by Paul Gian
Prerequisite Steps for Guitar Intonation Adjustment
If your guitar is not playing the desired harmonies, then surely there is a problem with the intonation of the instrument. A badly intoned guitar is sure to corrupt the quality of music created by you. In order to keep all the chords and keys in tune with each other, you need to perform intonation adjustment quite often. However, the effectiveness of the adjustment operations depends on how you prepare your instrument correctly for the process. A step by step approach is what proves to be most effective.
Make sure to tune your guitar before you intone. This should be done with utmost accuracy and precision. Take the help of an electric tuner. Use a pick, instead of bare fingers to maintain the accuracy. The entire instrument should be tuned to absolute perfection. Repeat the steps for each string, as many times as necessary. Each string should be perfectly tuned up.
The next vital step is to adjust the action of the guitar. In case you keep this for post intonation, you will have to re do the intonation process all over again. If the strings are producing a buzz, you need to increase their levels from the bridge to reduce that. Check if the action of the guitar is too high. If it is, you need to reduce the distance of the strings and the fretboard. Once the action is lowered, the intonation will definitely be better. Also check for any structural deformity your guitar might have, like an ill fitted bridge or a defective string. Such things should be sorted out before embarking upon intonation adjustment.
Before adjusting, you need to be aware of how off key your instrument actually is. To check, fret the string at the 12th fret and then moderately pick it. Picking too hard will cause unnecessary buzzing. Take the help of the electric tuner to tell you if you are too flat or sharp. Once you gauge this, adjustments of the bridge can be made accordingly. For example, if you are too flat you need to move the bridge closer to the fretboard and vice versa. Repeat the steps after bridge adjustment to check the intonation.