E9 tuning ?

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 31 Jul 2003 7:28 pm

Since I recently recieved my new V-SAM tuner

, there seems to be a couple little areas of E9 tuning that I must be tweek'n differently than the standard agreed upon (according to the preprogramed V-SAM steel settings):

1. 7th string (F#): What I've been doing all along is tempering it(tuning out the beats) to the 6th, 5th strings pedals DOWN. This also tunes out the beats in relation to the 9th string(D# which is about -4 cents) as well. This brings the 7th strng to about -15 cents. My reasons :
1. It sweetens up the pedal down six chord (strings 5,6,7,8).

2. tempers(no beats) the minor chrd (strngs 7,6,5) pedals DOWN (two above=relative minor)

3. tempers or sweetens up the M7 chrd ( pedals DOWN, two above, strngs 9,7,6,5).

ok...so the V-SAM presets (F#): +5.9 cents.

Which tempers it to strngs 6,5, pedals UP. the reasons I see for this are:

1. Tempers it to the major triad chord 4th strng 1/2 lower. strngs 7,5,4. (which would normaly tweek with the bar)

Also sweetens up the six chord same position. strngs 8,7,6,5.

So... it always seemed to me a better trade off to go for the first option (mine)at -15 cents. Particularly for that tempered M7 chrd (two above), which sure sounds sweet.

Just wonderin why the other way became the standard???

BTW... though I've been tuning my 7th strng this way, Ive been tuning the 1rst string (F#) as the V-SAM preset(+5.9). Which of course tempers the major chrd strings 1,2, and 4. so.....what the hell...I guess the V-SAM had to choose one of em for the F#. So am I doing the standard thing on the 7th string after all ??? thanks.

Oh I should add... the V-SAM is terrific. dead on

[This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 31 July 2003 at 08:31 PM.][This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 31 July 2003 at 08:34 PM.][This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 31 July 2003 at 09:01 PM.][This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 31 July 2003 at 09:12 PM.]

Hans Holzherr · Post by **Hans Holzherr** » 31 Jul 2003 11:01 pm

Steven, compensators let you tune out the beats in seemingly mutually exclusive situations. I tune both of my F#'s to +4 cents (according to my experience and calculation this takes out the beats with the 5th string, pedal A up) and have a compensator on the A pedal which lowers the 7th string F# slightly to take out the beats with the 5th string, pedal A down. Some players have this compensator on the B pedal. Sometimes the 1st string is compensated as well; usually, one pedal will compensate the 7th, and one the first, but there's no universal consensus on that.
You will want to search the forum for 'compensator'.

Steven Welborn · Post by **Steven Welborn** » 1 Aug 2003 7:00 am

thanks Hans.

I did the search.

From now on Im doing searches before posting questions.

Forget this thread.

close it.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 1 Aug 2003 8:36 am

I'm with you. I tune my 7th string flat to match the A6th chord, and compensate it sharp on the lever that lowers my E strings. Some people consider that to be backwards, but it works for me.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Carl West · Post by **Carl West** » 1 Aug 2003 8:52 am

Steven,
That's always going to be the case with chromatic tuners. I've always found that tuning your E's and working from there is better than using the tuner for all strings. You may use harmonics on other strings to get the beats removed as a lot do. It'll never sound right. May be in pitch one place and out the other. Chromatic turners are great but not for every string to get a total tune-up.
As for me I tune to D instead of E on both necks. I just like the D better.

Carl West
Emmons La Grande

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Aug 2003 2:50 pm

I tune BOTH F#'s so they are in tune with the B's. Then I compensate them when the A pedal is down. IE, I have two "lower" rods on my A pedal, which lowers both 1 and 7 just a hair to bring them in tune.

Why is this done? There are 3 reasons:

1. I can't stand to have them out of tune in either direction.

2. I can't stand to "split" the difference.

3. On a Universal, one must tune 1 and 7 with the open B's or a universal in the "6th" mode would be way out of tune.

Note: none of the above would be necessary IF I tuned ET. Just one more reason why I know in my heart that ET is correct, Even though my ears cannot stand it. But there are many things our physical bodies don't like; yet are correct. So I see no difference. I accept this as a minority opinion. Nonetheless, I hold to it.

carl