Pitch Raising Techniques

[A440A@aol.com]

 , Richard writes:

<< btw... my recent experiences in Japan has led me to conclude that the 

one hour wonder pitch raise and "fine tuning" is a suspect concept at 

best. :) >>

Hmm,  I dunno.  There is no right or wrong way to fine tune a piano, at 
pitch, that is say 15 cents flat in places.  There are, however, many of us that 
have found ways that work, for us.  Here's mine. 
   If the piano is more than 4 cents off standard, and I have to meet 
broadcast quality,(which is mainly the unisons and octaves),  I invest the first 15 
minutes,(12 if I really have to meet a deadline), in getting the piano within 4 
cents of 440.  This is most easily done by using the standard SAT calculator. 
 HOwever, I take my readings from 7 notes or so, ABOVE where I am tuning.  
  The reason for this is that seldom do I find a piano that is the same 
amount flat across the whole keyboard, and since the drop is due to continually 
adding tension above, I want to stop overpulling so much before I get to the 
section that is not so flat.  
   There is a simple hammer technique that leaves string/pins very stable. It 
is just not very accurate in placing the pitch. I pull the pin well sharp, 
enough so that I will be certainly moving the pin as I then drop it flat. I go 
until the pitch is just a little flat, relax the hammer, and give a very slight 
sharpening flex to the pin. These amounts depend on how tight the block is, 
and how much friction there is in the upper bearing points.  
This technique is a little sloppy on pitch placement, but leaves a string 
that will not move under any blow that I hit it with.  
    On the second pass, if by chance a string is exactly where it should be, 
I simply wiggle the pin with the hammer to assure myself that it isn't poised 
on the edge of balance, and if the note doesn't change, that is a freebie.  
    I have had the SAT III leave a piano within 2 cents of 440 after a  15 
minute, 20 cent pitch raise doing this, and after that, it is not difficult to 
fine tune it in an hour.  There are exceptions, of course, but I don't see many 
problems getting the major work done in a flash, then taking whatever time I 
like to fine tune.  Usually I don't see more than 15% of the strings as 
freebies, though.  
Regards, 



Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html