Adjust Your Guitar Intonation – A Guide By Zager
Are you tired of playing the guitar that always seems to be slightly out of tune, no matter how much you try to tune it? If so, it’s time to dive into the world of guitar intonation!
Intonation may not be the most glamorous topic when it comes to guitar playing, but it’s an essential aspect of ensuring that your playing sounds great. Imagine playing your favorite song and realizing that the chords just don’t sound quite right. Frustrating, right? That’s where intonation comes in.
Guitar intonation refers to the process of adjusting the guitar’s strings so that they are in tune with each other along the entire length of the fretboard. Proper intonation is important for ensuring that chords sound in tune and that notes played on different frets sound accurate and in tune with each other.
The good news is that adjusting the intonation isn’t rocket science – with a little bit of knowledge and some basic tools, you can easily adjust your guitar’s intonation and make it sound fantastic.
It may take some trial and error to get the hang of adjusting your guitar’s intonation, but the end result is well worth the effort. Not only will your chords sound more in tune, but you’ll also have a greater sense of control and accuracy in your playing.
What Causes Intonation Issues?
Many factors can cause your stringed instrument to have poor intonation and problems, including old strings and fluctuations in weather and humidity. Maintain and protect your instrument to keep your guitar in tune.
Incorrect Saddle Position
The saddle is part of the guitar where the strings rest before they enter the body. If the saddle is positioned incorrectly, the guitar will not play in tune, especially as you move up the fretboard. If it’s too close to the fingerboard, it causes a sharp intonation, whereas if it’s too far, it causes a flat intonation.
String Guage
The gauge of the strings on a guitar can affect intonation. If the strings are too heavy or too light, the guitar may not play in tune, even if the saddle is set correctly.
Bridge Replacement
When you physically try to adjust the bridge on a guitar, it leaves behind a disfigured unfished area on the top which would be easily noticeable due to Intonation.
Neck Angle
If the angle of the neck of the guitar is angled too close or far, either forward or backward may lead to guitar tonal issues.
Tuning System
The type of tuning system used on the guitar can also affect intonation. Some systems, such as a floating tremolo, can be more difficult to keep in tune. This leads to poor intonation cause of guitar tuners.
How To Check Intonation On Your Guitar?
Are you tired of playing the guitar that just won’t stay in tune no matter how hard you try? Well, fear not my fellow guitarist, because checking and adjusting your guitar’s intonation can be easier than you think!
Think of intonation as the secret sauce to making your guitar sound incredible. It’s what separates a good player from a great player. If your guitar’s intonation is off, your chords will sound sour, your solos will be out of tune, and your audience might just run for the hills!
So let’s get down to business. The first step is to tune your guitar. Don’t skip this step, or you’ll be wasting your time! Once you’re in tune, play the 12th fret harmonic and check the tuning with your tuner. It should be exactly one octave above the open string. Then, play the note on the 12th fret and check the tuning again. It should be in tune with the open string.
Now here’s the exciting part. Compare the tuning of the harmonic and the note. If they’re not in tune with each other, your guitar’s intonation is off and needs to be adjusted. But don’t panic! You can fix this by adjusting the saddle position with a small screwdriver.
Once you’ve adjusted the saddle, repeat the process for all six strings on your guitar. And just like that, your guitar will be playing in tune up and down the neck, making you the envy of all your guitar-playing friends.
Should Your Guitar Intonation Be Always Sharp?
You might always get your guitar intonation right on the 12 fret, but your chords and notes are always slightly sharper in the lower position due to the fact that the guitar nut is too big.
The G string always has a sharp string. This cannot be resolved at the bridge’s entry. Intonation is necessary while playing with heavy or high-action strings. Keep your neck upright and your nut height under control to start. In the first place, the string shouldn’t be binding in the slot. Check the bridge saddle first for any burs that may be lodged there.
How To Adjust Intonation On Your Acoustic Guitar
If you’re a guitarist, you know how frustrating it can be when your instrument just won’t stay in tune all the way up the neck. Whether you’re playing a simple chord progression or a blazing solo, there’s nothing more important than having your guitar sound in tune.
Luckily, adjusting the intonation on your guitar isn’t as complicated as it may sound. By using tuning techniques and following a few simple steps, you can get your guitar playing in tune like a dream. And the best part? You’ll feel like a true guitar tech wizard!
First, start by tuning your guitar using a tuner. This is the foundation of good intonation. Once you’ve got your strings tuned to pitch, it’s time to check the intonation of each string.
This is where things start to get interesting. You’ll need to play the 12th fret harmonic on each string and compare it to the pitch of the fretted note at the 12th fret. This is a great opportunity to practice your technique and really get to know the sound of your guitar.
If the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic is off compared to the fretted note, don’t worry! You just need to make some adjustments to the saddle. But here’s the thing – even a tiny adjustment can make a huge difference in intonation.
