Topmusicanswers
Guitar Intonation Explained If the note at the 12th fret is out of tune (more than a few cents off) from the open note, you probably need to adjust your intonation. When intonation is set, the string length is adjusted by moving the saddle closer or farther from the bridge.
- Why is my electric guitar out of tune?
- Why can't I Intonate my guitar?
- Which way do I move my saddle for intonation?
Why is my electric guitar out of tune?
If your frets are worn, notes played on those frets will be out of tune. Sometimes frets pop up a bit throwing notes out of pitch at those frets. If you're noticing notes out of tune throughout the neck it might be time to either have the frets dressed (leveled) or after excessive use, replaced.
Why can't I Intonate my guitar?
If the tops of your frets are too flat, dented, or you just had crappy fretwork done by a bad guitar tech, you can have trouble setting intonation. If this is the case, you'll probably have other issues too, such as fret buzz or notes fretting out. Overly flat frets can cause intonation issues.
Which way do I move my saddle for intonation?
If the fretted note is sharp compared to the harmonic, the bridge saddle will need to be moved back, away from the head stock. If the fretted note is flat compared to the harmonic, the saddle will need to move forward, toward the headstock.
