Question about tuning a bass vs 'normal' guitar?

[TJ1]

Hi

 

I've got a Snark tuner that has a special bass button. The bass tuner reads at half a step lower than the 'normal' guitar tuning, so A not the bass reads as A# on the six string acoustic.

 

Could anyone tell me if this is correct?

[Nail Soup]

Standard bass tuning is same as standard guitar tuning - so it is “wrong”.

is there an option to reset it to standard? 

[JohnR]

Yes it sounds like the bass setting has been changed and needs to be reset to concert pitch. I am guessing the bass button somehow changes the tuner sensitivity to make it better tune bass frequencies. 

[TJ1]

Yes - but do you know why the bass button reads at half a step lower?

[JohnR]

Many tuners can be recalibrated to allow non-standard tunings. I am guessing that the bass setting on your tuner has been altered from concert pitch and needs to be reset. 

 

Layout 1 (snarktuners.com)

Look for the Pitch Cal button.

[JohnR]

Reading the manual I don't thing the button is a special bass button, I think it is a transpose button so when you press it it goes down 1/2 a step?

[TJ1]

Thanks - could anyone tell me what the 'standard' pitch calibration is in hz, at the moment it's on 440.

[Nail Soup]

 

18 minutes ago, TJ1 said:

Thanks - could anyone tell me what the 'standard' pitch calibration is in hz, at the moment it's on 440.

440hz is standard concert pitch - what most of us use.

[TJ1]

Thanks for the replies - maybe it is lack of experience but I am finding much more difficult to detect whether my bass is in/out of tune that my acoustic guitar - which I can usually tell just by ear.

[Maude]

In my experience it's easier to discern pitch differences at a higher pitches, as you're finding with your guitar. This is why when trying to pick out the bassline of a song you're learning, people will sometimes suggest using a device that plays the song at a higher pitch, the bassline then just pops out. 

[stingrayPete1977]

Could the button you're pressing actually be a b as in b flat or # sharp?

[Dad3353]

1 hour ago, TJ1 said:

Thanks for the replies - maybe it is lack of experience but I am finding much more difficult to detect whether my bass is in/out of tune that my acoustic guitar - which I can usually tell just by ear.

Use the octave harmonic if the open string is too difficult to discern. Lightly touch the string at the octave, and release, whilst plucking. This is very accurate for tuning.

[SpondonBassed]

Also, if you tune your G string, the easiest to hear, you can use harmonics for relative tuning from the G for the D, A and E.

EG:  When in tune, the harmonic at the seventh fret on the G string is the same as at the fifth fret on the D string and so on.

[Killed_by_Death]

 

I have a very new Snark Super-Tight HZ here & there is no Bass button, but there is a 'b' button, as in Flat.

If you have a 'b' onscreen, it's half a step down

http://www.snarktuners.com/wp-content/uploads/snark-ST8HZ-instructions.pdf

 

[TJ1]

21 minutes ago, Killed_by_Death said:

 

 

If you have a 'b' onscreen, it's half a step down

http://www.snarktuners.com/wp-content/uploads/snark-ST8HZ-instructions.pdf

 

Oh right - sorry everyone.

[Mykesbass]

Just a quick tip on tuning lower frequencies - don't let the note ring. Pluck lightly and often. A long note will allow the tuner to pick up harmonics and get confused. 

[Moldsight]

20 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

Use the octave harmonic if the open string is too difficult to discern. Lightly touch the string at the octave, and release, whilst plucking. This is very accurate for tuning.

To OP. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs but make sure intonation is spot on first.

Edited January 31, 2021 by Moldsight

[Nail Soup]

4 minutes ago, Moldsight said:

Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs but make sure intonation is spot on first.

I think it meant playing a harmonic at the 12th fret, rather than a fretted note...... so this method is tolerant of poor intonation I would say.

Edited January 31, 2021 by Nail Soup

[Reggaebass]

6 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

Also, if you tune your G string, the easiest to hear, you can use harmonics for relative tuning from the G for the D, A and E.

EG:  When in tune, the harmonic at the seventh fret on the G string is the same as at the fifth fret on the D string and so on.

This is what I do, and I’ve got tuner pedal, and the two are normally spot on 

[Dad3353]

The harmonic will always be exact, whatever the intonation, and, in fact, helps check the intonation..! The fretted 12th fret should be the same note as the harmonic. 

[Thunderbird]

Not really the answer your looking for but I would try a decent tuner pedal most clip on tuners are naff imo

[Moldsight]

On 31/01/2021 at 11:31, Dad3353 said:

The harmonic will always be exact, whatever the intonation, and, in fact, helps check the intonation..! The fretted 12th fret should be the same note as the harmonic. 

Now that I did not know. Must check to see it with own eyes as I always believed otherwise.

Ty Dad3353 given me another tangent to explore.

 

Well I never, all the years thinking that intonation was needed before a harmomic check. thank you for enlightening an old fool

** update **

As a fan of the floor/pedal tuners which I seem to recall it is based on and specifically naming 4 and 5 string bass it might be worth a punt?

https://www.boss.info/us/products/tu-02/?utm_campaign=boss_pidd_0131&utm_medium=email&utm_source=activecampaign&utm_content=button2&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=New+pedalboards%2C+tuner+++wireless+tech&utm_campaign=BOSS+Launch_Jan21+-+US

Damn, looks like March 1st release date.....

Edited February 1, 2021 by Moldsight
update