s.walsh asked about the computer program called Tune!It (or any other, I assume): > > How do you use the program to tune your Baroque guitar? > > Do you take one string - maybe the first or fifth? and go up fret by fret with the program, shifting the frets around? >
I tune each of the strings individually (or the paired strings, I tune one with the tuner and then the other of the pair to the first) ***in the key I am most likely to be playing***. That means, the tuner can know that I want a 1/6 Comma meantone based on G for example. This way the tuning is more clear. If I am mostly playing in A then I would tune that way. Or if I'm just messing around I'll leave it in C or G. After tuning the open strings, I fiddle with the frets. Frankly, I don't do this every time I tune because my frets are tight and don't move around, though if I am tuning to a new key center for a gig I would certainly want to rearrange the frets. And yes, then I can look at the needle at each fret on the upper and lower strings and see that they are centered. When I am tuning the top string frets I only move that edge of the fret. When tuning the bottom string frets I only move that edge so I don't mess up what I've already done on the top. And you are right, that way the frets can take on a delightfully wacky slant relative to one another -- much more fun than a tame ol' metal-fretted guitar! ;-) Now, I personally don't play out of first position very often yet, so I can see that tuning the frets at the top is less useful to me. However, when I listen to those who DO play up there, I wish that more care were given to the tuning of the most noticable note in the upper positions. I heard a new recording I just received and everything was wonderful but for just one note that was at the top of the fingerboard. The player is exceptional and I am most impressed, but that one note stood out as being wildly out of tune even by meantone standards. Just one plucker's experience. What do others do? Candace Dr. Candace A. Magner [EMAIL PROTECTED] homepage http://clik.to/candace
