.

Beginners try to ignore this simple rule, and then they wonder why they cannot distinguish the difference in the sound of a minor and major triad. The answer here, of course, is obvious, because all our lessons with the instrument are also ear training. So you shouldn’t spoil it with “non-combatant”.

They often ask which tuner is best for a beginner, so I decided to express my thoughts a little on this topic. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have some experience. I’ll say right away that my choice will always revolve around Polytune from TC electronic in various formats.

Our grandparents could not use electronic tuners to tune their seven-strings (to blame Vysotsky, not Korn!), then only tuning forks or a tuned piano were available. But we were incredibly lucky. There are now many tuners on the market in various formats, from rack units to pedals and clip-on tuners.

All these devices differ in ease of use and accuracy of adjustment.

Guitarists around the world are in fits of G.A.S. they are trying to find the best devices for themselves, it was the same with tuners, some like BOSS, some like old Fenders with arrows, and here the Chinese nonname has arrived.

The tuner market continued to exist little by little until the first Polytune from TC Electronic appeared on it. The main idea of ​​Polytune was on the surface, if a guitar has 6 strings, then let guitarists test 6 strings at once.

The first generation of Polytunes are said to not always work accurately, have a not very good display and have problems with assembly. It was replaced by Polytune 2 and its smaller copy mini in different colors.

This is where it became clear that all these rack, floor and portable tuners are just a compromise in comparison with Polytune.

TC quickly realized that they had no competitors in the pedal format, and this year they introduced a new product, Polytune Clip. This is a tuner in the format of a clip on the neck of a guitar with a color display, which also allows you to determine the tuning of the guitar both for all 6 strings and for each one individually.

Let's return to choosing a tuner. Our alternatives are:

1. Software tuners for MAC/PC/iOS/Android
2. Tuners built into guitar processors
3. Tuner in pedal format
4. Tuner in clip format

When choosing, decide what you need a tuner for, for playing at home; programs for a computer or phone may be enough. There are many options here, but since I previously wrote about Polytune, pay attention to it. Tuners are often produced in the same housing as a metronome, for example, the BOSS TU-80, which has a built-in microphone for tuning acoustic instruments.

Tuners in pedal/clip format are suitable for rehearsals and concerts. The pedal is always more convenient, since when in active mode, it blocks the sound, so all your strumming will not be heard in the hall. With clips, you will have to unscrew the volume knob yourself. Many people have experience working with Chinese non-name clips at concerts and complain that in the presence of outside noise, they do not work accurately. In such conditions, Polytune Clip behaves much more confidently, plus it works with lower tunings right out of the box without manipulation (tested in C#).

In general, if your finances allow you, look towards TC Electronic, they offer the most convenient tuners; if your budget is limited, do not hesitate to buy inexpensive BOSS tuners or Chinese clip-on tuners, just remember their limitations.

Well, as they say on English-language resources, stay tuned!

If you are going to buy a tuner for tuning a guitar, but have not yet decided on your choice, then this article will give you an idea of ​​what functional features the tuner has, how to choose the best tuner and how to use a guitar tuner.

Let's look at two different types - Tenson IT - 10 and Musedo MT - 70 tuner.

Tenson IT – 10

Tenson IT – 10 has only one Tuner function. The tuning occurs by capturing the sound of the open strings of the guitar with the built-in microphone. Three LEDs located at the top of the tuner panel light up to indicate the correct tuning, and 5 diode lamps located below and designated in Latin letters (B G D A E) and numbers light up to indicate the string being tuned. The sixth and first strings are indicated by one light and the letter E, so there are only five LEDs indicating the strings. It should be noted that tuning a guitar using such a tuner is especially difficult if the strings are new, since it is not clear at what stage of tuning the string being tuned is located. On the side of the panel there is an INPUT jack for an electric guitar.

Letter designations of open strings on a guitar indicated on the tuner display:

Musedo MT – 70

If you want to purchase a tuner with a metronome, then one of the most multifunctional tuners is the Musedo MT - 70, which combines 3 functions.

