Checking and Adjusting Guitar Intonation
Why Proper Intonation is Important and How to Adjust It
Guitar "intonation" refers to whether strings are sharp, flat, or in tune when fretted at different locations on the neck. A guitar with improperly set intonation may sound in tune when notes or chords are played in the "home positions" at the top of the neck near the headstock, but will sound off when played further up on the neck near the body.
This article explains how to check if a guitar's intonation needs adjustment. If intonation is off, it explains how to adjust the intonation. Instructions are given for a Tune-o-matic bridge, the standard on Gibsons and used on many other guitars. Other bridges exist that have their own ways to adjust intonation. Instructions for these can be easily found throughout the web. Adjusting to the particularities of a specific bridge, the steps in this article are still useful.
How to Tell if Intonation is Set Correctly
Figuring out if a guitar's intonation needs adjustment is simple:
- Play the low E string open and, using an accurate tuner, assure it is in tune.
- Play the A string open and assure it is in tune.
- Similarly tune the rest of the strings.
- Fret the low E string at the twelfth fret, which is also an E, but higher up on the neck. The tuner should show the higher E in tune as the open string was. If not, the intonation is off for the string and needs to be adjusted.
- Similarly check intonation on all subsequent strings.
Once these steps are complete, it's time to adjust the intonation at the bridge.
Adjusting Intonation
As stated before, this article assumes the guitar has a Tune-o-matic bridge. The bridge is found at the bottom end of the guitar. The strings might be strung through holes in the body of the guitar and then over the bridge (string through body), or might be held by another piece of hardware behind the bridge. Either way, the technique is the same. The only tool needed is a small flathead screwdriver. Follow these steps:
- Find the bridge and locate the adjustment screws. They should be facing away from the neck and pickups.
- Choose one string that needs adjustment, and once again ensure the string played open is in tune using an electronic tuner.
- Play the string at the twelfth fret, seeing whether the note is flat or sharp.
- If the note is flat, using the small flathead screwdriver, turn the screw controlling that string's saddle a little to the left. This moves the saddle that the string rests on forward, shortening the string and making the string's tone sharper. If the note is sharp, do the same except turning the screw to the right.
- Once again, play the open string making sure it's tuned, then fret the string again at the twelfth fret and check the tuning. If the string is still out of tune, turn the screw a little more to the proper direction and check again. Once the string is in tune both open and at the twelfth fret you're done. The intonation is set on that string.
- Go through these steps for all string that require adjustment.
What to do if Fretted Notes are Still Out of Tune
In most cases, especially with a new guitar, adjustment at the bridge will fix any intonation problems. If not, there may be other issues. These include improper string height (action), or a neck that a bowed, required adjustment of the truss rod. These will be discussed in a later article.
Tune-o-matic Bridge
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Adjusting Guitar Intonation
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