Cyber ears

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Richard again:

After seeing Dr Sanderson's notes on the subject, you should by now see
the futility in extending this study further because in general, the
higher partials have less and less effect on the tuning because of their
inherent weakness. This is why you do not find more fulfilling studies of
this nature. If you read the Baldassin book "On Pitch", you will see why
we listen to certain partials rather than other partials primarily. It's
a matter of practicality and prominence during the tuning process. I know
this may not be intellectually satisfying, but you certainly have my 
permission to knock yourself out doing further study along this line. It is
tough enough just trying to consider up to 12 partials (which can never be
all satisfied at once when tuning pianos). When you add to this the un-
reliablility of the lowest partials and their often erratic behaviour, you
may more fully realize the impractibility of considering much higher 
partials. To my knowledge there is no more extensive study of the nature you
are looking for, so, buy yourself a Sanderson AccuTuner and do your own
studies. It is the most accurate and dependable machine on the market and
you can tune pianos any way you like with it now.

Yes, there are some concerns about very high partials of Bass tones which
are prominent. Sometimes these stick out like a sore thumb. Mostly this is
in conjunction with the longitudinal mode of vibration, and there is very
little you can do about that on an existing piano anyway. There are patents
on controlling this, and there are people working on it now, but until as
the late Percy Gatz stated back in 1949, until we are willing to have gold
plated density controlled Bass strings, we will not solve that conundrum.

Sure, lots of things can yet be done, but what is the practicality?

Jim Coleman, Sr.