not enough hands -- setting A49 to fork

[Mike Kurta]

Interesting the responses you are getting to your question.  I agree with
the teeth method, but I put a piece of shrink tubing on the handle of the
fork so it is easier on the teeth.  You might also try holding the fork
between the index and middle finger of one hand, striking the fork to make
its tone on your knee, elbow or whatever, then hold the handle of the fork
against the keyslip from the bottom of the keybed while your thumb on the
same hand plays the note at the same time.  This frees up your other hand to
tune, but it also amplifies the tone of the fork and extends its decay time.
Sounds louder, too.  Mike Kurta .
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Neuman" <piano@charlesneuman.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 12:43 PM
Subject: not enough hands -- setting A49 to fork


> When setting A49 to the fork, I like to compare F21-fork with F21-A49. It
> seems that I need three hands to do this: One to play F21, one to hold the
> fork or play A49, and one to move the lever.
>
> Since I only have 2 hands, I keep F21 held down by putting a mute sort of
> sideways and resting on the backchecks of the neighboring notes (on a
> vertical piano) so that it blocks F21 in the depressed position. Or I can
> jam a mute along the top of the key to keep it down, but that seems like
> it would mess up the felt right above the keytop. Once it's held down,
> then I can compare F21-fork and then tune F21-A49 to that same beat rate.
>
> Are there any other techniques I should consider?
>
> Charles Neuman
> PTG Associate, Long Island-Nassau
>