What temperament is a guitar tuned? (more)

[Billbrpt@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/2/98 8:39:25 AM Central Daylight Time,
imatunr@primenet.com writes:

<< I do not understand how to use the numbers that you give. Could you give a
 more detailed description? I think you mean to go to A4 then tune?? Why do
 you give A2 and A3 readings ie. Would you be able to crunch the numbers and
 give the tuning scale for a 6 string bass B E A D G C ? and a tenor Banjo?
 Thanks and warm greetings Joe Goss >>

The SAT is not usually used by reading on the fundamental when tuning a piano
except in the higher octaves (5th, 6th & 7th).  When you tune the guitar to
the figures I published, you must always be "reading" in octave 4.  Although I
have not tried it, I think you could do this with a mechanical Strobe Tuner
too.  For each note you would tune, you ignore the fundamental band and read
in the octave 4 band (except for the highest E which is E4 and is read on the
fundamental, E4).

The notes of the (six-string) guitar I gave correspond to the notes of a piano
keyboard.  E2, A2, D3, G3, B3 & E4.  When you use the SAT to tune the note E2
(the lowest E string) you must have the SAT set to E4 and enter the desired
deviation.  When you tune A2, you have it set to A4 and so on.  As you advance
up through the guitar's range, you'll have to use the Octave Down button to
remain reading in the proper octave.

I don't have any experience with the 6-string bass or the banjo.  However I
would hypothesize that you could do similarly.

In this case you would read all notes on octave 3 for a bass:

Again, the first set of figures is for a "Victorian" Tuning, the second for a
1/6 ditonic comma WT.

B0:-2.0   E1: -1.0   A1: 0.0  D2: 1.0  G2: 2.0   C3: 3.0

B0:-4.0   E1: -2.0   A1: 0.0  D2: 2.0  G2: 4.0   C3: 6.0

I believe that the banjo's notes are G-D-A-E like the violin's, except an
octave lower.  Given that hypothesis, you would read on Octave 4, like the
guitar. If I am wrong about the banjo's notes please tell me what they are.

Again, the first set of figures is for a "Victorian" Tuning, the second for a
1/6 ditonic comma WT.

G2: 2.0   D3: 1.0   A3: 0.0   E4: -1.0
G2: 4.0   D3: 2.0   A3: 0.0   E4: -2.0

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison,WIsconsin

Try these.  If you like the way the instrument sounds either way, great.  If
you don't, then go back to tuning however you did before.  These deviations
are not large enough to affect the instrument's ability to play in tune with
other fixed pitch instruments. They will create an internal difference in the
harmony the instrument makes.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison,Wisconsin