A couple of days ago, I wrote an article about how James Taylor tunes his guitars, utilizing the “cents” on the tuner to compensate for the shape of an acoustic guitar, and how the bass notes ring sharper than their tuning, and also to compensate for a capo pulling the strings sharp. Here’s the video for a refresher:
At the end of the article, I said I’d try it out and I’ll be damned if it didn’t sound good both with and without a capo!
My test of a tuning is always to play a root E chord after I tune my guitar. Usually, I get to the exact tuning, then end up tuning strings a little down because the E chord just doesn’t sound right. So I suppose I’ve been doing this by feel all these years. But now I have a fool-proof, sure-fire, and most importantly, a measurable way of tuning that I can repeat.
If you don’t want to watch the whole video, here’s the tuning (high to low):
E -3
B -6
G -4
D -8
A -10
E -12
Values are in negative cents. For my guitar, a full -12 cents on the low E sounds slightly off, so I end up using -10 to -11 (I know, it’s a tiny amount, but I can hear it). But I set the rest of the strings as directed.
As they say, it’s the little things in life… I’m nothing short of amazed at how this small adjustment makes a world of difference.
I wonder if this is the same as tuning at fret 2 as described here
http://www.setitupbetter.com/Picture-Guitar-Intonation.php
I suppose you’re talking about Diagram 3. It certainly makes sense. For the songs I play in my solo gigs, I’ve had to make minor tweaks to JT’s tuning because I play both open and with a capo. I tune my low E at -9 to -10, and I tighten the B string to -3. It strikes a good balance.
Have you found good tuner that can do the offsets automatically for live performances, outside of Peterson’s ones (sweetners/temperaments) ?
Try Airyware Tuner, it has James Taylor sweetening included, and you can craft your own one if needed.
[…] I’ll Be Damned… James Taylor’s Tuning Works! […]
Thanks for the insight I can also hear the increments drives me bonkers. I’ll try out your suggestion.
Peterson Strobo clip on tuners have sweetening too.. apprx. $65.00.
That is correct. In fact, according to Peterson, they based their guitar sweetener on JT’s tuning! I’ve got the newer StroboClip and it has become an invaluable tool!
Another approach, maybe divide those values in half, that way the open strings are closer to indiscernible as dead being slightly flat, while the fretted strings are also almost indiscernible as dead being slightly sharp ? If most can’t perceive in terms of hearing perception of less than 25 cents off, then it really shouldn’t matter either way. I have a friend that tells me my guitars are out of tune all the time, yet the tuner always has his ears at least Drop D-ish, when I tune my guitars EADGBE standard. I give him credit for challenging the tuning, but he’s never been right and the tuner has always been at least James Taylor Tuning method right for what I tune my guitars to. That’s OK, I don’t care what he tunes it to, but inevitably he ends up frustrated & calls my instruments garbage anyway. So maybe he’ll play his guitars, I just know if I ever have to use one of his, I’ll be tuning it with a clip on or smart phone app. End of the day, any string that’s sharp will play into tune, if left to vibrate those cents off that it’s sharp. And if you can’t really ell 3-5 cents, 6-12 cents, then just play the instrument without guilt that you’re a fraud because the instrument won’t tune perfectly.
HA! Could be your friend is also pressing his strings a lot harder than you. Plus in Drop-D, the strings are a LOT looser so if presses hard, they’ll bend.