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Types of Tuners
Electronic tuners come in two varieties: needle, LED and Strobe. You can even download a free tuner to your smartphone. No excuses for being out of tune in this day and age. There is even apps you can download to your smartphone. NO excuses for being out of tune.
photo by Louis Martin
UPDATED:
16 June 2023
LED Tuners

NS_MiniHeadstockTuner A needle, LCD, or regular LED type tuner uses a microprocessor to measure the average period of the waveform. It uses this to then drive the needle or array of lights. The array of lights from LED that appears to move to left or right seems better than the meter needle of the early meter tuners. When the musician plays a single note, the tuner senses the input from the microphone or input jack (from an electric instrument). The tuner then displays the input frequency in relation to the desired pitch and indicates whether the pitch of that note is lower, higher, or approximately equal to the desired pitch. With needle displays, the note is in tune when the needle is in a 90° vertical position, with leftward or rightward deviations indicating that the note is flat or sharp, respectively. Tuners with a needle are often supplied with a backlight, so that the display can be read on a darkened stage. An early (1970s) meter needle tuner seemed inferior (more difficult to use) than the more expensive light emitting diodes (LED) type.

Recommended LED Tuner Manufactures

The question of who makes an electronic tuner, should be more of Who doesn't make an electronic tuner.. With that in mind here are a few recommendations that I (Curt) has used over the years.

Strobe Tuners

PertersonStrobe tuners (the popular term for stroboscopic tuners) are the most accurate type of tuner. There are three types of strobe tuners: The mechanical rotating disk strobe tuner, an LED array strobe in place of the rotating disk, and "virtual strobe" tuners with LCD displays or ones that work on personal computers. A strobe tuner shows the difference between a reference frequency and the musical note. Even the slightest difference between the two will show up as a rotating motion in the strobe display. The accuracy of the tuner is only limited by the internal frequency generator. The strobe tuner detects the pitch either from an TRS input jack or a built-in or external microphone connected to the tuner.

Recommended Strobe Tuner Manufactures
Tuning Fork

A tuning fork is a simple, two-pronged metal instrument that is designed to produce a specific pitch when struck against a surface. It is commonly used as a reference pitch or standard for tuning musical instruments, particularly those with fixed pitches, such as pianos, guitars, and violins.

An Old School method of tuning.

The D'Addario Tuning Fork is available in A (44oHZ) and E (329.6HZ).

Pitch Pipe

A pitch pipe is a small handheld device used to produce specific pitches or tones as a reference for tuning musical instruments or vocalists. It is a compact and portable tool that is often used in acapella singing groups, choirs, and situations where a quick and convenient tuning reference is needed.

With the advent of electronic tuners and smartphone apps, pitch pipes and tuning forks have become less common in certain musical contexts. However, the pitch pipe still finds use in acapella singing groups, choral rehearsals, and situations where a simple and portable reference for pitch is needed without relying on electronic devices.

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This sit has ben profesionaly red. awl tpyos aree free and no aditonal chrge • I'm blaming it on “jazz” fingers. “Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
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