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Active: 2554 users

Acoustic guitar tuner?

Blogs > Phyre
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Phyre
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States1288 Posts
May 18 2011 01:28 GMT
#1
I'm trying to pick out a gift for someone and they recently picked up the acoustic guitar as a hobby. So far they've only bought the guitar and a few picks so I figure it would be cool to get them something to further that hobby. Getting them a tuner was suggested but I know practically nothing about guitars so I was hoping to get some advice from any guitarists out there.

A quick search on Amazon for "Acoustic guitar tuner" results in this model being at the top of the list:

http://www.amazon.com/Snark-Instrument-Clip--Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B003VWKPHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305681607&sr=1-1

Not sure if that's any good. If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears.

I'm looking to spend something in the vein of $50 or so which places this at the very cheap end of my price range. So if there is a model that would be considerably better for a beginner or if there is something else you would suggest as a gift for an aspiring acoustic guitar player that would be great!

*
"Oh no, I got you with your pants... on your face... That's not how you wear pants." - Nintu, catching 1 hatch lurks.
Misanthrope
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States924 Posts
May 18 2011 01:30 GMT
#2
The one you've selected is perfect for a starter.
Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. - Benjamin Franklin
DOMINOSC
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada345 Posts
May 18 2011 01:32 GMT
#3
guitar tuner

i use this 1 i think its great i would highly recommended it.
Sen Fighting!!! / JulyZerg Fighting!!! / Ret Fighting!!! / Reach Fighting!!! / well intentioned people of average intelligence
HeadhunteR
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Argentina1258 Posts
May 18 2011 01:39 GMT
#4
that one that DOMINOSC recommended is good.
here is an online one that I always use.
http://www.gieson.com/Library/projects/utilities/tuner/
in The Kong line forever
ulszz
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
Jamaica1787 Posts
May 18 2011 01:44 GMT
#5
the one you selected is good. the one dominosc suggested i don't really like.

i prefer the ones that strap on and use the vibrations (the one u picked does this). they are very accurate and aren't distorted by noises around you.
everliving, everfaithful, eversure
tangwhat
Profile Joined May 2010
New Zealand446 Posts
May 18 2011 01:45 GMT
#6
Don't get a clip on tuner. Definitely get a chromatic tuner though, I personally use this: http://www.amazon.com/Korg-CA1-Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B002PMHAVS/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305683049&sr=1-2 and it's fantastic, it also means if your friend ever picks up an electric they don't need to buy another tuner. KORG is a pretty well known brand so you can trust that I guess.
Scorcher2k
Profile Joined November 2009
United States802 Posts
May 18 2011 01:47 GMT
#7
My friend swears by his snark. Definitely a good tuner.
6d.Leek
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States76 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 01:58:36
May 18 2011 01:55 GMT
#8
Hey, coming from someone who's played ~4 years of guitar, I believe that this is your all-purpose tuner.

Everyone I know pretty accepts this as the premium standard for compact, personal tuners and for good reason. It's very durable, can be used for nearly all instruments, and is extremely accurate. You can plug the guitar into the tuner or just play directly at it to tune the guitar.

I've had general success with clip-on tuners as well, but they can be quite messy sometimes or not tune accurately.

If you have anymore questions, please ask!

Edit: This is an upgrade from tangwhat's suggestion, and the extra you pay for more features is definitely worth it. The spoiler has the product features from amazon.

+ Show Spoiler +
Compact chromatic tuner, ideal for brass band or orchestra
High-precision LCD needle-type meter for stable tuning
Wide range of pitch detection covers C1--C8
Calibration function supports a variety of concert pitches
Reference tone can be produced from an internal speaker. (Sound Out)
I feel the same way about disco as I do herpes.
tangwhat
Profile Joined May 2010
New Zealand446 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 02:02:53
May 18 2011 02:02 GMT
#9
On May 18 2011 10:55 6d.Leek wrote:
Everyone I know pretty accepts this as the premium standard for compact, personal tuners


This is true for me as well.
JohnnyYen
Profile Joined September 2010
United States313 Posts
May 18 2011 02:15 GMT
#10
On May 18 2011 10:55 6d.Leek wrote:+ Show Spoiler +

Hey, coming from someone who's played ~4 years of guitar, I believe that this is your all-purpose tuner.

