Tuning stability test

Measures every string after tuning, after hard bends and every few minutes, then shows which strings drift and the likely cause.

If your guitar will not stay in tune, the pattern of the drift tells you why. A string that goes flat after bending is usually slipping at the tuning post or the bridge. A string that goes sharp after a bend is catching in the nut and not sliding back. Strings that creep flat over several minutes are often new and still stretching, and a slow steady change in every string can be the weather moving the neck.

This test measures those patterns instead of guessing. First tune up and take a starting reading of every string. Then bend each string hard a few times, use the whammy bar if you have one, and play each string again without retuning. After that the test waits and checks again every few minutes, beeping when it is time, for as many rounds as you choose.

Each reading only counts once the note holds steady, and strings can be played in any order. At the end you get a chart of how far each string moved, a table in cents, the drift speed of each string in cents per minute, and a plain-language note for every string that moved.

The last result stays saved on this device, so you can close the page, make a fix and run the test again to compare. Results can be saved as a PDF.

How to use it

  1. Tune every string, then tap Begin.
  2. Play each string on its own until all of them turn green.
  3. Bend every string hard a few times, then tap Done bending and play each string again.
  4. Leave the guitar alone. The test beeps at each timed check: play each string again.
  5. Read the chart and the notes, fix the cause, and run it again.

Common questions

Why does my guitar go out of tune after bending?

If it goes flat, the string is usually slipping at the tuning post or bridge. If it goes sharp, it is catching in the nut slot. The test tells you which.

How long should the test run?

Four checks two minutes apart catch most problems. For new strings, try ten-minute checks to see them settle.

How much drift is normal?

A few cents over a practice session is normal. Steady movement of more than about half a cent a minute, or a jump after bends, is worth fixing.

Does this work with a tremolo bridge?

Yes. Use the bar during the bend step. A floating tremolo that returns sharp or flat shows up straight away.

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