So i never really play E chords because it always sounds out of tune...im pretty familiar at an amature level on guitar setups...i have the tools to setup the truss rod, intonation, pickup height, string height, etc.

So i wanted to figure out why the E chord never sounded right and ive narrowed it down to the G string because i have all the other strings intonation dead on and i cant seem to change the intonation at all when i move the saddles on the G string (intonation is always flat).

Does anyone have any experience with this? Im thinking it may have something to do with the fact that i do NOT have a string tree for the D and G string...i do have one for the B and E strings...im going to try this later when i get home...but in the mean time any thoughts on G string intonation? tips or tricks?

_________________
Fender Highway 1 Strat, Fender Lonestar Stratocaster 25th Anniversary, Orange Rockerverb 50 w/ PPC212, Crate Vintage Club 30 Tube Amp, Digitech GNX3, Line6 pedals, Ibanez Tube Screamer (my fav), Crybaby Wah

This is caused by how the guitar scale works, tempered tuning and all that clever stuff.
Tuning is a compromise.
Nut height can contribute to this.

There will be some clever person here who can explain it better, and maybe suggest ways to adjust the intonation to reduce the errors.
I just slightly down tune the open G.

Some people hear this more than others.

The lack of string tree has no impact.

These types of questions are difficult to answer with any authority, since we can't assess the problem in person. But I agree that it ain't the string tree.
First thing to do is be sure it is a new string before you try any kind of fix. An old string that has no elasticity left in it will sound all wonky.
You didn't mention how the bridge is set up. Is the G string saddle way out of line with the pattern of the other saddles? They should look rather balanced, like this:

Intonation is dependent on having the correct overall string length, nut to saddle. Based on your description, and if the G saddle is are adjusted to the approximate position, I would look at the nut. If it is cut incorrectly, the slot can add extra length to the string; the vibrating length is supposed to stop at the fingerboard side of the nut. But any nut slot problem is usually accompanied by a "sitar" tone on the string, and you didn't mention that. The other guy is right as well; too high at the nut means it goes sharp at the first fret. If your strings are thin and the frets are tall, a heavy touch will also bend the note sharp.
So there you have it. No answer, just a bunch of guessing, which is the best any of us can do. But if you try everything that everyone suggests, you'll probably find the issue.

_________________
"There's an arse for every chair"

5 guitars
7 amps
4 dogs

First off all ; Are your strings good ? better to put new string. I'm french speaking so G sting flat mean" low", down in note ?

1-If yes, your neck truss rod could be too tight = neck almost straight

Standard guitar tuner are not very good for intonation = false reading

2- Wrong guitar scale , brige at the wrong place
Can you mesure the scale of your nec ; nut to 12 th fret anf 12 th fret to center of the saddle location

Send us picture with mesuring tape on the bridge

3- nut need work.

Go to buy The Guitar Player Repair Guide , by Dan Erlewine. It's a must , all answer is in

Adjusting the G string saddle has to change the intonation somewhat. If you replace the strings with a fresh, new set, and the G string still cannot be intonated and is still reading flat with no more saddle adjustment available, then you have way too much relief in your neck (which is effectively shortening your scale length). This problem shows up quite a bit with guitars with tune-o-matic style bridges ( like epiphones and gibsons), since they usually do not have the amount of travel available in adjusting saddles as the fender style bridges. To have a good setup, nearly every aspect of the guitar has to be adjusted just right. Any change in the slightest to any one aspect can drastically affect some other aspect, or many others, of your entire setup and ability to get things properly adjusted. It is all a balancing act my friend!

I do this same thing to adjust...but once in a while ill tune everything for a perfect E chord and man you just cant beat that chord...but then every other chord sounds like crap...

Ill post some of my measurements soon

_________________
Fender Highway 1 Strat, Fender Lonestar Stratocaster 25th Anniversary, Orange Rockerverb 50 w/ PPC212, Crate Vintage Club 30 Tube Amp, Digitech GNX3, Line6 pedals, Ibanez Tube Screamer (my fav), Crybaby Wah

Steve-oh-no
If the neck is short , too much relief the G will be too sharp not flat.