1) Tuner – tuning occurs according to the movement of the arrow of the sound captured through the built-in microphone.
2) Tone generator – the tuner emits the tone (note) of your choice at a given pitch.
3) Metronome – the tuner in the metronome function counts down the tempo you set (from 30 to 280), rhythm and size (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 beats).

Now let's move on to the question of how to use a guitar tuner.
POWER button – turns the tuner on and off.
The MODE button located next to it is the function selection (Tuner, Tone generator, Metronome).

How to tune a guitar using a tuner

When you select the Tuner function, the number 440Hz is displayed on the screen, which indicates that the tuner is tuned to A-440Hz. The two buttons below this number can be used to raise or lower the tuner's reference setting. This is usually done when the accordion or duet piano the guitarist is playing with is tuned slightly higher or lower. By pressing the outermost button (with the b sign on it), you can select Bass, Guitar or Chromatic sounds. All symbols are reflected on the screen. The tuner, capturing the sound of the guitar being tuned through the built-in microphone, displays the slightest changes in pitch on the screen. An arrow pointing to number 0 means fine-tuning the sound. The deviation of the arrow to the right or left from zero, respectively, indicates how high or low the tuned sound is. The digital designations of sounds and the string number are displayed in the upper left corner of the screen.

When you select the Tone generator function with the MODE button, the number 440Hz is also displayed on the screen and you can use the buttons below to adjust the reference setting. In the upper left corner of the screen the digital designation of the note produced by the tuner sound is displayed. The choice of the desired sound height is regulated by two buttons located below. The sound level is adjusted on the side of the panel.

The Metronome function is selected using the MODE button, while the screen in the upper right corner displays the tempo, which is adjusted by two buttons located under this part of the screen. In the upper left corner of the screen, a number indicates the size (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.). The next button located nearby selects a rhythmic pattern.

The tuner has an output for headphones and an input for tuning an electric guitar, in which extraneous noise is not picked up during tuning.

TunerAdamsEMT – 888 (TunerEnoEMT – 888)

Instructions

On the left side of the panel is the ON/OFF button to turn the tuner on and off. Long pressing the next M/T button can switch to tuner mode or metronome mode. By short pressing after selecting the mode (T - tuner), you can select three functions - Guitar, Bass or Chromatic, depending on which instrument you are going to tune. When you press the button with the image of notes and the next two buttons pointing up and down in the Tuner mode, you can select a tone (a sound of a certain pitch), the name of the note is displayed on the tuner screen. On the side panel there is a volume control and a guitar jack input. When using a jack, extraneous noise does not interfere with tuning an electric guitar, since the signal is received directly. When selecting the M – metronome mode, by short pressing the same M/T button, you can select the number of beats per measure. The next button with the image of notes selects a rhythmic pattern, and with the last two buttons on the right side of the panel you can adjust the tempo (metronome beat frequency). If you still don’t understand something about the Adams EMT – 888 and Eno EMT – 888 tuners, look at the instructions related to the Musedo MT – 70 tuner, since their functions are exactly the same and the only difference is the name and location of the buttons.

Other tuners that have only two functions, Tuner and Tone generator, are simpler and easier to use. Using such tuners is not difficult.

Why can't I tune my guitar using a tuner?

I found the answer to this question completely by accident. I had no problems tuning the instruments either by ear or using the tuner. When I was asked this question, I simply didn’t know how to answer it until I started tuning an old guitar. My first attempt failed - I couldn't tune the sixth string exactly. The next day I came with a tuner to accurately diagnose this instrument. The tuner needle could not line up exactly - it was shaking as if I was tuning the guitar while in the Bermuda Triangle. I tried to tune an open string and realized that this was a manufacturing defect - an uneven cross-section of the string itself, since the rest of the strings were tuned normally. There are guitars that do not build on frets. It was these plywood instruments that were produced in the 70s in the USSR, and in the 80s with a plastic body (only the top deck was plywood). Using the tuner, it is easy to check whether your guitar is in tune, and it is advisable to do this so as not to spoil your hearing and the mood of those around you. Tune the instrument and use the tuner to see the difference between an open string and the same string pressed at the 12th fret. Sometimes it’s easier to throw away a guitar than to tune it precisely, but people usually keep these instruments as memories and at the same time claim that these are very good guitars because they they sound very loud...