How to Use Qwik Tune Auto Guitar & Bass Tuner
RYAN ANGUS
CLASS
To get a good sound from your guitar or bass you have to keep your instrument in tune. Playing in tune allows you to jam with others and play along with your favorite albums—and with the Qwik Tune tuner, getting your instrument in tune is quick and easy.
- Guitar or bass
- Qwik Tune tuner
- ¼-inch patch cable (required for bass or electric guitar; optional for acoustics)
1 Getting in Tune
2 Place your guitar in playing position on your leg
Place your guitar in playing position on your leg. If you are using an electric guitar or bass, plug into the tuner with a patch cable.
3 Place the tuner
Place the tuner on your knee or on a flat surface nearby and turn it on. The tuner must be close so that its microphone can pick up your instrument.
4 Pluck the top
Pluck the top (low E) string of the guitar and let the note ring out. Look at the tuner screen to see what pitch the string is sounding at. The bottom of the tuner screen will indicate what note is sounding, and the needle will show you how close it is to being in pitch. If the note is lower than E you need to turn the tuning key so that you are tightening the string (raising the pitch). If the note is higher than E you need to turn the tuning key so that you are loosening the string (lowering the pitch). Turn the tuning key in the proper direction while plucking the string until the tuner reads E and the needle is centered on the screen.
5 Repeat the process
Repeat the process described in Step 3 for the remaining five strings, tuning each one to its proper pitch.
6 After you have tuned each string
After you have tuned each string, check them quickly to make sure they are still in tune. Strings sometimes have a tendency to slip slightly out of tune after the first adjustment.
- Since the tuner's microphone is very sensitive, pick a relatively quiet area to tune your instrument. If this is not possible, and your guitar has electronics in it, plug your instrument into the tuner to get accurate results.
- The standard tuning for a guitar (low string to highest) is EADGBE; standard tuning for a bass (low to high) is EADG.
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