Short neck = short string = sharp note

ok i think now im pointing my heartache to my tuner...i knew better but i didnt want to believe that it was THAT important...but it seems after kinda tweeking the intonation and referencing your above picture things already are looking better...seems that i just need to get a higher quality tuner then the $20 korg i have...sorry to waste everyones time on here...thanks for the input

_________________
Fender Highway 1 Strat, Fender Lonestar Stratocaster 25th Anniversary, Orange Rockerverb 50 w/ PPC212, Crate Vintage Club 30 Tube Amp, Digitech GNX3, Line6 pedals, Ibanez Tube Screamer (my fav), Crybaby Wah

If you use your tuner for a reference note so you know you are in standard tuning, you can use this method to actually set the intonation by ear. This is hard to understand by reading it, and I don't know how to make it any clearer in print. But if you take it slow, and do it with a guitar in your hands so you can see it, it'll make sense. Do it with a guitar in your hands, not just trying to understand by reading.
If you play the open E string against the E note at the 5th fret of the B string, and then against the 17th fret E on the B string, you will have an idea of the intonation of the B string. If the B string is in tune at the 5th fret, but sharp or flat at the 17th fret, adjust the B string saddle accordingly. Understand what I mean? This will work all across the neck, just like if you are tuning the guitar at the 5th position, open string to fretted note. The open E against the E note at 5th and 17th frets on the B string, and adjust the B string saddle. This is as close as you can get to tempered tuning on a guitar. So you'd compare open B to G string 4th fret and 16th fret, and adjust the G string saddle. Then open G to D string 5th and 17th, and adjust the D string saddle. Open D to A string 5th and 17th, open A to E string 5th and 17th. To check the high E string, play the open B string, and compare this note to the fretted 7th and 19th frets on the high E string, and adjust the high E saddle. Whew! I'm dizzy after trying to describe it! I've been using this method for years, and it works great once you get the hang of it. Make sure your pickups aren't causing false tones on the lower wound strings by being too close to the strings. This is especially true of the neck pickup.

_________________
"There's an arse for every chair"

5 guitars
7 amps
4 dogs

I fix a lot of guitars and amps.

I use few guitar tuner around $120, all are not good for correct and easy intonation.

Since few years I have the Peterson Strobo Tuner VSII. One of the best ( if not the the best ).
____________________________________________________________________________________
Like ashtone write : ...." difficult to answer...since we can't asses the problem in person..."


I agree with him.
If I see HOW you work AND what king of tool you use I can tell you what is wrong. Go and do your experience, it's worth to know how to fix guitar and buy the book of Dan Erlwine

I have a strobe tuner now,the Turbo tuner and while it gets the guitar in tune better than any I've owned before,it can drive you crazy setting the intonation because it's so sensitive,and those screw adjusted saddles are kinda sloppy when adjusting.
Ashtone's method is a good one.

Everybody has trouble with their G strings. One reason is because it is the first solid (non-wound) string as you progress from low to high and the transition from wound to solid is problematic for other reasons which include some of the previously mention ones here. Switching to a wound 3rd (G) string can make intonation adjustments easier but the life expectancy of a wound 3rd is pretty short as the core wire is usually smaller than the high E 1st string and it will not tollerate much bending or hard playing for very long before it breaks.

I have heard that the Buzz Feiton tuning system alleviates these issues altogether and I will try it on one of my guitars one of these days. It involves the replacement and sometimes relocation of the nut combined with an alternate method of tuning up. On most guitars which require nut replacement it is a reversible process. On guitars that require nut relocation it is not reversible.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

All my guitars fender, Gibson are alright on all string ( no problem with G) . Just to know how to do a good set up and have the RIGHT tools and some experience.

By the way my action is low, 1 mm at the 14 th fret

That makes sense its almost the same as the way i usually tune which is by using the harmonics...

Your method is good because everything is referenced from a single string not each string individually...perhaps i shall try this tuning method of doom and see where we go

_________________
Fender Highway 1 Strat, Fender Lonestar Stratocaster 25th Anniversary, Orange Rockerverb 50 w/ PPC212, Crate Vintage Club 30 Tube Amp, Digitech GNX3, Line6 pedals, Ibanez Tube Screamer (my fav), Crybaby Wah

I've always had problems with G-strings. I just don't have the butt for them..............

(sorry...............I waited and waited for someone to say something like that and I just couldn't wait anymore.........I just couldn't help it ................snigger...ahem.....right...back to the question at hand now the purile childish humour is passed................. )

edit due to my bad language being modified.....................

_________________
speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........