Guitar
The guitar uses frets for pitch placement, but intonation still varies with technique, string age, setup, and playing position. Bending, vibrato, and barré chord pressure all affect pitch.
Notes mapped
37
Brands cataloged
11
Models
54
References
4
Common Pitch Tendencies
- Fretted notes can go sharp from pressing too hard
- Higher frets tend sharper due to intonation compensation limits
- Barré chords often sharp from excessive pressure
- Old or worn strings lose intonation accuracy
- Capo placement affects intonation across all frets
- Bending technique requires precise pitch targeting
- Open strings vs fretted: slight discrepancy is normal (equal temperament)
- Classical guitar nails/flesh affect attack and perceived pitch
🌡️ Temperature & Warm-up
Temperature and humidity significantly affect guitar tuning. Wood expands/contracts, strings change tension. Allow 5–10 min to acclimate before assessing intonation.
Register Guide
Low Register
Open position (frets 0–4): Most stable intonation area. Use light pressure. Compare open strings and fretted notes to check setup. If 1st-fret notes are sharp, nut may be too high.
Middle Register
Mid position (frets 5–9): Intonation depends heavily on saddle compensation. Check octave at 12th fret harmonic vs fretted note — if fretted is sharp, saddle needs to move back.
High Register
Upper position (frets 10–16): Most prone to sharpness from setup issues. Very light touch essential. If consistently sharp, the guitar likely needs a professional setup.
Harmonics
Harmonics (12th, 7th, 5th fret): Pure overtones that don't depend on fretting — excellent pitch references. Use 12th fret harmonic to check octave intonation.
Note-by-Note Tendencies
| Note | Fingering / Position | Tendency | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| E2 | 6th string: open | 0 | Open string tuning reference. Check with tuner before each session. |
| F2 | 6th string: fret 1 | ±2 | Light pressure only — pressing too hard at fret 1 adds sharpness, especially if nut is high. |
| F#2 | 6th string: fret 2 | ±2 | Minimal finger pressure. If consistently sharp, nut slot may need filing. |
| G2 | 6th string: fret 3 | ±2 | Good intonation zone on a well-setup guitar. Keep fingers close to fret wire. |
| Ab2 | 6th string: fret 4 | ±2 | Place finger just behind the fret for cleanest tone and best intonation. |
| A2 | 5th string: open | 0 | Open string reference. Tune carefully — A2 is the standard reference pitch. |
| Bb2 | 5th string: fret 1 | ±2 | Light touch. Check nut height if fret 1 notes are consistently sharp. |
| B2 | 5th string: fret 2 | ±2 | Common note in open-position chords. Keep pressure light and consistent. |
| C3 | 5th string: fret 3 | ±2 | Frequently used root note. Finger right behind the fret for best pitch. |
| C#3 | 5th string: fret 4 | ±2 | Part of many first-position chord shapes. Maintain even, light pressure. |
| D3 | 4th string: open | 0 | Open string reference. Wound string — allow it to ring fully for accurate tuner reading. |
| Eb3 | 4th string: fret 1 | ±2 | Light finger pressure. Common in jazz voicings — accuracy matters for chord quality. |
| E3 | 4th string: fret 2 | ±2 | Matches open 1st string one octave lower. Use as a reference check. |
| F3 | 4th string: fret 3 | ±2 | Important note in first-position chords. Keep wrist relaxed to avoid over-pressing. |
| F#3 | 4th string: fret 4 | ±2 | Used in D major and related chords. Light, precise pressure. |
| G3 | 3rd string: open | 0 | Open string reference. On acoustic guitars, wound G may read differently than plain G. |
| Ab3 | 3rd string: fret 1 | ±2 | Light pressure. The G string transition from wound to plain affects intonation feel. |
| A3 | 3rd string: fret 2 | ±2 | Compare to open A string one octave up. Should match if intonation is set. |
| Bb3 | 3rd string: fret 3 | ±2 | Common in chord voicings. Maintain consistent, light fretting pressure. |
| B3 | 3rd string: fret 4 | +2 to +3 | Matches open B string — compare them. G string fret 4 may read slightly sharp. |
| C4 | 2nd string: fret 1 | +2 to +4 | B string is hardest to intonate. Compensated saddle helps. Use very light pressure. |
| C#4 | 2nd string: fret 2 | +2 to +4 | B string sharpness compounds with pressure. Lightest possible touch. |
| D4 | 2nd string: fret 3 | +2 to +5 | Compare to open D string one octave up. B string may read sharper. |
| Eb4 | 2nd string: fret 4 | +2 to +5 | B string intonation issues are most noticeable in this range. Feather-light touch. |
| E4 | 1st string: open | 0 | Open string reference. Should be exactly two octaves above low E string. |
| F4 | 1st string: fret 1 | ±2 | Light pressure. If sharp, check nut slot depth — too high causes sharpness at fret 1. |
| F#4 | 1st string: fret 2 | ±2 | Common in open chords (e.g., D major). Keep finger arched and precise. |
| G4 | 1st string: fret 3 | ±2 | Compare to open G string one octave up. Useful intonation check. |
| Ab4 | 1st string: fret 4 | ±2 | Transitioning to mid-position. Maintain light, consistent pressure. |
| A4 | 1st string: fret 5 | +2 to +4 | Concert A reference (440 Hz). Mid-position — check saddle compensation if sharp. |
| Bb4 | 1st string: fret 6 | +2 to +5 | Mid-fret sharpness begins. Lighter touch than open position. Check setup. |
| B4 | 1st string: fret 7 | +3 to +5 | Compare to 12th-fret harmonic on B string. Saddle compensation matters here. |
| C5 | 1st string: fret 8 | +3 to +6 | Sharpness increases with fret position. Very light pressure essential. |
| C#5 | 1st string: fret 9 | +3 to +6 | If consistently sharp, guitar needs intonation adjustment at the saddle. |
| D5 | 1st string: fret 10 | +4 to +7 | Upper frets compound sharpness. Lightest possible touch — barely press the string. |
| Eb5 | 1st string: fret 11 | +4 to +8 | Near the octave point. Compare to open E harmonics for reference. |
| E5 | 1st string: fret 12 | +5 to +8 | Octave of open string. Should match 12th-fret harmonic — if sharp, adjust saddle back. |
🔧 Equipment & Setup
🎻 Strings
- Fresh strings intonate more accurately — change every 2–4 weeks for serious practice
- Coated strings (Elixir, etc.) maintain intonation longer but may have different feel
- String gauge affects intonation: heavier strings need more saddle compensation
- Nylon strings (classical): stretch significantly when new — retune frequently for first 48 hours
- Steel strings: less stretch but more affected by temperature changes
- Wound vs plain G string: affects 3rd string intonation differently
🔧 Instrument
- Action height: too high = pressing sharp; too low = buzzing and false pitch readings
- Saddle compensation: each string needs different compensation for accurate intonation across frets
- Nut slots: must be cut to correct depth — too high makes first position sharp
- Neck relief (truss rod): slight forward bow is normal; excessive bow affects mid-fret intonation
- Capo: spring capos can press too hard (sharpness) — screw-type allows pressure control
- Fret wear: flat spots on frets cause buzzing and intonation problems — level or replace
💡 Practice Tips
- Use minimum finger pressure — just enough for a clean note
- Check intonation: 12th-fret harmonic should match 12th-fret fretted note
- Change strings regularly for accurate intonation
- Get a professional setup at least once a year
- Train bends with a tuner — full-tone bends sit ~10¢ flat for most players who don't check; visualize the target pitch before bending
- Barré chord pressure: just enough that all strings ring — extra pressure sharpens the lowest frets by 5–10¢ across the chord
- Tune before every practice session and re-check after 10 minutes — string tension settles as the wood warms; cold strings drift up to 5¢ in the first 10 minutes
- Use harmonics as reference points when playing up the neck
Common Brands & Models
Brands cataloged in Virtuosic for guitar (used by the app to filter shared tendency data by manufacturer).
Martin
D-28 · D-18 · HD-28 · +4 more
Taylor
214ce · 314ce · 414ce · +3 more
Gibson
J-45 · Hummingbird · Les Paul Standard · +3 more
Fender
Stratocaster · Telecaster · Jazzmaster · +3 more
Yamaha
FG800 · FG830 · APX600 · +4 more
Ibanez
RG421 · RG550 · JEM7V · +2 more
PRS
Custom 24 · SE Custom 24 · Silver Sky · +1 more
Epiphone
Les Paul Standard · SG Standard · Casino · +1 more
Cordoba
C5 · C7 · C9 · +2 more
Seagull
S6 Original · Coastline S6 · Maritime SWS
Other
Custom/Other
📚 References
Tendencies and adjustments are drawn from established acoustic-research and pedagogy literature for this instrument family. Specific cent values vary by individual instrument, player, and conditions.
- Tennant, S. (1995). Pumping Nylon (classical-guitar technique).
- Sherrod, J. (2007). The Buzz Feiten Tuning System reference materials.
- Earvana / Compensated Nut documentation (compensated tuning).
- Fletcher, N. H., & Rossing, T. D. (1998). The Physics of Musical Instruments — chapter on plucked strings.
See your own intonation profile
Virtuosic Premium overlays your per-note pitch deltas on these instrument averages, so you can see exactly where you differ from the typical guitar player — and how warmup shifts each note.