I'm perfectly capable of tuning by ear. However, I may use a tuner because (a) I don't want to be heard tuning from stage, (b) it may be too loud to hear myself even if I didn't care about being heard, and (c) I play a Strat-style guitar with a whammy bar, meaning the string tension is interactive. It's just faster to use the tool.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."