By far the number one reason you will wind up chasing your tail. If you don’t take the initial elasticity out of fresh strings, at least one good stretch, you are trying to intonate rubber bands - good luck! Therefore it’s best to try a different brand altogether if you suspect this is the core of a severe intonation issue. If there’s one bad string in a set, chances are a set pulled from the same lot will have exactly the same problem. Even worse, they tend to come in batches from the manufacturer. I’ve experienced this a number of times, where the windings on a string were inconsistent, even loose, making intonation absolutely impossible - I mean impossibly impossible. Cheap, imperfectly manufactured strings.The difference may be a small amount, but it will make accuracy fall outside the bulls-eye.

Since the intonation point has to be dead middle of the fret’s width, any deviation due to wear will give you false readings. If you’re more aggressive in your playing, adjust your approach accordingly. If you’re a light player, use a light touch. Try to use an even finger pressure that matches your style. If you’re interested in why, look up “equal temperament” or “just intonation” in a music dictionary.There are many things that will push guitar intonation down a black hole. Fretted instruments have a natural flaw where they can’t be perfectly intonated. You will discover that it is impossible to get every single fret perfectly in tune. If you are sharp, you need to add length to the string by moving the saddle backward.Īfter you adjust the saddle, double check the open string is still in tune.

If you are flat, you need to shorten the string by moving the saddle forward. It should be the same note as the open string.Ĭheck the electronic bass tuner to see if you are flat (too low) or sharp (too high). You want this fretted note to be in tune. Make sure you press the string straight down. Starting with your lowest string, fret the string at the 12th fret.

Using an electronic tuner, tune all the open strings to their correct pitches. You do this by tightening or loosening the intonation screws at the back of the bridge. To set the intonation of your bass guitar, you must lengthen or shorten the string by moving the string’s saddle backward or forward.

Guitar tuner notes strings for d setup