"Ask Bud!"

Question:

My steel is out of tune for half of the first song I play each set and then seems to be okay for the rest of the set. Is there any way I can stop this?

Answer:

From time to time steel guitarists have problems with detuning of their guitars. In a previous column, I discussed "physical detuning" (failure of strings to return true).

Your problem is most likely "environmental detuning"" (pitch changes caused by temperature variations).

Try this: while tuning and just before you play that first song, rub the strings back and forth 4 or 5 times with your hands. Once you have rubbed the strings in this manner, keep your hands ON the strings until you actually start to play the first song!

This procedure will help to compensate for temperature variations and should cure the problem of your steel being out of tune for only the first part of the first song of each set.

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