Everyone I know pretty accepts this as the premium standard for compact, personal tuners and for good reason. It's very durable, can be used for nearly all instruments, and is extremely accurate. You can plug the guitar into the tuner or just play directly at it to tune the guitar.

I've had general success with clip-on tuners as well, but they can be quite messy sometimes or not tune accurately.

If you have anymore questions, please ask!

Edit: This is an upgrade from tangwhat's suggestion, and the extra you pay for more features is definitely worth it. The spoiler has the product features from amazon.

+ Show Spoiler +
Compact chromatic tuner, ideal for brass band or orchestra
High-precision LCD needle-type meter for stable tuning
Wide range of pitch detection covers C1--C8
Calibration function supports a variety of concert pitches
Reference tone can be produced from an internal speaker. (Sound Out)


This tuner is fantastic, I hope this is the one that you choose.
susySquark
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1692 Posts
May 18 2011 02:42 GMT
#11
On May 18 2011 10:45 tangwhat wrote:
Don't get a clip on tuner. Definitely get a chromatic tuner though, I personally use this: http://www.amazon.com/Korg-CA1-Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B002PMHAVS/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305683049&sr=1-2 and it's fantastic, it also means if your friend ever picks up an electric they don't need to buy another tuner. KORG is a pretty well known brand so you can trust that I guess.


This, prtty much. Clip ons are just gimmicky, get something reliable, and the electric input doesnt hurt at all
emythrel
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom2599 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 03:06:04
May 18 2011 02:44 GMT
#12
Does your friend have an iphone or android phone? If yes, skip the tuner, you can get them for free on your phone, and really a learner shouldn't use a tuner they should be learning to do it without. Buying your friend a tuning fork for the Low E string would be far more benficial, all they have to do it tune the low E and then do it by ear..... you can't always have a tuner with you, especially on stage, being able to do it by ear is essential. A good guitarist can tune to E purely based on memory and with no tuner or tuning fork.... the more often you do it by ear, the easier it is.

http://www.amazon.com/Wittner-Tuning-Fork-Tuned/dp/B001HYROHA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1305686611&sr=8-2 Tuning fork, $14.65 - anything cheaper than this will break or warp go out of tune eventually. I have a tuning fork that i've had for 23 years, still as pure an E as it ever was ;p

For a beginner I would suggest buying something they can use to learn such as a chord book (one that contains every single chord and variation) or sheet music. If you really want to go all out buy them a fancy strap, those can cost upwards of $60 (Infact I have one that cost $199 lol but I play guitar for a living).

http://www.amazon.com/The-Guitar-Chord-Deck-Book/dp/B003AOP58U/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305686650&sr=1-4 Guitar Chord Book $9.99 - this fits perfectly inside the neck of a guitar case too!

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Beatles-Guitar-Submarine/dp/B0029F21N8/ref=sr_1_17?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305686731&sr=1-17 beatles guitar strap $29.99

http://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Gear-Tubular-Guitar-Stand/dp/B0018TIADQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1305686776&sr=1-3 Guitar stand $7
When there is nothing left to lose but your dignity, it is already gone.
Geovu
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Estonia1344 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 02:51:16
May 18 2011 02:50 GMT
#13
Hopping on the bandwagon, Leek has the answer to your question, 100% hands down. You should be able to find this exact model in any music store, anywhere, really. Any tuner other than that is probably going to be cheap (and useless) as shit, flat out overpriced, a tuner built directly into an amplifier, or a high end rack tuner.

PS I recommend you look at musiciansfriend.com if you want to look at instrument related (In particular guitar/bass) products. As far as I know it has the most variety of stuff I've seen on a single website.
elmizzt
Profile Joined February 2010
United States3309 Posts
May 18 2011 02:52 GMT
#14
On May 18 2011 10:55 6d.Leek wrote:
Hey, coming from someone who's played ~4 years of guitar, I believe that this is your all-purpose tuner.

More years than I can count playing various instruments. This tuner is the bee's knees.
d=(^_^)z
Gak2
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada418 Posts
May 18 2011 03:01 GMT
#15
buy him/her a tuning fork and when they ask why you just didn't get a chromatic tuner say "so you can learn to tune by ear like a goddamn professional"
Geovu
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Estonia1344 Posts
May 18 2011 03:07 GMT
#16
On May 18 2011 11:44 emythrel wrote:
Does your friend have an iphone or android phone? If yes, skip the tuner, you can get them for free on your phone, and really a learner shouldn't use a tuner they should be learning to do it without. Buying your friend a tuning fork for the Low E string would be far more benficial, all they have to do it tune the low E and then do it by ear..... you can't always have a tuner with you, especially on stage, being able to do it by ear is essential. A good guitarist can tune to E purely based on memory and with no tuner or tuning fork.... the more often you do it by ear, the easier it is.

1. lol phone tuner accuracy lol
2. Phones would take longer to go to the app, whereas an actual tuner takes .5 seconds of pressing a single button
3. Tuning fork, really? If you are dedicated to learning your ears WILL acclimate to musical notes regardless if you spend extra seconds tinkering with trying to tune your guitar. Anyone can tune a guitar to itself, but using a tuner makes it much faster to work out those last few cents if you are out of tune.

Phyre
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States1288 Posts
May 18 2011 03:13 GMT
#17
Thanks so much for all the suggestions! Looks like most of you are leaning towards the "Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner" as the tuner of choice so I think I'll go with that. The "Chord Book" looks like it would be useful as well.
"Oh no, I got you with your pants... on your face... That's not how you wear pants." - Nintu, catching 1 hatch lurks.
emythrel
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United Kingdom2599 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 03:28:56
May 18 2011 03:14 GMT
#18
On May 18 2011 12:07 Geovu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 18 2011 11:44 emythrel wrote:
Does your friend have an iphone or android phone? If yes, skip the tuner, you can get them for free on your phone, and really a learner shouldn't use a tuner they should be learning to do it without. Buying your friend a tuning fork for the Low E string would be far more benficial, all they have to do it tune the low E and then do it by ear..... you can't always have a tuner with you, especially on stage, being able to do it by ear is essential. A good guitarist can tune to E purely based on memory and with no tuner or tuning fork.... the more often you do it by ear, the easier it is.

1. lol phone tuner accuracy lol
2. Phones would take longer to go to the app, whereas an actual tuner takes .5 seconds of pressing a single button
3. Tuning fork, really? If you are dedicated to learning your ears WILL acclimate to musical notes regardless if you spend extra seconds tinkering with trying to tune your guitar. Anyone can tune a guitar to itself, but using a tuner makes it much faster to work out those last few cents if you are out of tune.



I teach guitar, and have been a professional musician for 12 years.... I know what im talking about... i doubt you do. I own a tuning fork that i use about once a year and have a guitar tuner on my phone (that took 10 secs to download and bout another 5 to load up) that is perfectly accurate for when im feeling lazy or have just completely restrung a guitar.

Any guitar tutor worth their money would tell you to get a tuning fork and learn to do it by ear. Once you can tune by ear, then get lazy..... its all about technique with guitar, saying to a beginner to use a tuner is like telling them that not fingering properly is ok....... simply wrong.

I also garantee I can get a guitar in perfect E without any tuner, its very easy with practice, the only time its hard is with a new set of strings because they stretch and the tone is different to a used string and I tune using harmonics, which is far more accurate than the 5/5/5/4/5 method
When there is nothing left to lose but your dignity, it is already gone.
Archaic
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States4024 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 03:19:34
May 18 2011 03:17 GMT
#19
Intellitouch PT10. It's a clip on tuner. Very fast, very accurate, you can use it in a very loud environment (clip ons work based on vibrations on your guitar, not a microphone) and it's fairly inexpensive.


EDIT: Oh, you already know that. I still suggest the PT10 though. It's worked great for me thus far. But the one you picked is probably a great starter.
Phyre
Profile Blog Joined December 2006
United States1288 Posts
May 19 2011 02:06 GMT
#20
Hey guys, quick update. When I went to the store they said they don't sell Korg CA-30's anymore. They've been replaced by the Korg CA-1 which is supposedly an updated version. Got that and a Chord book. She seemed very happy with the gift, thanks guys!
"Oh no, I got you with your pants... on your face... That's not how you wear pants." - Nintu, catching 1 hatch lurks.
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