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Regulars







I'm getting the same thing - when I get my violin out and play the A string, I can tell if it's flat or sharp. I have to hear it first though - I can't think of the pitch beforehand and sing it. It doesn't work for me on other instruments either, even though I've been playing them longer (piano, flute).
I've tuned my A string entirely by ear and checked with the tuner to find it spot on.
I think we're both experiencing 'standard pitch memory', which is common in professional musicians.









Yup, that's interesting, I find much the same - although I have been fooled on occasion when I go to check - and maybe discover I'm a semi-tone down (oh - I of course mean on all strings not just down on the A or some other string) - so - my point is - even if the A is not 440, nonetheless all strings are still perfect 5ths apart and you get the "wider sound" with inter-string resonances when plucking just a single string - and it sounds just fine.
I appreciate most of us "go to the open A" as the initial indication of tuning when picking up the instrument - and indeed - if the whole instrument doesn't "ring" - something's "out"- could be the A that's drifted - although, it could equally be other strings....
Same thing on guitar - I've seen it "drift" ( through re-tuning because it sounds "out" when I pick it up) to easily a full semitone high or low (again, across all strings, so you have the wider inter-string resonances going on - and the instrument sounds just fine - well - until you try to play against a backing track or with someone else..... then you know for sure - hahaha)
Over time, I am getting quite close to "knowing" A440 - although, as I say, it depends, and if a re-tuning makes the whole instrument "sound right" in 5ths - it could still be out overall, but sound perfect, each string being a perfect 5th apart, with all these lovely, delicious inter-string and body resonances going on.
So I guess, my "relative pitch" is pretty good - and even with an instrument "de-tuned a bit across all strings" - it's gonna sound absolutely fine when soloed.
Besides, not everyone necessarily uses A440. Oddly - I recently came across this interesting little snippet (hahaha, took me 10 minutes to find it again) - A tuning fork that belonged to Ludwig van Beethoven around 1800, now in the British Library, is pitched at A = 455.4 Hz, well over a half-tone higher.
As far as absolute pitch goes - well - I pretty sure I can get close - but I wouldn't put any money on it at all
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Regulars





I find I can generally tune by ear, but I don't trust myself. I need my tuner-crutch. However, when I put on new strings, I always ear-tune the A before ever bothering to put the tuner on... I get it where I am familiar with it sounding, put on the tuner and then change the other strings. I don't understand my own logic, lol.
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Regulars










Yes @gordon schumway - I've had advice similar to that - although to be honest I've never followed it - and - with new strings, I intentionally tighten the first one sharp (oh only half a semitone by the tuner) - and by the time the last string is on - I'll re-calibrate them all (they've usually flattened anyway with the increased overall tension) - and yes - I don't worry about the sound-post dropping - never happened yet - and even if it did - well relatively easy fix and I'd remember not to take all strings off on THAT instrument again LOL ).
I know, I know, not recommended practice.... but I'm impatient when it comes to fitting a new-brand of strings Can't help it...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Regulars






Regulars



I am truly envious of those of you who can tune by ear or on their way to doing so. Don't think that will be in the cards for me... can't sing in tune either
On the other hand, I'm really not a fan of having that little d'Addario appendage on my violin. It lives there permanently right now. Since my iPhone is always near by when I practice (handy metronome app) maybe a tuning app would do the trick? Advantages, inconveniences?

Regulars

I was once watching a TV programme about Gypsy flamenco artists in Spain, and one group of performers featured a guitarist with a Snark permanently stuck on his tuning head. It spoilt the authenticity somewhat, lol!
In a similar vein (but thread-drifting), there's a Tuvan throat-singers' FB page, and they are friends with the Russian Beatles Appreciation Society!
Andrew

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Regulars



@mookje, I'm betting on the fact that you have a good ear!
@Mouse, Phone battery... sigh, yes.
When I started using that slow downer software, it obviously gobbled up battery life so this is the solution I came up with - A phone clamp attatched to my music stand and hooked up to an outlet with a 10' lightning cable.