So, grab a screwdriver and move the saddle forward or backward as needed, and then recheck the intonation. It’s like a game of musical Tetris!
Once you’ve got all the strings adjusted, it’s time to put it all to the test. Play some chords and see how they sound all the way up the neck. You’ll be amazed at how much better your guitar plays and sounds with proper intonation.
Adjusting the intonation on your guitar may sound daunting, but with a little bit of practice and patience, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Do I Need To Loosen the Strings Before Adjusting the Intonation?
It’s recommended to loosen the strings of your guitar before adjusting the intonation, as this allows you to move the saddle more easily and make minor adjustments without putting too much tension on the strings.
However, you don’t want to loosen string tension on the strings too much, as this can make the saddle move around or fall out of place. It’s generally recommended to tune the strings down to a slightly lower pitch than their standard tuning, just enough to relieve the tension on the strings.
Once you’ve made the necessary adjustments to the saddle, you can tune the strings back up to pitch and check the intonation again. Remember to make small adjustments to the saddle, as even a tiny movement can make a big difference in intonation.
By loosening the strings before adjusting the intonation, you can avoid damaging your guitar and ensure that the adjustments you make are accurate and effective.
How Often Should You Change Your Guitar Strings?
Being a guitarist, you know that your strings are one of the most important components of your instrument. They are what produce the beautiful sound that we all love so much. But, like all good things, strings don’t last forever. So, the question is: how often should you change your guitar strings?
Well, the answer is not quite as simple as you might think. There are several factors that can affect how long your strings will last. For example, if you’re someone who plays guitar for hours every day, your strings are going to wear out much more quickly than if you only play for an hour or two each week. Similarly, the type of strings you use can also affect their lifespan. Some strings are designed to last longer than others, so you’ll need to take that into account as well.
As a general rule of thumb, most guitarists will change their strings every 1-3 months, depending on how frequently they play. But, ultimately, the best way to determine when to change your strings is to use your ears and your fingers. If your strings are sounding dull or lifeless, or if they feel difficult to play, it’s probably time for a change.
The Zager Guitar comes with easy-play guitar strings that take away the pain and allow you to play longer and move faster with less fatigue and soreness. A patented soft metal core requires 50% less pressure to form chords. Reduces finger pain, extends playtime, and promotes greater speed and accuracy. Makes any guitar easier to play.
Is It Possible to Perfectly Intonate a Guitar?
Intonation refers to the accuracy of pitch in playing or singing or when tuning a stringed instrument like a guitar. So, there is no perfect intonation of a guitar and it varies with your personal preference.
About Us
Zager Guitars is a family-owned third-generation guitar builder who’s been building acoustic guitars here in Lincoln Nebraska since 1902. Zager is rated in the top 5% of all guitar brands and has been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and a multitude of national and international news media. Zager also donates over $1M in guitars to children and public schools nationally, more than any other acoustic guitar maker.
To achieve the levels of playability that Zager guitars deliver it requires what’s called a “precision build.” This means computer-controlled milling, laser-guided cutting, and robotic sanding and finish application. Bob Taylor of Taylor guitars uses the robotic building on their most expensive models because a computer build is always more precise than a hand build.
Zager does one thing differently though. Where Taylor keeps their machines in Mexico and the US, we keep ours in Indonesia, where wood and materials for guitar building are 50% lower in price. In this way, you receive a guitar with the most cutting-edge technology available today for $3000 instead of $6000-$10,000.
What Denny Zager Recommends
There are two ways intonation can be slightly off but it’s only noticeable by digital gauges and not the human ear.
A capo will always pull the strings out of tune slightly. If the capo is too tight it causes excess pressure and can squeeze the strings too much causing more tuning issues.
The placement of capo can also cause issues. If it’s on a funny angle or put without applying even pressure across the strings it causes intonation issues Always place the capo just behind the fret and check if the strings are still evenly spaced and parallel to each other.
Tuning and intonation can be slightly off when using digital meters on all brand-new guitars with fresh green wood. As these woods are still green they’re moving and settling, and this might cause the guitar to go out of tune easier.
The good thing is as your guitar’s woods settle and cure your guitar will stay in perfect tune. Mr. Zager also runs a thinner gauge of string for the absolute best in playability, and this can show up on digital gauges but is usually not noticeable to the human ear. By simply going one gauge higher it disappears and you can benefit from a richer deeper sound.
FAQs
What Causes Guitar Intonation Problems?
It can cause a bad intonation when worn down or improperly placed nuts are used. A worn-out nut must be replaced, while a nut positioned too high must be filed for lower action strings.
How Often Does a Guitar Need To Be Intonated?
It’s a good idea to change the tone once a week. I’m seeing a death zone change in strings when strings are more recent.
How Do You Fix a Guitar Intonation Problem?
First, tune an open string using the tuner and continue until 12 and press down the octave of scale length of an open string. If it’s flat, it’ll be easier to shorten the string length using the adjustable screw on electric guitars.
