[2Tonic]

If you're looking for greater accuracy you might consider a strobe tuner. Users tend to agree that they are faster and more accurate than other digital or analog types. Among strobes, the Sonic Research products get very high marks for price, speed, and accuracy. Their web site is:

http://www.turbo-tuner.com/

YMMV

 

[JCBigler]

I've been using the Korg DT-1 for as long as I can remember. Bought it first in high school, when it seemed uber expensive (like $200 back then). I bought a second one a few years ago used for $25 plus shipping. The batteries last forever and it's as fast and acurate as I've seen in a hand held unit.

The ones that I have are the all black models.

 

[Zathura]

Thanks for the replies.

Why do so many use Korg CA30, CA40, TM40 when does Korg do not recommend them for the sax?

 

[Souportwenty]

I have used the Korg CA30 in school and on my own gigs for years now. They take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. I have two and make sure my bass player tunes up before each class. They will also play a reference pitch for you. My only complaint with it is the fact that it will change from 440 to other reference points. Often the kids will mess with this setting and they next one to get the tuner has problems. I do think they are a bargain and gives you a good reference pitch to start with. I also agree with everyone who has mentioned that your ear is the ultimate tuner.

 

[Dr G]

This is soooooooooooo true. If your playing spot on and the secion is actually flat, guess who is playing out of tune?

I play tenor next to an older gentleman playing lead alto. He's got poor high frequency hearing (I should know, I've tested him and fit him with hearing aids) and almost always plays flat. Now that I know, I'll use the Korg to check my relative tuning but know I'll have to pull out slightly to match where Jack (lead alto) puts it. Fortunately, I can "hear" when I get to his pitch.

I pass my tuner 'round the section if I hear someone out of tune. I let them determine who it is and whether flat/sharp.

Sure, you can correct your pitch to match that of the lead but who wants the whole section out of tune with the rest of the band?

 

[JL]

If only that would transpose it would be perfect.

Why? You don't need a tuner to transpose. You already know what note you're playing. The tuner tells you how close to being in tune you are. I guess it might be an issue if you're off by more than a half tone, but in that case, you've got a major problem.

 

[artstove]

I have a Quik Tune, very similar to the Korg. Has both a needle and LEDs. Seems to work just fine. Uses a standard 9v battery. On the down side, the power button is easy to push, and it doesn't have an automatic shutoff, so it isn't great for carrying around, as it can get accidentally turned on and drain the battery.

Someone loaned me a clip-on one (I forget who made it) that was very handy, especially for figuring out how my vintage horn (and I) shifted intonation in different ranges.

But here is a really slick thing - I was playing clarinet in a big band at Jazz Camp West when the director (Marcus Shelby) pulled out his iPhone and started pointing it at people. He had a tuner app for his iPhone! He said it cost something like $1.99.

 

[Matt Otto]

What do you all think is the best tuner for the sax? Yamaha TD-1 looks pretty compact, but are there better ones?

Is there some ideal one that combines both tuner and metronome together?

What's your take on:

1) Best pure tuner

2) Best combination tuner/metronome

Thanks in advance!

I think using a pedal point or drone is the best way to learn to play "in tune".
In the end, on the bandstand, your ear is the only real tuner...

 

[Face Ache Mike]

If only that would transpose it would be perfect.

Why? You don't need a tuner to transpose. You already know what note you're playing. The tuner tells you how close to being in tune you are. I guess it might be an issue if you're off by more than a half tone, but in that case, you've got a major problem.

Yes, I agree, it just would be nice to know which note I have to play on my alto to match the trumpet player at the side of me. My ears are not that good yet.

 

[Jazz House]

http://korg.com/product.aspx?&pd=552

The precursor to that one.

 

[Souportwenty]

Mike:

I don't think this is as much an ear exercise as one in math. For sure the correction tuning has to do with your ear. However, the "mystery" of transposition is really just a mathematical formula.
I suggest you sit down with your trumpet player friend and both play what is called a "Bb concert scale". The term concert means the "real" pitch an instrument makes. Both the trumpet and alto sax are transposing instruments. If you look on your music it will say Eb alto saxophone. His or her trumpet music will say Bb trumpet. What this means is when the instrument in question plays the written note "C", that is the note that should come out. Therefore, when the alto plays a written "C", it is actually an Eb and the trumpet "C" is really a Bb.
Beginning ensembles often play music in the key of Bb "concert". This makes it easier for a variety of transposing instruments to play with a minimum of notes altered by the key signature. Your (alto) Bb concert scale is written as a G major scale (with one sharp). His or her trumpet scale will be written as a C scale. This change in the written notes will allow the two of you to play different written scales that will sound the same. An instrument that does not transpose (like a flute) will be playing the actual Bb scale with two flats.

Sit beside the trumpet player and compare "notes". When you play a G, he or she will play a C.

alto G scale (really Bb concert): G A B C D E F# G
tpt C scale (really Bb concert): C D E F G A B C

Rather than comparing first to the trumpet, it may be more useful to compare to a concert pitch instrument like a flute or piano. Notice that your pitches must be six notes higher in the scale in order to match. When they play Bb, you play G. The trumpet transposition is much easier, they just play it up a tone. If the flute plays Bb, they play up one tone to C.
I don't know your knowledge of key signatures or if you understand major and minor intervals. Hopefully, this information can give you a starting point to figure this thing out.

 

[Face Ache Mike]

Thanks, I am aware of all you just said. Let me give you an example if what I meant.

Yesterday in band practice, we had a new piece to play. It was a Christmas medley of about 8 tunes. Unfortunately, there wasnt a sheet written for Eb so I had to "make do" with a 2nd trumpet sheet. Each of the tunes had its own key, hence 7 or 8 changes.

Now, rather than holding up the band and taking the time to transpose each of the key signatures, which I am capable of doing, if my tuner could have transposed, I could have kept a sneaky eye on it to confirm I was playing the right notes.

 

[Souportwenty]

Ok Mike:

I see what you are trying to do. I think you will find glancing away from your music to see if you are playing the correct notes not nearly as effective as hearing if the note sounds "right". There really is no substitute for practice. If your goal is to be able to transpose Bb trumpet music while sight reading, my advice is to get a beginning trumpet book and practice transposing with very simple tunes that you know. It will be obvious when you hit a clam. This is a skill than can only be honed through repetition. It may be better to actually take home the trumpet charts and write out the transposition. This will also be a good exercise to help you on your journey to transpose quickly. The first step may be to work with only tunes that are diatonic (no accidentals, just the notes of the scale). Make sure you stick to the notes of your transposed scale. In this way you will increase your chances of hitting the correct note as you have eliminated four of the twelve chromatic notes instantly. Good luck and practice hard!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Cleartune iPhone app is the best for me. I prefer not to use a tuner and I think ultimately that's the best situation to be in.

I see so many people get hung up by the green light or red light, when they should be using ears instead.

The great thing about Cleartune is that you can dial in different temperaments when necesssary. Understanding just intonation is a great way to learn about playing in tune, much better than merely trying to match an equal tempered scale visually.

And if anyone hear doesn't know what just intonation is , I'd suggest you learn about it before worrying to much when you are 10 cents sharp or flat according to your tuner.

 

[Souportwenty]

removed by me...

 

[Pete Thomas]

Just a clarification...

And my post was not actually anything to do with that part of the thread, I was responding to the very first post. My reference to "maths" was a coincidence as I hadn't even seen that bit in your or Mike's post anyway, more of a general pet beef of mine about tuners and temperament.

Anyway I have now edited out my reference to maths, in case anyone is wondering what I'm banging on about.

 

[JL]

I see so many people get hung up by the green light or red light, when they should be using ears instead..

Quite right. I'll sometimes pull out at tuner when practicing at home to see how close I am to being in tune. On a gig, I'm using my ears. Another thing I like to do at home is hit a note on the piano and match it with my horn. Hard to do by myself on some notes but it works well for notes that I can play with one hand on the horn and one on the keyboard. Then bend the note around to see how it sounds going sharp or flat, then back in tune.

Transposing is a whole different issue. I don't think you can solve that with a tuner.

 

[Michael Ward]

I agree with Pete on this one. I use a tuner when I first get a horn or a new piece, warm it up, mark the cork and that's it. The same with my flutes. If you know the sweet spot you can play the instrument in tune or adjust a little even if the room is cold or hot. I carry a tuner in my bag for guitarists.

 

[ratracer]

While we're on the topic of tuners, has anyone any experience with the operation of the Center Pitch CP2 tuner?

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Center-Pitch-CP2-Clampon-Chromatic-Tuner?sku=210011&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0

 

[drakesaxprof]

I'm really liking the Peterson iStroboSoft for iPhone for handy use at gigs, etc. In my studio, I use my Korg Orchestral Tuner, I think either OT-1 or OT-12, no longer produced, but supplanted by the OT-120.