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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Silly question I know, but hows does my guitar go up in pitch? I notice often when a guitar has been sitting unplayed for a few days, when I check the tuning some of the strings are actually sharper.
This goes against science. How could the tension (and thus the pitch) increase? And it's not just me, other guitar players notice the same thing. I thought for sure some of the great minds on this forum would have the answer. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Just from the strings perspective, simple changes in temperature can cause the string to 'shrink' resulting in a higher pitch. Good reason why many of us loosen the strings before putting it in the baggage hold of a plane. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Brian, I've noticed it the last few days as well. I believe it is because we went from warmer to cooler in the last few days and the effective string length is slightly shorter from the temperature change. I don't know whether it is the instrument shrinking more than the strings or what, but the effect is all the strings go slightly sharp.
Roger |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| ..the guitar contracts and the strings get tighter and go sharp, the guitar expands and the strings get loser and go flat...temperature and humidity are the causes..
Steve |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | What they said.
The temp and humidity are slightly different in my office than in our worship sanctuary. My guitar can be in tune in the office and be slightly out of tune after carrying it to where the band plays. |
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How or why does a string get sharper?
