"killer octave:

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 12/23/99 6:17:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
JSmith3109@AOL.COM writes:

<< Can someone explain "killer octave" for me?  Thanks.... >>

It is generally thought of as Octave 5 but really from F4 to F5 might be a 
better range.  This is the area above the Temperament Octave, (generally 
F3-F4 but sometimes between other notes and sometimes more than just a single 
octave's worth of notes) that presents the greatest difficulty in a tuning 
compromise.  Therefore, the term, '"killer" has been attached to it.  It's 
really nothing more than that.

The way to not let it be a "killer" is to have all of the currently known and 
practiced techniques at your disposal so that you can really find the best 
compromise.  Recent posts have talked about these kinds of techniques in 
detail.  You need to know about and be able to use the 4:5 ratio of 
contiguous 3rds, the different kinds (sizes) of octaves (2:1, 4:2, 6:3 and 
beyond) and just how much or how little to temper the 4ths & 5ths.  All of 
these need to work together with none being favored over the other in order 
to make that area of the piano, in particular, come out right.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin