aural tuning question

Richard Brekne Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no
Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:40:19 +0200


Phil Bondi wrote:

> recently, I have been using the sostenuto pedal and a different note all
> together to tune octaves in the treble. What I'm finding is more consistency
> and a 'warmer' stretch, if there is such a thing. Here's what I have been
> doing..aural tuners, tell me if I'm blowing hot air or not..I can take it..
>
> To tune C6, play F4 and hold it with the Sos. Pedal.

You are playing a 12th there Phil, and you are looking to make it perfect
evidently. Play the F4 and the major 6th below it. (A flat 3). Listen to the
fast beat rate that sixth will create. Now play that A flat 3 with your C6 and
listen for the same thing... same coincident, same beatrate, same interval
"colour" as it were.

If you get a whole tenor treble section tuned exactly this way you will
definatly get a bit of a different sound out of your tuning then if you stretch
your tuning in another fashion. If you want to make 100 % sure you are doing
perfect 12ths,  your ETD can be used to confirm this. Just tune a notes
fundemental frequency to the 3rd partial of the 12th below.  Also... direct
reference the 3rd partial, and use that to tune the fundemental for the note a
12th up.

>
> What I'm listening to is for the beating to go away..when that happens,
> there is a gentle roll to the single octave(C5-C6), almost negligible.

Correct.. and it will be just a tad wide, tho it will get wider and narrower in
a slightly sporadic fashion due to the fact that you are forceing the pianos
inharmonicity to conform to a perfect 3:1 12th priority.

> Actually, I start this sequence as soon as I can, using the Temperament
> Octave as a starting point..for me, the bottom of my temperament octave
> would be F3 to hold and tune C5.
>
> I haven't changed anything in the bass..still 6:3 there.
>
> Aural Tuners - am I blowing smoke?

Phil... this is exactly what that Tune lab example I sent out a few weeks backs
does.  You arent blowing smoke at all. Personally I think this illustrates one
of the forgotten joys of ear tunings. Combining your ears, and your mind with
the measuring and calculating power of the ETD can get really fun, and creative
and educational as well.

Cheers !

RicB

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



This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC