Music instrument - setting up a guitar

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Intonation

Setting your guitar intonation is critical to proper chording. A common mistake many new guitar players make is feeling that a guitar pulled off the local music store shelf is "ready" to play! Actually, you probably should seek the assistance of a good guitar mechanic to assist in setting up the guitar for your style and needs, but always check the intonation if you are purchasing a new guitar.
This page is dedicated to helping you get the most out of your guitar by simple adjustments that you can make yourself. I will always stress that if you are not completely sure exactly what you are doing to your guitar, you should always take it in for any adjustments or maintenance work. This page is for informational purposes only, you assume all responsibility for damages to your instrument for any reason.

Adjustments

Many electric guitars come with adjustable saddles to allow proper string intonation of the instrument. You will notice this type saddle on most Gibson guitars (called a "tune-o-matic"). If you have ever played a guitar that seems to get further out of tune the closer you play towards the body of the guitar, it is likely that it has not been properly intoned.

How to check your guitars intonation yourself:

(1) Start out with an electric guitar tuner & a set of fresh batteries.

(2) Tune the instrument with the tuner (if your tuner comes with an in-line jack it will be best to use this)

(3) Now carefully check each individual string for the exact tune (the 12th fret harmonic should be used)

(4) If the string shows "tuned" according to the electric tuner, simply press down on the string at the 12th fret noting with the tuner if the string has gone sharp or flat. If the string does not keep exact tune, it is not properly set.

{Note: Be sure that none of the other strings are creating vibration while checking the current string. You can place a small piece of masking tape on the strings you want to dampen to assure there will be no background disturbance}

(5) If you find the fretted note is flat then that means your string length is too long for that particular string. You need to shorten the length of that string by turning the screw on the saddle until the string plays in pitch. Recheck the string. Do the opposite adjustment for a string that plays sharp.

(6) This can be a daunting task the first time you attempt to adjust your guitar intonation. If you have too much difficulty, (or just cannot figure this out) most guitar shops charge around £20 to adjust your guitar intonation. However, learning to do this is part of routine maintenance. Changing string gauges or resting your hand on the tail piece (my habit) will result in needing minor adjustments from time to time to the intonation.

For a guitar intonation refers to the length of the strings relative to the position of the frets. Bad intonation refers to any error between them. Intonation can typically be adjusted through changing the bridge position (in effect changing the string length) and also by changing the neck angle (by adjusting the truss rod) or by changing the weight of the strings.

A common simple test for some intonation faults is to check that the harmonic at fret twelve is the exact same pitch as the note from the string when fretted at the same place. Normally this will be corrected by adjusting the bridge position.

A badly made or damaged guitar may have intonation so bad that it cannot be corrected without performing extensive work on the guitar (for example removing the neck and re-fixing in a different position or replacing the neck entirely).