How to make a Kite Guitar: Difference between revisions

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== Saddle and nut compensation ==

Since the Kite guitar is so much more in tune than a 12-equal guitar, extra care should be taken with ~~saddle/nut~~ compensation. On an electric guitar, one can simply dial in the correct saddle compensation. On an acoustic or nylon, one must file the saddle.

Since the Kite guitar is so much more in tune than a 12-equal guitar, extra care should be taken with compensation. On an electric guitar, one can simply dial in the correct saddle compensation. On an acoustic or nylon, one must file the saddle.

=== Short answer ===

For each string, match the 41st fret harmonic exactly with the fretted note, using a tuner. You can also match the 12th fret harmonic with the 12th fret note, which will be 1 octave lower. (The fretted note should be half a cent sharper than the harmonic.) Ideally check at both the 12th and 41st frets, and split the difference to get both as in tune as possible.

=== Long answer ===

'''Method #1:''' To find the saddle compensation on a standard guitar, one compares the harmonic at the 12th fret with the fretted note at the 12th fret. For the Kite guitar, by a weird coincidence, one does the same! But the 12th fret now makes the 3rd harmonic, not the 2nd. Thus the two notes should be an octave apart, not a unison. If using a tuner, this is not a problem. But if using your ear, a unison is easier to hear than an octave. To get a unison, when you fret the string, play the 2nd harmonic with your other hand. With your forefinger or middle finger, touch the string midway between the 32nd and 33rd frets. Then stretch your hand and pluck with your thumb as close as you can get to the midpoint between your finger and the bridge. If this isn't feasible (e.g. with a bass guitar), you can capo the string at the 12th fret and use both hands to play the harmonic. (And to be extremely precise, the fretted note should be 0.48¢ sharper than the harmonic. The 3rd harmonic is 701.96¢ and the 41-equal interval is 702.44¢.)

@@ Line 460: / Line 460: @@
 == Saddle and nut compensation ==
-Since the Kite guitar is so much more in tune than a 12-equal guitar, extra care should be taken with saddle/nut compensation. On an electric guitar, one can simply dial in the correct saddle compensation. On an acoustic or nylon, one must file the saddle.
+Since the Kite guitar is so much more in tune than a 12-equal guitar, extra care should be taken with compensation. On an electric guitar, one can simply dial in the correct saddle compensation. On an acoustic or nylon, one must file the saddle.
+=== Short answer ===
+For each string, match the 41st fret harmonic exactly with the fretted note, using a tuner. You can also match the 12th fret harmonic with the 12th fret note, which will be 1 octave lower. (The fretted note should be half a cent sharper than the harmonic.) Ideally check at both the 12th and 41st frets, and split the difference to get both as in tune as possible.
+=== Long answer ===
 '''Method #1:''' To find the saddle compensation on a standard guitar, one compares the harmonic at the 12th fret with the fretted note at the 12th fret. For the Kite guitar, by a weird coincidence, one does the same! But the 12th fret now makes the 3rd harmonic, not the 2nd. Thus the two notes should be an octave apart, not a unison. If using a tuner, this is not a problem. But if using your ear, a unison is easier to hear than an octave. To get a unison, when you fret the string, play the 2nd harmonic with your other hand. With your forefinger or middle finger, touch the string midway between the 32nd and 33rd frets. Then stretch your hand and pluck with your thumb as close as you can get to the midpoint between your finger and the bridge. If this isn't feasible (e.g. with a bass guitar), you can capo the string at the 12th fret and use both hands to play the harmonic. (And to be extremely precise, the fretted note should be 0.48¢ sharper than the harmonic. The 3rd harmonic is 701.96¢ and the 41-equal interval is 702.44¢.)