Improving Performance and Ear Training with a Pedal Guitar Tuner

While the primary purpose of a pedal guitar tuner is to ensure accurate tuning, it can also serve as a valuable tool for improving your overall performance and ear training skills. In this article, we’ll explore how a pedal guitar tuner can aid in enhancing your playing technique, developing your ear, and elevating your musicality.

What is Ear Training?

Ear training, or aural skills, is a music theory study in which musicians learn to identify pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, solfeges, and other basic elements of music, solely by hearing. The application of this skill is analogous to taking dictation in written/spoken language. As a process, ear training is in essence the inverse of sight-reading, the latter being analogous to reading a written text aloud without prior opportunity to review the material. Ear training is typically a component of formal musical training and is a fundamental, essential skill required in music schools.

There are many different techniques that can be used for ear training. Some common techniques include:

• Singing: This is a great way to train your ear to identify pitches. You can start by singing simple melodies, and then gradually work your way up to more complex melodies.
• Interval training: This involves listening to two notes and identifying the interval between them. You can start with simple intervals, such as a major second or a minor third, and then gradually work your way up to more complex intervals.
• Rhythm training: This involves listening to a rhythm and tapping out the beats. You can start with simple rhythms, such as a quarter note or an eighth note, and then gradually work your way up to more complex rhythms.
• Solfege: This is a system of syllables that are used to represent pitches. Solfege can be a great way to train your ear to identify pitches and intervals.

Ear training can be a challenging but rewarding process. With regular practice, you can develop a strong ear for music that will help you to become a better musician.

Here are some of the benefits of ear training:

• Improved pitch recognition: Ear training can help you to improve your ability to identify pitches. This is a valuable skill for musicians, as it allows you to sing in tune and play instruments accurately.
• Improved interval recognition: Ear training can also help you to improve your ability to identify intervals. This is a valuable skill for musicians, as it allows you to understand the relationships between notes and chords.
• Improved rhythm recognition: Ear training can also help you to improve your ability to identify rhythms. This is a valuable skill for musicians, as it allows you to keep time and play in time with other musicians.
• Improved overall musicality: Ear training can help you to improve your overall musicality. This is because it allows you to develop a better understanding of how music works.

Training Your Ear (i.e. Ear Training)

A pedal guitar tuner can be used as an ear-training device to help develop your ability to recognize and reproduce different pitches. By using the tuner to play reference tones and comparing them to the pitches you play on your instrument, you can train your ear to identify when you’re in tune or out of tune. This practice improves your pitch perception and allows you to develop a more accurate and consistent playing style.

Here are some specific exercises you can do with a pedal guitar tuner:

• Play a note on your guitar and then use the tuner to identify the pitch.
• Play two notes on your guitar and then use the tuner to identify the interval between them.
• Play a rhythm on your guitar and then use the tuner to tap out the beats.
• Use the tuner to follow along with ear training exercises that you find online or in books.

Intonation Adjustment (Better Than Ear Training)

Intonation refers to the accuracy of each note across the entire fretboard. A pedal guitar tuner can assist in adjusting the intonation of your instrument, ensuring that it plays in tune all the way up and down the neck. This easily adjusts on an electric guitar at the bridge. However, adjusting an acoustic guitar is much more time-consuming and should probably be done by a trained luthier or repairman. By comparing the tuner’s reference pitch with the pitch produced at various positions on the fretboard, you can make precise adjustments to the bridge or saddle to achieve optimal intonation. Proper intonation enhances the overall sound and playability of your guitar, making it more enjoyable to play and perform with.

Here are some ways you can use a pedal guitar tuner to help with intonation adjustment on your guitar:

• Check the intonation of each string: A pedal guitar tuner can check the intonation of each string on your guitar. This can be done by playing the open string and then playing the same string at the 12th fret. If the two notes differ, then the intonation of the string needs adjusting.
• Use the tuner to identify the correct intonation: The tuner can be used to identify the correct intonation for each string. This is done by playing the open string and then adjusting the saddle until the tuner shows that the note is in tune at the 12th fret.
• Make small adjustments: When adjusting the intonation, it is important to make small adjustments. This will help to ensure that the intonation is correct and that the string does not go out of tune.
• Check the intonation after playing: It is important to check the intonation after playing your guitar. This is because the intonation can change slightly after playing, especially if you have changed the string gauge or the action.

Here are some additional tips for using a pedal guitar tuner for intonation adjustment:

• Use a capo: A capo can be used to make intonation adjustments easier. This is because the capo will keep the open string in tune while you adjust the saddle.
• Use a tuner with a 12th fret harmonic display: Some tuners have a display that shows the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic. This can be helpful for making intonation adjustments, as you can see the difference between the open string and the 12th fret harmonic.
• Be patient and persistent: Intonation adjustment can be a time-consuming process. It is important to be patient and persistent, as it may take some time to get the intonation perfect.

Harmonic and Chord Tuning

Beyond individual note tuning, a pedal guitar tuner can help you refine the tuning of harmonics and chords. Harmonics produce unique pitches that can be challenging to tune accurately by ear alone. By engaging the tuner and playing harmonics at specific locations on the fretboard, you can fine-tune these pitches to achieve harmonic balance. Additionally, when playing chords, a pedal tuner can help you identify any discrepancies or imperfections in the tuning, enabling you to make necessary adjustments for a harmonically pleasing sound.

Here are some ways you can use a pedal guitar tuner to help with harmonic and chord tuning on the guitar:

• Tuning harmonics: Harmonics are produced by lightly touching a string at a specific fret and then plucking the string. The fret that you touch determines the pitch of the harmonic. A pedal guitar tuner helps you tune harmonics by playing the harmonic and then adjusting the tuner until the pitch is correct.
• Tuning chords: Chords are made up of multiple notes that are played together. A pedal guitar tuner helps you tune chords by playing the chord and then adjusting the tuner until all of the notes in the chord are in tune.
• Using a tuner with a harmonic display: Some tuners have a display that shows the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic. This can be helpful for tuning harmonics, as you can see the difference between the open string and the 12th fret harmonic.
• Using a tuner with a chord mode: Some tuners, like the Polytune 3, have a mode that allows you to tune chords. This can be helpful for tuning chords, as the tuner will show you the pitch of each note in the chord.

Here are some additional tips for using a pedal guitar tuner for harmonic and chord tuning:

• Start with simple harmonics and chords: When you are first starting out, it is a good idea to start with simple harmonics and chords. This will help you to get a feel for how to use the tuner to tune harmonics and chords.
• Be patient and persistent: Tuning harmonics and chords can be a time-consuming process. It is important to be patient and persistent, as it may take some time to get the harmonics and chords in tune.

Precision in Alternate Tunings

Pedal guitar tuners are invaluable when it comes to exploring alternate tunings. Whether you’re experimenting with open tunings, drop tunings, or any other alternative tuning, a pedal tuner provides precise reference pitches to guide you. It helps you quickly identify the intervals and relationships between the strings in the new tuning, allowing you to adapt and adjust your playing accordingly. With a pedal tuner, you can confidently and accurately navigate through various tunings, expanding your musical horizons.

Here are some ways you can use a pedal guitar tuner to help with precision in alternate tunings on the guitar:

• Use a tuner with a chromatic mode: A chromatic mode is a mode that allows you to tune to any note. This can be helpful for tuning to alternate tunings, as you can simply enter the desired tuning into the tuner and it will show you the pitch of each string.
• Use a tuner with a strobe mode: A strobe mode is a mode that shows the pitch of a note as a moving dot. This can be helpful for tuning to alternate tunings, as you can see the difference between the actual pitch of the string and the desired pitch.
• Use a tuner with a visual display: A visual display is a display that shows the pitch of a note in a graphical way. This can be helpful for tuning to alternate tunings, as you can see the difference between the actual pitch of the string and the desired pitch.

Performance Confidence

Having a pedal guitar tuner on your pedalboard gives you the confidence to perform live without worrying about being out of tune. It provides reassurance that your instrument is in perfect pitch, allowing you to focus on your performance and engage with the music and audience more effectively. By eliminating the need for frequent manual tuning, a pedal tuner helps you maintain a seamless and uninterrupted flow during your live sets or studio recordings.

Conclusion

A pedal guitar tuner is not just a tool for tuning your instrument; it can significantly contribute to your musical growth and performance. By training your ear, refining intonation, tuning harmonics and chords, navigating alternate tunings, and boosting your performance confidence, a pedal guitar tuner becomes a versatile ally in your musical journey. Embrace the benefits of a pedal tuner, and watch as your playing technique, ear-training skills, and overall musicality reach new heights.

Further Reading on charlestonclassicalguitar.org: If you have further questions, then I can help point you in the right direction. If you’ve never ventured into owning a pedal guitar tuner, then check out our list of the Best Pedal Guitar Tuners. Also, if you still need some convincing, then check out The Importance of Pedal Guitar Tuners in your Rig article.

Looking for other options for a beginner acoustic guitar? Check out our post on 10 Of The Best Beginner Acoustic Guitars.

Editorial Process:

My reviews are made by a team of one, myself, before being written and come from real-world experience. Read my editorial process here.

Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. You can read my affiliate disclosure in my privacy policy.

Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.