James Taylor Advocates Being Out Of Tune!!!

But in a good way:-)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2xnXArjPts
 
 

yup... I have noticed those tendencies ... never really thought about intentionally tuning flat, because tuning dead on has worked well for me.  I do tune the B a bit flat ....
 
Next time I tune up I will certainly investigate this "alternate" tuning.....

Next you will be buying that guitar that has the bent frets as shown before.
http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php
 

I'll stick with the tuning that makes the guitar sound like all strings are in tune.
(up and down the fret board).
 

For those not willing to watch the entire video, here is the tuning JT uses:
 
High E: -3 Cents
B: -6 Cents
G: -4 Cents
D: -8 Cents
A: -10 Cents
Low E: -12 Cents
 
Since this is mainly for two reasons: Because using a capo sharpens each string and the low E tends to ring sharp, I wonder if you should bring it a bit closer to dead on if you're not using a capo?  (Maybe just leave the A and low E a little flat?)

After all, folks, being "in tune" is purely out of sink with nature. To me it's like having a rhythm perfectly quantized. It sounds too pure. Sterile. Mechanical. Void of character. There's simply no "human feel" to it.
 
So the balance is to be just off tune enough no one notices.

In the words of Ry Cooder: 'If I pick up my guitar and its out of tune, I respect it.'

Tuning is all relative, man! I say make your own tunings. Play your own way. Whatever makes you happy.
 
I never said I would listen...
 
Tho that funky guitar does look interesting. I always thought there was something wrong with the current establishment.

I've heard of many guitar tuning methods and philosophies, will have to give this one a try. The way that's served me well for at least 15 years is tuning the A string to a tuning fork, then tuning the rest as follows:
 
D string 7th fret harmonic to 12th fret harmonic of A
G string 2nd fret to 12th fret harmonic of A
B string 5th fret to 7th fret harmonic of A
E strings to 7th fret harmonic of A
 
The idea being that if you use one string as a reference from which to tune the other strings, it eliminates any inaccuracies which build up when you tune every string from the one below it. 

yorolpal
But in a good way:-)
...

If you watch the movie Jonathan Demme did on Neil Young, he is also out of tune many times, and it does not hurt ANYTHING in his singing and performance at all. In fact, it makes him even better, because you and I know that we have moments like that, but we also know that we care and have feelings that have absolutely NOTHING to do with being in tune!

I've got it all here in my head
 

Gettin' in tune to the straight and narrow.
 

craigb
But how do you tuna fish?

Oh carp, not the Phish jokes again?

craigb
Not that it matters since I'm completely out of tuna...

It does es-scales-lates the need to go shopping, no?

Kneal Jung gives me hope that someone somewhere will actually appreciate my singing (that's what I'm calling it).

jamesg1213

bapu
Kneal Jung gives me hope that someone somewhere will actually appreciate my singing (that's what I'm calling it).

Your singing is perfectly in tune mate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Just not necessarily with the song you're doing...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I keeed!