I ask again, was Re: tapping strings

[Richard Brekne]

Nice post Fred... clarify's the mixing of themes this disscussion is playing
with quite a bit. And I agree completely with what you say.

My only comment is that tapping, done lightly and in the center of the bridge,
seems to me to accomplish the same thing. But when thats first said. I nearly
always simply run my forefinger along the string close to the bridge, and push
on an angle roughly the same as the bridge pin.

Fred Sturm wrote:

> I'll throw in a brief opinion. Agree that the word should be "seat,"
> not tap, for reasons already stated by several. This to be distinguished
> from "fitting" or "mating" the string to terminations (causing definite
> bends at bridge pins, capo, etc, which helps define the speaking length
> and helps eliminate initial wildness - and which should be done, IMO, by
> means of a massaging action, pressing on the string with a grooved brass
> tool and pushing toward the termination, or pulling up at agraffe. And
> generally only needed on new strings).
>         One should "seat" strings on the bridge only when needed, ie, when
> there is a symptom. The symptom is a kind of buzzy sound that tells you
> the string isn't solidly on the bridge. Often happens after a
> particularly energetic pianists beats the crap out of a piano (to put it
> politely). But sometimes "just happens" even when the piano gets less
> than abusive treatment. A pushing movement in the speaking length,
> toward the angle between pin and bridge, is the maximum required. Often
> just placing the tip of a screwdriver or whatever on the string
> somewhere on the bridge behind the pin, and giving it a nudge, will be
> enough. Or maybe a tap with the palm of the hand.
>         If it's a false beat you're dealing with, string seating isn't the
> answer, IMO. That's a separate can of worms, having to do, almost but
> not always, with loose bridge pins.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
>

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html