Accessories Best Sax tuner for studio use

[ellinas]

I find that "lazy" tuners work better on saxophone. I love cleartune.
Sensitive and ultra-accurate tuners can drive you crazy.

 

[jazzdoh]

I find that "lazy" tuners work better on saxophone. I love cleartune.
Sensitive and ultra-accurate tuners can drive you crazy.

I agree, I use Cleartune, great app cheap and is a great tuner.

 

[jthole]

I use this one: AW-LT100M Clip-on Instrumental Tuner

But when (on my tenor) F#2 is in tune, I know the intonation tendencies of the other notes, and I tune by ear.

The advantage of that clip-on tuner is that you can also tune your sax in a noisy room.

 

[ghostler]

I have a fancy Korg and older Yamaha hand held tuner with analogue meter dial, but haven't used them for a while.

I've just learned to play my wind instruments in pitch throughout its range.

As one advances in their playing ability, hopefully they develop this sense of perfect tuning throughout an instrument's range.

 

[jonf]

I have a fancy Korg and older Yamaha hand held tuner with analogue meter dial, but haven't used them for a while.

I've just learned to play my wind instruments in pitch throughout its range.

As one advances in their playing ability, hopefully they develop this sense of perfect tuning throughout an instrument's range.

Not so sure about perfect tuning, but I have to agree with you that the best tool for good enough tuning is the original Mk 1 ear.

 

[ghostler]

Not so sure about perfect tuning, but I have to agree with you that the best tool for good enough tuning is the original Mk 1 ear.

And the MK 2 (if wearing hearing aids). 😉

 

[jonf]

And the MK 2 (if wearing hearing aids). 😉

Yes indeed, I may be about to move to the Mk 2 model myself. My wife and daughters keep complaining I have the TV and music on at ear-spliting volumes. To me it sounds quite quiet......

 

[ghostler]

Yes indeed, I may be about to move to the Mk 2 model myself. My wife and daughters keep complaining I have the TV and music on at ear-spliting volumes. To me it sounds quite quiet......

The wife had told me in my younger years that I needed a hearing aide, but that was due to my selective saxophone tuning hearing. 😉

 

[MikeMorrell]

Hi @ZeroZero,

I use a mobile phone 'sax tuner' app at the start of any rehearsal. After I've adjusted my neck strap (to get my best mpc position) and reed (to get the best 'playability' and tone across my playing range), I always check my 'tuning' with the app.

The main reason for this is that the 'fit' of my mpc on the cork of my neck is very tight. So often my tuning is too low (flat) and I need to give my mpc one more turn on the cork. Occasionally, I've gone too far and need to screw the mpc back on the cork.

FWIW, my (amateur) experience has been that it always helps a lot (for any band and/or for your own self-confidence) in 'tuning up your sax' before playing.
As others have (correctly) pointed out, 'playing in tune' also depends on your 'intonation'. But my experience has been that 'tuning' a few basic notes (in my case middle G to middle C) helps to know that the 'basics' are in tune.

Via the same app, you can also measure the extent to which you can accurately play higher or lower notes. And the same can also help you improve your intonation. I've used various apps over the years. Until they no longer became 'compatible with my current device' I'm an Android user and my current 'tuning app' is 'Saxophone Tuner'. But I encourage you choose which Apple/Android app or 'physical tuner' suits you best.

 

[atwl77]

The advantage of that clip-on tuner is that you can also tune your sax in a noisy room.

I have a Korg TM-60 which I bought with the contact microphone bundle. The contact microphone would come in handy in this noisy room scenario, or the TM-60 can be used normally like any other tuner.

Also has a backlight, tone generator, as well as metronome (though the beep can be a bit soft to hear, for playing sax).

 

[jazzdoh]

I agree, I use Cleartune, great app cheap and is a great tuner.

I have just bought a new phone and have found out that Cleartune is no longer available so I'm on the hunt for another android tuner, anyone got any ideas?

 

[mizmar]

I have just bought a new phone and have found out that Cleartune is no longer available so I'm on the hunt for another android tuner, anyone got any ideas?

I - and many others, based on comments when this is discussed - use TonalEnergy aka TE. It does lots and was, when I got it, cheep.

 

[jazzdoh]

I - and many others, based on comments when this is discussed - use TonalEnergy aka TE. It does lots and was, when I got it, cheep.

Thanks I will take a look at it.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Tuners, that show the fundamental and the overtones(harmonics), are nice to use.

 

[mizmar]

Tuners, that show the fundamental and the overtones(harmonics), are nice to use.

FWIW TE can show a spectrogram.

 

[kelly]

I totally get what you mean—finding a tabletop tuner with a large, clear color display (and not a clip-on) is surprisingly hard! Most of them either have dull screens or aren't designed for sax players. I’ve been on the lookout too—if I come across something that fits, I’ll definitely share!

 

[Jeanette]

I have just bought a new phone and have found out that Cleartune is no longer available so I'm on the hunt for another android tuner, anyone got any ideas?

I use sound corset on android

Jx

 

[jazzdoh]

I use sound corset on android

Jx

Thanks I will take a look.