In tune and out of tune guitar players

Luan · 03-09-2008, 01:46 PM

Everytime I hear somebody playing electric guitar with distortion, there's a chance of 95% that it will be out of tune, and I don't mean that he has his guitar out of tune, but since the guitar is by nature out of tune, and the distortion exaggerates that, and the player will not fix that by using a good vibrato (it doesn't have to be wide), causing it to sound really bad.
I've to say that my ears tell me that the most in tune player ever is john petrucci, that is one of the biggest reasons why I love his playing, and why I admire so much.
Other that is really really good at this is Malmsteen.

Did you guys understand what I'm talking about?

InTheRavensName · 03-09-2008, 01:50 PM

do you mean that the distortion is 'distorting' (natch) the instrument to the point that it sounds 'wrong' to your ears?

Luan · 03-09-2008, 01:52 PM

No, the player just plays out of tune, just like a violinist.
The guitar have frets, it doesn't matter, it is out of tune by nature, and most players don't fix this by using a good vibrato.

InTheRavensName · 03-09-2008, 01:58 PM

ah, you mean bending? or fretting too hard so it throws the note out of tune?

distressed_romeo · 03-09-2008, 02:03 PM

Yeah, I see what you mean to a large extent. It's an inherent problem with the electric guitar, that it's basically impossible to get the thing perfectly in tune with the best will in the world, due to the limitations of the fretted neck.

This is one of the reasons I became interested in fretless guitar.

Luan · 03-09-2008, 02:05 PM

Totally!
But don't you think that there are some players that really overcome this?

InTheRavensName · 03-09-2008, 02:50 PM

to a greater extent than others yes, but in all honesty I think in a band context (drums/bass/vocals) with distortion and room reverb and all the other inherent jiggery pokery involved in live/recorded music it's never really bothered me

Crucified · 03-09-2008, 03:58 PM

good intonation and set up fixes this for the most part. if you are part of the select few with perfect pitch by nature then i can see this grating on you every time you hear music in general.

thedonutman · 03-09-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crucified

good intonation and set up fixes this for the most part. if you are part of the select few with perfect pitch by nature then i can see this grating on you every time you hear music in general.

Ignorance is bliss.......

newamerikangospel · 03-09-2008, 04:06 PM

I have played around with my intonation, and while its not perfect, its only 3-4 cents off in most places, sometimes it will come really close in others.

A perfectly tuned guitar, playing a simple 5 chord with distortion, sounds like a small oscillation effect (like a rotary, without the stereo pan) since the frequencies are "rubbing".

Also, dont forget that everything will be a little distorted since it is coming from a speaker instead (limited polyphony technically) versus acoustically (ulimited within the instruments range/playing ability). Some of that may be what you are hearing as well.

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03-09-2008, 01:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Luan ss.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 374 Real Name: Luan Thanked: 14	In tune and out of tune guitar players Everytime I hear somebody playing electric guitar with distortion, there's a chance of 95% that it will be out of tune, and I don't mean that he has his guitar out of tune, but since the guitar is by nature out of tune, and the distortion exaggerates that, and the player will not fix that by using a good vibrato (it doesn't have to be wide), causing it to sound really bad. I've to say that my ears tell me that the most in tune player ever is john petrucci, that is one of the biggest reasons why I love his playing, and why I admire so much. Other that is really really good at this is Malmsteen. Did you guys understand what I'm talking about?

03-09-2008, 01:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
InTheRavensName Metal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 2,124 Real Name: Ross The Great Main Seven: H307 Rig: POD XTLive Thanked: 4	do you mean that the distortion is 'distorting' (natch) the instrument to the point that it sounds 'wrong' to your ears? Selling my Dean and Moser V's, check out the Guitars For Sale forum

03-09-2008, 02:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
distressed_romeo Sumerian 7string Sorcery Join Date: May 2005 Location: The Eleven-day Empire Posts: 9,336 Real Name: I have many... Main Seven: C7 Hellraiser/LTD M207 Main ERG: Aria bass tuned in fifths Rig: Sombras Que Corta Thanked: 158	Yeah, I see what you mean to a large extent. It's an inherent problem with the electric guitar, that it's basically impossible to get the thing perfectly in tune with the best will in the world, due to the limitations of the fretted neck. This is one of the reasons I became interested in fretless guitar. 'If one octave isn't interesting then who the hell cares about the others?!' Diamanda Galas http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

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03-09-2008, 01:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Luan ss.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 374 Real Name: Luan Thanked: 14	No, the player just plays out of tune, just like a violinist. The guitar have frets, it doesn't matter, it is out of tune by nature, and most players don't fix this by using a good vibrato.

03-09-2008, 01:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
InTheRavensName Metal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 2,124 Real Name: Ross The Great Main Seven: H307 Rig: POD XTLive Thanked: 4	ah, you mean bending? or fretting too hard so it throws the note out of tune?

03-09-2008, 02:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Luan ss.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 374 Real Name: Luan Thanked: 14	Totally! But don't you think that there are some players that really overcome this?

03-09-2008, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
InTheRavensName Metal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 2,124 Real Name: Ross The Great Main Seven: H307 Rig: POD XTLive Thanked: 4	to a greater extent than others yes, but in all honesty I think in a band context (drums/bass/vocals) with distortion and room reverb and all the other inherent jiggery pokery involved in live/recorded music it's never really bothered me

03-09-2008, 03:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Crucified Deathgrind Maniac Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 1,074 Real Name: Kevin Main Seven: rg2027xvv Main ERG: Custom Sherman 8. Rig: Herbert/Uberschall Thanked: 36	good intonation and set up fixes this for the most part. if you are part of the select few with perfect pitch by nature then i can see this grating on you every time you hear music in general.

03-09-2008, 04:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
newamerikangospel HA HA!...Avatar! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,072 Real Name: lepsognakiremaw Main Seven: Schecter Gryphon Rig: GNX>H&K4x12-Hrtk2x15 Thanked: 11	I have played around with my intonation, and while its not perfect, its only 3-4 cents off in most places, sometimes it will come really close in others. A perfectly tuned guitar, playing a simple 5 chord with distortion, sounds like a small oscillation effect (like a rotary, without the stereo pan) since the frequencies are "rubbing". Also, dont forget that everything will be a little distorted since it is coming from a speaker instead (limited polyphony technically) versus acoustically (ulimited within the instruments range/playing ability). Some of that may be what you are hearing as well.

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In tune and out of tune guitar players