Guitar Intonation

For the purposes of this explanation, we will use a 6 string guitar for our example, but similar type of adjustments would be used for a bass guitar as well. 

• Make sure you guitar is in perfect tune using an electronic tuner, digital tuner, chromatic tuner, or a reliable tuner in general.  It’s probably best to plug the guitar into the tuner as well instead of using the mic.  This will allow for more precise tuning. (We are assuming standard tuning to E for this example)
• While tuning make sure to strum the notes consistently (especially for the bass guitar)
• Once you are tuned appropriately with a reliable tuner, it is now time to start moving to the notes at the 12th fret of your guitar or bass.
• First, check the harmonic at the 12th fret to see if it’s in tune on your tuner.  This is another way to check, but some do not utilize the harmonic method. 
• Then, Fret the note at the 12th fret and check the tuning for that as well.  When fretting the notes please make sure to be consistent here as well.  Adding to much pressure to the string can result in improper adjustments. 
• Play the harmonic at the 12th fret, tune to the harmonic, and check the fretted note at the 12th fret and observe the tuner.  Is the tuner showing that your guitar or bass is one of the following:
  • Perfect Tune – No Adjustment Necessary
  • Sharp (High) – Adjustment Needed (See Below)
  • Flat (Low) – Adjustment Needed (See Below)
• Sharp - If your guitar intonation check is Sharp (higher than it should be), the bridge pieces or bridge saddles (located on the bridge itself) needs to be moved away the fretboard / pickups of your guitar.  Saddles may also be referred to as saddle pieces or bridge pieces.  Typically there will be a screw for each specific bridge piece that you can adjust on electric guitars and basses.  Tighten this screw to move the saddle away from the fretboard and pickups with small adjustments.  This is a trial and error process and small adjustments can mean a lot for guitar maintenance in general.  Make very small adjustments and then go back and check tuning at the 12th fret once again (You will most likely have to retune the whole string first before checking at the 12th fret since you have moved a saddle – see bullet point one above).  You can watch the tuner as you make adjustments to the saddle piece just to make sure your making the correct adjustment, but you still need to go back and check the tunings normally.  Repeat until you find the correct tuning at the 12th fret.  Once you feel you have adjusted appropriately for intonation, go back and check the overall tuning for the string.  If you’re in tune in both areas (overall, and at the 12th) for all of the strings on the instrument, the guitar string is now properly intonated. 
• Flat - If your guitar intonation check is Flat (lower than it should be), the bridge pieces or bridge saddles (located on the bridge itself) needs to be moved toward the fretboard of your guitar.  Typically there will be a screw for each specific bridge piece that you can adjust.  Loosen this screw to move the saddle toward the fretboard and pickups with small adjustments. This is a trial and error process and small adjustments can mean a lot for guitar maintenance in general.  Make very small adjustments and then go back and check tuning at the 12th fret once again.  (You will most likely have to retune the whole string first before checking at the 12th fret since you have moved a saddle – see bullet point one above). You can watch the tuner as you make adjustments just to make sure your making the correct adjustment, but you still need to go back and check the tunings normally. Repeat until you find the correct tuning at the 12th fret.  Once you feel you have adjusted appropriately for intonation, go back and check the overall tuning for the string. If you’re in tune in both areas (overall, and at the 12th) for all of the strings on the instrument, the string is now properly intonated.
• Note:  For Guitars with Floyd Rose type tremelos may have the screw located in a different place (typically the front of the trem) than a typical Stratocaster or telecaster type guitar.  
• Repeat these steps for each string on your guitar or bass

There may be exceptions to this process depending on the instrument you are trying to adjust for intonation and if other guitar set up items are needed for the instrument.  Listed above are just some basic tips that may help the do it yourself guitar repairer set up an guitar instrument for intonation.  We always advise that you seek the help of a professional guitar technician for these types of adjustments as they can get complicated. 

Guitar Intonation Videos

• Guitar Maintenance
• Pickup Adjustments
• Coil Splitting
• Coil Winding