Tuning of meantone guitars.

Gary asked how I tune my negative meantone guitars.
I use A4D0, as my reference pitch and tune all other notes relative to
this.

If using standard guitar tunings I tune the open strings to EADGBE
from the IV or III frets starting from A20Hz on the fifth string.
This gives me an approximation.
I then go through a whole ritual to make sure that everything is
"harmonious".
This ritual usually includes.
(The sequence and time devoted to each step is determined by the
results of each test and adjustment, until I am satisfied that all
sounds "in tune".

a) Checking all the A's on each string by fretting playing and comparing.
b) Playing various triads and tetra chords in various keys.
c) Comparing the "Ghost-tones" at the VIII, V, IV II, III and XI
to open and fretted notes, and listening for the beating
(if present) or zero for octaves.
d) Checking against A's from electronic tuner, tuning fork, sampler,
synth, recording, or other instruments.

I use 19, 25, and 31 frets per octave, and also 60 odd alternative
open tunings (This is Hawaii!)

All the details (including fretting specs and alternative tunings)
can be found at (and downloaded from):

http://www.wonderlandinorbit.com/projects/lullaby
lucy

Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl
with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Mon, 14 Jul 1997 13:20 +0200
Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA25083; Mon, 14 Jul 1997 13:20:54 +0200
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 13:20:54 +0200
Received: from ella.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA25021
Received: (qmail 23896 invoked from network); 14 Jul 1997 11:20:26 -0000
Received: from localhost (HELO ella.mills.edu) (127.0.0.1)
by localhost with SMTP; 14 Jul 1997 11:20:26 -0000
Message-Id: <970714071818_74989910@emout15.mail.aol.com>
Errors-To: madole@mills.edu
Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu
Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu
Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu