Tuning Help

garlad

Hey,
Got a lovely Yahama FG730S for Christmas. Played it over the last week or two, then decided to get the old Fender AG-6 Tuner out.
While it still sounded correctly tuned, I had to turn the keys close to one full revolution for the tuner to recognise the notes. Same for all strings.
Now it still sounds correctly tuned, but the strings are tight, especially the first three.
I tried loosening the 6th string right down, and re-tuning to see if the tuner would pick up the right note while keeping the string looser, but no.
Any advice for a beginner?

Johnny Storm

Assuming that you are using the tuner correctly then that's how tight those strings are going to be when tuned to concert pitch.
You could try different strings (ie lower gauge strings) or you could tune your guitar down a semi-tone or two (which is probably what you had gotten used to before you got the tuner out).
A good set-up of the guitar might improve playability.

garlad

Cheers for reply.
How do you tune your guitar down a semi-tone or two?

Johnny Storm

Well, instead of tuning the string to E you would tune it to E flat or D.
Could be that your tuner wont do that? IE some tuners will only work with EADGBE - which is what you meant by "re-tuning to see if the tuner would pick up the right note" I suppose. Some tuners will work with all notes. I think they're called chromatic tuners.
If that's the case you'll have to do it by ear or get a new tuner.

Alanstrainor

If you have the guitar tuned to EADGBE, and if you want to tune it down half a step. Play the 4th fret of the low E string, and tune down the A string until the two sound the same. Then you have the "A" string tuned to A flat. You should just be able to tune the rest of the strings normally after that, going back to the low E string at the end and tuning it down.

garlad

You are right, my tuner wont do that.
Thanks for the advice, will try what Alanstrainor said