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MMD > Archives > March 2012 > 2012.03.01 > 10Prev  Next


Tuning a Player Piano
By Jurgen Goering

With all respect to instrument owners who work on their beloved
machines and love them dearly: pianos simply cannot be tuned using
the method described in 120229 MMDigest using a $70 chromatic tuner
and a toothpick.  Proper tuning devices have recently come down in
price from four figures to several hundred dollars, but the real
trick to a tuning is setting the tuning pin.

In order to do this, the key must be firmly struck (by the hammer)
so that the various string sections above and below the speaking
section vibrate strongly.  This allows the different tensions in the
string segments to equalize.  Failing to do this will lead to a tuning
that will only last for a few minutes of playing, at best.

This can be clearly heard in the YouTube videos.  The sound of the
piano due to its tuning might be adequate for a ragtime barn-burner
but it makes classical music unbearable and does a reproducing piano
no justice.

It is the interaction of the carefully lined-up partials that make
classical piano music a joy to listen to.  After all, when listening
to the music, we would like the hair on the backs of our necks to stand
up for the right reasons.

Do everyone a favor and call in a person who can actually tune a piano.

Jurgen Goering


(Message sent Fri 2 Mar 2012, 03:59:49 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Piano, Player, Tuning

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