Expert: Frank A Dornay Jr - 8/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
         I recently bought restrung my guitar. I'm very beginner but I think I did a fair job with this. My problem is my high E, B, and G strings won't tune properly. I have an electronic tuner and a CD. I cannot get the guitar to match the CD sound. And when the electronic tuner says the note is correct the string is really loose and kind of buzzes. I can tell that's not right. I tried just going with the loose string on the high E and started to play F and G and according to the tuner these were way off. The D, A, and low E are perfect. It's just the three other strings that are giving me problems. Do you think it may have to do with my restringing? I would love if you could help me out. And if there is any part of this you didn't understand please reply and tell me to clarify. Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Ivuoma!


   It seems like maybe you may not have the other notes in the right octave.  The tuner says the note is correct because technically it is, though not the right E.  What happens when you tune your guitar to the CD pitches? If there is buzzing, have you thought about adjusting your action if it's an electric guitar?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's an acoustic and when it seems for some reason that the notes my guitar makes cannot quite reach the ones on the cd. But for example when I get the E close to what it may sound like, as you can tell it's a very iffy close, the tuner says it's a C. And when I get it to this pitch there is no buzzing and it feels more right. There's only the slight difference in pitch. I just can't get to sound like the cd.

Answer
Have you considered going to a professional who may be able to fix any problems with it? It may cost a little bit of money, but will be well worth it. You may have to get your frets looked at it you get continuous buzzing.  Try a local guitar store and see what they say.  They may be able to fix it for you even for free!