FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Electronic Guitar

Question:
How do you set Intonation on an electric guitar?

Answer:
Specifically, it depends on the guitar. Generally, you normally compare the fretted note at the 12th fret, and the harmonic at that fret. If the fretted note is flat relative to the harmonic, you move the saddle forward (towards the nut), shortening the string.   If it is sharp, you move it back, lengthening the string. This can be maddening to do by ear if you don't have an excellent sense of pitch, so do yourself a favour and get and use a decent electronic tuner. There are special considerations for particular hardware, for example if the guitar has a Floyd Rose or other similar locking bridge, you generally need to remove tension on the string before moving the saddle.  It rapidly becomes obvious why, if you don't. Using a chromatic tuner, sound the harmonic at the 12th fret and compare that with the note at the 12th fret. Adjust the saddles until both the harmonic and the note register exactly the same pitch. Be aware that sometimes the pickups interfere with the intonation if they are too close to the strings (especially singlecoils in the low registers). When that occurs, you will be adjusting like a madman and will never get it right. If you're making the adjustment using an electronic tuner, is the use of the harmonic really any different from using the open string, and why?  I can understand why hearing the two notes being equal is much easier with the harmonic than it would be trying to figure out when they're precisely related as octaves, but it seems like, e.g., an E and an E harmonic an octave up would be equivalent when making the adjustment with a tuner - they'll both register as E. Technically, you're right. There is no real difference to the tuner, but there is to the ear. But, I've found that this can subtly aid the ear in learning to recognize fine distinctions. In the end, either works. There definitely _can_ be a difference. Consider if you will the 12th fret harmonic is unfretted while the 12th fret note _is_ fretted. fretting will add tension to the string. Adding tension to the string raises the pitch of the played note.   If there's a difference to the ear and no difference to a tuner, then I humbly suggest you need to purchase a new and better tuner.