A Guide to Digital Tuners
Tuners are one of the most ubiquitous music accessories out there. Almost any instrumentalist from guitarist to timpanist benefits from having one kicking around in his or her gig bag.
You can survive without a tuner, but why go through the hassle of borrowing somebody else’s? Today tuners are very affordable and even the cheapest ones are accurate within one cent—one onehundredth of the space between notes.
It’s a big step up from the time when musicians tuned only to pitch pipes, other instruments, or tuning forks. All of those methods still serve a purpose. Tuning to another instrument, most likely a piano, works well for groups and jazz combos. If the piano is out of tune, it’s easier for the ensemble to tune to the piano than to tune the piano itself. Symphony orchestras usually tune to the principal oboe—who is very likely using a digital tuner.
Pitch pipes are still a popular tuning method used by many a cappella groups and other vocalists who need a reliable reference note. They never lose their pitch and they never run out of batteries. As for tuning forks, they are still the preferred tool for professional piano tuners.
However, the advent of digital tuners a few decades ago made tuning much easier and more consistent. Even tone-deaf hackers can find the perfect tuning. Dozens of varieties are on the market, and any musician can find one to suit his or her needs.
The column at left includes a few popular types. Other more specialized products include rackmount tuners, a popular choice with touring electric guitarists and bassists; on-board tuners, installed onto the instrument itself; and software-based tuners, like iPhone Apps (see “Tiny Music,” page 40) or those included with recording programs like ProTools.
The decision ultimately comes down to what instrument you play, where you play it, and which, if any, extra features you want. They do all share one thing: they’ll get you in tune in no time.
