You might even prefer something heavy because you'll constantly be stomping on it. However, if it's a pedal box, weight won't be as much of a concern. If the unit fastens to your guitar, you'll want it to be light enough that you don’t notice it while playing. This allows you to plug your guitar directly into a tuner so you can check the tuning at any time. Input jackĪ tuner with a 1/4-inch input jack is ideal for electric or electric/acoustic guitars. If it takes a couple seconds for the tuner to keep up with what you're playing, you may end up improperly tuned … and frustrated. Having one that processes information rapidly is also desirable. It goes without saying that you need a tuner that is consistently accurate. We recommend selecting a tuner that is visible in all lighting situations and at a wide variety of angles. Choose whatever works best for you, whether it has a monochrome meter, bright colors, a strobe, or something else. Otherwise, you'll be buying a lot of tuners. You want a tuner that can handle the rigors of the road and an accidental bump or two. It is faster and easier to tune with a unit that can tell you exactly where you are at all times. It might not even register as sharp or flat until you are close, which could lead to broken strings. Some lower-end tuners can be very limiting - you set the note that you want to tune to and then go for it. If your tuner only recognizes six different pitches, at some point, you are going to outgrow it. Chromatic tuning capabilitiesĪ chromatic tuner lets you tune every note. If you can't tune to an A that's not 440 Hz, it's not going to sound right when the instruments play together. This might happen if you are playing a gig with an acoustic piano that has slightly dropped in pitch. You might hardly ever use it, but when you need it, having a tuner that can be recalibrated to a slightly different frequency is invaluable. It is best for woodwinds, brass, piano, and other types of acoustic instruments. Built-in microphoneĪ built-in microphone can be used to tune a guitar, but other methods are preferred. Some are options or preferences, but others are essential. Features to considerįollowing is a list of features you need to consider when purchasing a guitar tuner. Automatic tuners are impressive, but once you are comfortable tuning your own guitar, you may want to purchase a different type of tuner. Typically, you affix an automatic tuner to a tuning peg, pluck the string, and let the machine do the rest. A soundhole tuner can be permanently installed inside the soundhole of an acoustic guitar. This type of tuner is for guitar players who like the convenience of a clip-on tuner but find the device can get in the way, get lost, or break frequently. Keep in mind, however, if budget is a primary concern, rackmount tuners can be a bit more expensive than other tuners that perform similar functions. If you use rackmount effects for your guitar or you have a studio that utilizes rackmount effects, this is the type of tuner for you. A quick stomp on the button puts this unit into bypass mode, allowing for a highly accurate tuning. This type of tuner is designed for a guitar player who uses pedal effects.

Additionally, most of these tuners can generate a reference tone.

They typically have a microphone that picks up sound as well as a 1/4-inch input jack that allows the tuner to be directly plugged into an electric or acoustic/electric guitar. The size of a smartphone, these devices are a little more flexible than other options. It picks up the vibrations that are transmitted through the instrument when a string is played, allowing the guitar to be tuned in a noisy environment. Clip-on tunersĪ clip-on guitar tuner attaches to your guitar like a chip clip. The guitarist has six options when it comes to tuners that are physical devices: clip-on, handheld, pedal, soundhole, automatic, and rackmount tuners. The reasons: playing hard, a change in temperature, or a change in humidity. The top three reasons a guitar goes out of tune are all easily fixed using a tuner.

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