GENERAL INTONATION
How to Read a Tuner
The distance between musical intervals is measured in cents. In equal tempered tuning, an octave is divided into twelve semitones of one hundred cents each. Tuning an instrument means to prepare it so that when it is played, the intended pitch will not be too high or too low. The distance of how high or low it is measured in cents.
When playing a tuning pitch on an instrument, the tuner will show three possible readings. It will either be flat (too low), in tune, or sharp (too high). On most tuners, a "needle" (electronic line) will show where the pitch falls. Flat pitches will shift the needle to the left, sharp pitches will shift the needle to the right, and the correct pitch will make the needle stand straight up. However, on the Tonal Energy app (shown below), sharp pitches will illuminate different parts of a circle.
When playing a tuning pitch on an instrument, the tuner will show three possible readings. It will either be flat (too low), in tune, or sharp (too high). On most tuners, a "needle" (electronic line) will show where the pitch falls. Flat pitches will shift the needle to the left, sharp pitches will shift the needle to the right, and the correct pitch will make the needle stand straight up. However, on the Tonal Energy app (shown below), sharp pitches will illuminate different parts of a circle.
Recommendations for Tuners
There are MANY factors that will cause intonation issues, and there are also MANY solutions that will help alleviate them. Learning how to diagnose and correct the issue is a continual learning process for every musician. Click on a link below to learn more about the intricacies for each instrument.