How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!: Dealing with intonation

Intonation is tricky to deal with while tuning your guitar. This is the authors way of addressing intonation. "Play the open string. With the note still ringing in your mind or displayed on a tuner, play the fretted note at the 12th fret. The two notes should be the same-a perfect octave" (Erlewine 115). He references " playing a fretted note at the 12th fret", that means playing an open string, ensuring it is in tune, and on that string press down the 12th fret and play the same string. The note should be exactly the same. The 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets are commonly marked on guitars with a white dot on the neck.




















That is a quick way to get to that 12th fret. If your intonation isn't set, (The note is not the same on the open string and 12th fret) there are a couple of options of what you can do to fix that issue.

 1. Ensure that the frets are level and the strings have a clear path through the neck. If that is your issue, going to a professional is your best bet.
2. If your strings are new, stretch them out before you install them.
3. If your problem persists, once again, a professional is the best way to go.

Intonation is tough to deal with but it is very relevant while playing the higher notes on your instrument. Has anybody had to deal with intonation on any instruments besides guitar? I would be interested to hear what you had to do.