Tuning

[lilguy43uk]

First off let me thank all those who responded to my previous post and linked me in with tuition videos. Now I want to ask a noob question about tuning the strings (C6).
I understand that a normal tuner won't give any sort of accuracy here so what I've done is tune the top E with a tuner and then tuned each string to the previous one, at a given fret, as I always did with my guitars.
The problem with this is that I now suffer from tinnitus which makes it very difficult for me to distinguish any difference between two similar tones. I can't tell if I'm sharp or flat. Is there a specific tuner for the lap steel?

Thanks
Jim

[sabatica]

One of the most valuable investments you can ever have.

https://ilapsteel.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/peterson-strobo-plus-hd-sp-1/

[Ken Byng]

Jim
If you have a smart phone you can download a Peterson Tuner app. Much cheaper than buying one of their tuners, and just as good. It's called the Strobosoft. I have a Peterson Stroboflip and the Stroboplus, but I do find having the tuner on my phone to be really useful at times.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Hi Jim - first off, tune from the C; not E, it's a C based tuning and will be 'off' if you base it on E. You'd be best to use a chromatic tuner, as recommended above, and tune C dead on and the other strings a couple or few cents up/down. My tuner (Boss TU12) shows "440" as the "dead on" point. It's broken just now or I would give you my other numbers; I will guess that the app Ken mentions probably shows some anyway
When the Cs are right I tune by ear to get the others in. First get the C major chord to sound exactly in tune with itself, then I add the 6th (A) again listening to it against the C. I also have tinnitus, which is a total pain, but once you get the tuning satisfactory you can check each note against the chromatic tuner and note down for posterity the "cents" up or down each open string needs to be.
You could maybe get away with tuning each string "440" all the way across, but I find that this "equal" temperament leads to chords that don't sound right. The "equal" versus "just" temperament argument is too long to go into here (I will if you want)

[lilguy43uk]

Thank you all.
Sabatica: The strobe version is too rich for my blood as I'm just a hobby player and I couldn't justify paying that much on top of the cost of the instrument, particularly on a pension.
Tony: I've taken on board your comments and will look at my tuning method again.
Ken: I'll check out your suggestion.

Many thanks.

[Nighthawk99]

Hi I use a Snark SN-5X tuner for my lapsteel,it's chromatic and the display will show you if a string is sharp or flat.
They're not expensive,I got mine off ebay for under £13.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SNARK-Sn5-x-C ... xyUylTSEGf If you have any queries after buying it,Sophie at the shop is very helpful.
The headstock on my guitar is too thick so I clip the tuner to each peg in turn,which works just fine.

[lilguy43uk]

Thanks for the heads up Nighthawk.

[Nighthawk99]

Hi Tony,I've just read what you said about tuning and am slightly confused.
I tune mine using a chromatic tuner getting each string"dead on" and all the chords sound fine to me..are you saying that's not the way?
I generally know when a string doesn't sound right and then the tuner shows it to be either sharp or flat when I check it.Am I missing something here?

[Nick Bidmade]

I'm intrigued by Tony's tuning descriptions, although I like his suggestion that you tune C6 via the C note - makes sense!
As a regular attender at the North East steel guitar group meetings, I've seen Tony turn up with various instruments, usually dragged from the back of a car.
He might ask for a tuning reference (but often not) - a few tweaks on the tuning pegs and he's ready - in tune, and able to adjust tuning 'on the fly' either with bar adjustment or a quick tweak on the tuners. His ear is as good as most tuners... and his playing is always a bit of a jaw-dropper - because it seems he knows every tune going. Give him three choruses - the first one determines the chord sequence, the second is played pretty much as 'standard' - and the third chorus is full of music and invariably blows yer socks off...
while the rest of us worry over slight wobbles on our over-sensitive tuning devices and whether we've got our picks on straight.
I am always in awe of people who can tune up 'just like that' but more in awe of those who can play 'like that'.
Come down to the Buck Inn this Sunday and see it in action at the North East steelers autumn meeting at Thornton Watlass. All welcome. Tony will buy you all a drink!!!