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Tuning to the fifth (E)

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Jacques

San Diego

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January 24, 2015 - 9:28 pm

Member Since: December 14, 2014

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Today it has become apparent - thus exactitude and magnitude of tone fluctuation provided by the E string. As a novice in the first few positions, I've never noted how high pitched the E string was.

Until

...

Now, that I'm playing with the entire fingerboard I've begun to notice the uneasiness change of tone coming from the E string. The tuner is correct in saying that IS an E; however, said E was an octave much to high.

I remember reading and hearing about it but I've never found the correct E until today. The adjustment margin on that peg is so small that one can easily be mistaken and raise their E to the next octaver... unless they're accustomed to that not so subtle frequency change. That is the "perfect fifth"

I was tuning my E as a 12th to the A.

Abcd(E)fgabcdE<-this was the 12th E I was tuned to...

Discuss... Commonalities? Been there done that? Excuses? Anything to ease my slightly shattered ego...

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MrYikes

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January 25, 2015 - 9:46 am

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You have very strong strings. Mine just broke when I tried that.

Schaick

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January 25, 2015 - 11:16 am

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Sorry but I never have done that, but I did have someone with more knowledge put the strings on and do the first tuning. While I still played out of tune I did at least know that E would be in tune!!

I am also surprised you didn't break your E string.

Oh hey if you sing Twinkle Twinkle with the 2 strings you have the right spread of tone -a 5th apart.

Violinist start date - May 2013

Fiddler start date - May 2014

FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.

BillyG

Brora, North-east Scotland

January 25, 2015 - 12:51 pm

Member Since: March 22, 2014

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I'm truly surprised it went a full octave up without going "pop"! WOW....

I know some tuners just give the note (and no indication of the octave). The Snark (other tuners are available LOL) I have is like that, no indication of which octave. But my ear is "reasonable", and, besides I'll roughly tune adjacent strings by searching for instance - the D on the G and playing, or plucking both - and so on up the strings

As for excuses and shattered ego ( ! ) I wouldn't worry about that - I've heard that it can be difficult to start with for some folks to "pick out / home in on the fundamental" (especially on an acoustic which has such rich overtones and resonances).... your ear will become accustomed over time !

The interval of 5ths is quite pleasing to the ear - maybe practice droning the G and D, then the D and A, and the A and E to get accustomed to the interval / sound / feel of the two note "chord".

LOL @Schaick - I always knew there must be a good reason for "Twinkle" !! Good point. Haha - and of course you can play it with the same fingering just as well on G and D, D and A, and then A and E - and if they ALL sound good - you're good to go !

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -