Electric Guitar Scale Tuning

The distance from the nut to the bridge (saddle) is called the measuring instrument of the guitar. This distance represents the working portion of the instrument's strings in which they vibrate. Translated from the Latin scale means "measure". It is measured in inches and millimeters. Spacing is constant (many guitars have a scale of 25.5 or 24.7 inches) regardless of the number of frets on the fretboard. Scale is the main parameter that affects the accuracy of the sound of a musical instrument.

Guitarists know that the 12th fret on a guitar, including an electric guitar, should be exactly in the middle of the scale. Scale tuning is changing the working length of the strings in order to get accurate sound at any fret.

Before starting the process, you need to properly adjust the bridge. To do this, the strings in the saddle are lined up in their correct position relative to the neck. The optimal distance from the strings to the neck can be found in the table.

Before starting, the length of the scale is measured with a ruler. For this it is necessary to accurately determine the distance of its middle, namely: from the nut to the nut of the 12th fret. The result must be multiplied by 2. This will be the desired scale length. Then you need to determine the distance from the center of the 12th fret to the nut and compare the numbers.

If your guitar has a rigid bridge, there are 2 screws to adjust it. With their help, you can tune all strings at the same time. However, this is not always convenient, so it is possible to tighten each of them separately. It is allowed to slightly exceed the distances specified in the table above. The need for this is determined by the style of play.

To adjust the distance, do the following.

1. Connect a tuner to the musical instrument.
2. Then play the string that is currently being tuned. If this is the first one, then it corresponds to the note "e" of the first octave (the device should have the same indicator, for example, E4 for the first string or the value of the corresponding vibration frequency).
3. Next, clamp the string at the 12th fret. The tuner should show a similar note in the letter designation, but the number after the letter will change in our case to 5 (the second octave). The scale, when properly tuned, should give the same note on the 12th fret as on the open string, but an octave higher. If the sound is lower, then the length of the scale must be reduced, higher - increased. This is all easily adjustable with screws. The same check must be done with other strings.

During operation, it is also necessary to periodically check the condition of the instrument, especially in cases where false notes are noticed on some frets.

The adjustment process takes longer than usual the first time. Beginners often have problems - they can't guess how much to move the saddle. As you gain experience, this process does not take so much time (no more than 10 minutes).

Another way to configure is to use programs on the Internet. This is a little more difficult than setting up with a desktop tuner, as it will require, in addition to finding and downloading the desired program, a fairly high-quality microphone. To set up, you need a smartphone, tablet or computer, to which the microphone is connected. You need to open any configuration program and start the process. The service will play the sound of the tuned string until it is played cleanly on the guitar. All strings are tuned in turn.

You can also adjust the scale using a synthesizer or piano. With them, the tuning process is similar to adjusting through the application, because it is based on a comparison of the notes produced by the synthesizer and the vibrations of the strings of an electric guitar.

Sometimes a tuning fork is used, which produces a sound corresponding to the note "A" - the same note should be produced by the first string at the 5th fret.

In this case, you need to take your electric guitar to a specialist. Only an experienced person will be able to evaluate the sound and understand what is the reason. Sometimes the problem may be in the poor-quality setting of the scale, sometimes in the fittings or the anchor. This may be due to the fact that the frets are worn out - then they need to be sanded. Another reason why the sound quality does not suit the guitarist is often an incorrectly installed nut or insufficient travel of the guitar saddles. This problem is common with cheap instruments.

Scale is an important parameter for sound quality when playing an electric guitar, which undoubtedly requires attention. Incorrect tuning will cause the instrument to produce inaccurate notes. For a musician who constantly performs at a concert venue, it is especially important to carry out the procedure for checking and adjusting the scale of his electric guitar regularly - at least once every 3 months. After the procedure, the guitar will acquire the correct sounding of the strings at all frets.

How to tune the scale of an electric guitar, you will learn in the next video.