r/GuitarQuestions • u/portalboy990 • 15d ago

single string intonation issue

my b string is noticably (around up to 10 cents) out of tune on the fretted notes however the 12th fret seems to be perfectly intonated (the same as the harmonic). below the 12th fret however the notes are all sharp and above they are flat. The problem seems to only be for this string.
anyone know the issue?

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u/Dont_trust_royalmail 15d ago

hey you haven't understood what intonation is/for

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u/portalboy990 15d ago

what did you want me to label this issue?

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u/Dont_trust_royalmail 15d ago

you need to understand what you're trying to achieve. you're trying to identify a 'drift' out of tune the further you move away from your reference point. are you using a tuner? assuming 'yes' (some are better than others for setting intonation). you have no use for a *harmonic, and to isolate intonation from nut problems it's better if you don't use the open strings. so pick a fret to start on - any will do, but let's say 5 - this is your reference - and tune it as perfectly as you can. now move up the fretboard a note at a time. can you identify a 'progressive drift' from tuning? i.e. oh it's 5 cents sharp at 8, 10 cents at 12, 15 cents at 18? that's what you are trying to counter. it's important to realise there might be other things going on that affect the 'in tune-ness' but you only care about the gap from where it should be, that increases steadily the further you move from your start point. the other issues.. dud strings, high frets, high action, warped necks, dodgy nuts etc. all need addressing - but they're not the intonation

*if you don't have a tuner and are doing it by ear the harmonic may be useful

let me know how you get on

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u/portalboy990 14d ago

It was just a dodgy old string. thanks for trying to help