Do musicians tune their guitars in between each song at live shows?

Question

The concern is non-locking guitars like strats, les pauls and hard-tail bridges. I always wonder what Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan do/did if a string went out of tune during a song.

Answer 1

Depends on what kind of gtr it is, and how famous they are. Many guitars go out of tune easily. If you play a blues style, with lots of bends; or, if you whammy a lot, you are going to throw many guitars out of tune.

If you are a very successful band, you will probably switch guitars to avoid this problem. If you are an average joe band, you might tune after every song. Nerves are part of it, too. You might tune up just from nerves, to avoid looking at the audience.

Answer 2

I can tune while playing without anybody really noticing. Just by strumming a chord, then reaching over with my right hand and tuning the string that's out of tune. It takes some practice to be able to do it on the fly, but tuning between songs is a fairly simple matter for those of Clapton's caliber.

Answer 3

No, their roadies tune them. LOL

Some musicians I have seen rarely play the same instrument for more than two songs in a row. Pete Townsend, who is particularly hard on the strings (windmill city), rotates about 5 instruments all night. But a guy like Steve Howe, who's style is lighter, will play his ES for two songs in a row (and those Yes songs are very long).

Answer 4

Most have multiple tuned guitars ready to play. The Roadie is responsible for that.

Answer 5

If your guitar is set up properly and the strings put on correctly it should stay in tune for awhile.

Answer 6

They typically change guitars and a guitar tech tunes it offstage for them.