[CAUT] Pitchlock

[Greg Newell]

Thanks for the description Ron.

Greg Newell


At 09:13 AM 4/1/2005, you wrote:
> From Greg:
>
>Ron,
>         How does one tune a coupled pair of strings? As I understand the
>principal they are coupled to sound as one string. How then, are they
>separated to be tuned?
>It's hard to describe, easier to demonstrate...  The effect is that the 
>strings sound together (within a slight distuning)- even if they wouldn't 
>measure the same.  It is still possible to hear tuned vs. untuned.  So as 
>you move one string away from the other, the beating becomes more 
>apparent, as well as quicker.  As you move the strings closer to tune, 
>while the beating slows down, (like normal) the loudness of the beating is 
>reduced. (not like normal)  I would guess that if the couplers were closer 
>to the middle of the string, or more than one coupler was used, two 
>strings could be made to move as one.  However, there would be a great 
>change  to the tone of those strings.  As it is, the tone of the coupled 
>strings is different than the tone of two freely vibrating strings.  The 
>effect is hard to hear in practice because there is a third, freely 
>vibrating string added to the aural mix.
>
>So the "nuts and bolts" goes something like this:
>
>Tune the rightmost, coupled string a little high.  Tune the second coupled 
>string to the first, checking the coupled pitch - using whatever tuning 
>preference you have. (The coupled pitch is lower than just one string 
>alone.)  I end up using a "split the unison" technique to get these two 
>strings exactly in the right place.  That is, working with two open 
>strings sounding, and slightly moving one, then the other to nudge the 
>unison into place.  Once the right two strings are tuned, bring the left 
>one in tune - no problem.
>
>Ron Koval
>
>
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Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net