Do you intonate your guitar in standard tuning, even thought you play a half step down.

[SpiderWars]

Intonate with guitar in playing position. Even better, have the actual owner/player fret the notes.

Regarding the OP, always intonate at the tuning and with the actual strings used. Setting the intonation is not only about the distance but how much the string is pulled sharp as it is fretted. Really it's pretty much only about those two things. As for the neck relief changing, yes but you're supposed to adjust for that. So that kind of isn't even relevant...setting the neck relief happens prior to setting intonation in a guitar setup. If you're using multiple tunings you'll just have to pick one.

I know I've got some guitars that don't like Eb and others that love it, even when changing string gauges to account for the different tension.

Now, if you're a Neanderthal that plays 11-56...just try to keep the thing relatively in tune.

 

[FredLong]

You're absolutely right that setting the intonation is not just about the distance but also how much the string is pulled sharp when fretted. It's all about finding that sweet spot where the notes ring true across the fretboard. And you're spot on about adjusting for neck relief before setting intonation in a guitar setup. It's fascinating how different guitars can respond differently to alternate tunings. Some seem to love Eb, while others might require adjustments like changing string gauges to maintain optimal tension. It's all part of the adventure of finding the right setup for each instrument. By the way, I stumbled upon this helpful guide at https://staytunedguitar.com/tuning-an-8-string-guitar. Although it's specifically for 8-string guitars, it might still offer some valuable insights for those seeking intonation tips in different tunings.

 

[311boogieman]

^ @Monkey Man - what did he do wrong? Or has AI gotten that good?

 

[the4thlast1]

As others have mentioned here, set the intonation last. Change strings, set to desired tuning , adjust string height and neck if needed, then intonation. I’ve noticed that if you drop or raise a half step intonation is usually still good if not very close but dropping a full step or more it will drift. You also wanna change string gauge when tuning lower which affects the entire setup.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Would there even be a point to intonating in a given key? Intonation is basically the process of setting the 12th fret to be exactly one octave above the string's open note when fretted. Once the bridge or saddle has been adjusted for that, why would it matter if you tune to E standard or drop A?

I suppose that if you intonate under super high tension and high action, then you might theoretically want to give the string a bit more length by moving the saddle back towards the bridge to account for the extra tension of pulling the string down to the fret (which would make the string go sharp). Conversely, a guitar with relatively low string tension (low tuning / low action) wouldn't need that extra string length.

So while theoretically, the lower the tension (being a function of tuning and string gauge), the shorter a given string should be set for a given scale length. But for people who play with anything resembling a guitar that's been setup relatively normally, with relatively low action, I can’t see it mattering at all in any practical sense.

 

[Devin]

i always intonate in whatever tuning i'm gonna be using

 

[SpiderWars]

^ @Monkey Man - what did he do wrong? Or has AI gotten that good?

Must be really cracking down on necrobumps.

 

[thegame]

You're absolutely right that setting the intonation is not just about the distance but also how much the string is pulled sharp when fretted. It's all about finding that sweet spot where the notes ring true across the fretboard. And you're spot on about adjusting for neck relief before setting intonation in a guitar setup. It's fascinating how different guitars can respond differently to alternate tunings. Some seem to love Eb, while others might require adjustments like changing string gauges to maintain optimal tension. It's all part of the adventure of finding the right setup for each instrument. By the way, I stumbled upon this helpful guide at https://staytunedguitar.com/tuning-an-8-string-guitar. Although it's specifically for 8-string guitars, it might still offer some valuable insights for those seeking intonation tips in different tunings.

You're a chronic intonater, that's what you are.

 

[messenger]

Me and my singer have tried to explain intonation to our bass player ??‍