Tuning Devices for learning (was Tuning Devices)

[Dean May]

Joe, Mark and David,

I would recommend that you try using ear plugs. You'll get a variety of
responses here on what style to use. One of the posters here (don't remember
who) sells some that many like. I use the silicone putty variety found at
about any drugstore. You pack them around the opening to the ear canal to
seal it off; do not force it into the ear canal.

There are a couple of advantages. First, the plugs attenuate the higher
frequencies (above 4-5k) that get in your way for most of the piano. Most of
the frequencies you are listening for are in the 200-3k range. In other
words, the plugs let the partials you need to hear shine through and filter
out the rest.

They also attenuate the loudness by about 10-15 dB. This lets you, maybe
even forces you, to hit the note harder which gives greater stability. After
tuning for 30 minutes without plugs I find myself subconsciously hitting the
notes softer because the loudness hurts my ears. Plugs let me keep on
hitting them hard.

They also do a very good job of filtering out incoherent noise. This is
sound that is not aimed directly at you, like a conversation going on behind
you, the dishwasher running in the next room, or the reverberating sound of
the note you just played in an acoustically hard room. In a couple of venues
where I tune it was near impossible before I started using plugs. They also
help in situations where there is a lot of noise from conversations or
whatever in the room and you still have to tune the thing (nursing homes,
intermissions, etc.)

As you progress up the scale to about the 6th or 7th octave, you can start
easing them out a little, which makes it easier to hear the higher partials
that you need to in that section of the piano. Then when you are done, take
them out and your ears are nice and fresh to do your final aural check.

Try it, you'll like it.

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
Terre Haute IN  47802

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of Joseph Freeman
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:21 PM
To: 'Pianotech'
Subject: RE: Tuning Devices for learning (was Tuning Devices)

I agree with Mark AND David.  I'm a student, two months with a hammer,
and have just started using an ETD to test my practice.  The immediate,
non-subjective feedback was just what I need at this point.

I want to be a rock-solid aural tuner before I start tuning for pay with
an ETD.  But since I live out in the "boonies", it's it difficult to get
feedback.  (I have an RPT coaching me, but he's an hour away and I work
a full time "day" job.)

But being the "perfectionist" that I am, I wanted to know "now" how I'm
doing.

I do agree with David.  When I tried to "watch" my tuning, it made me
not listen as well.  I don't want to have that crutch.  So I don't keep
the ETD in view when I'm practicing.  But after I'm done with my
practice session, I check my work.  Then I check it the next day to see
if the pin held.  That way I have an idea if I'm setting the pin
correctly.

I'm sure David wasn't referring to using an ETD in this context when he
made his comments.  But I had to respond.

And, since this is my first "post" after lurking for awhile, I just want
to say that you guys are great teachers!

Joe Freeman
Florida Student
Future Associate Member (any day now)


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Mark Davidson
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:02 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Tuning Devices for learning (was Tuning Devices)

David Nereson wrote:
>I recommend learning to tune FIRST BY EAR
>ALONE, then consider an electronic tuning
>aid after you know what you're doing.
>Otherwise the chances of its becoming a
>crutch and your not developing your ear are
>far greater, in my opinion.

Well, I don't want to get into the argument about who is
a "real" tuner and who isn't, but I think ETDs are a
fantastic learning tool when used thoughtfully and judiciously.

I too am in the process of learning to tune, and I consider
the ETD to be an invaluable feedback tool.  Yes, I suppose
there could be a risk of coming to rely on it too much, but
it can help learning in many ways.

1. checking stability.  You can easily measure the effect of
test blows on notes you have tuned, or come back in a day
or week and check on them and quickly get an accurate
measure of the changes.  Very helpful while learning to
set pins.  When you come back the next day and everything
has dropped 2 cents and the humidity hasn't changed, then
you know you haven't got it yet :(

2. tuning to a fork.  Easily compare your fork to the string
after tuning it by ear to see how much error there is.

3. comparing pitches/partials.  After tuning two partials
together by ear, you can precisely measure the frequencies
to see how close you got them.  This kind of instant
feedback is very helpful for learning to tune unisons and
octaves, or other pure intervals.

4. checking accuracy of temperament.  Some ETDs
measure beats, but you can calculate these too from
the frequencies of the partials.

Other suggestions?

The key of course is that you use the ETD to check
your work AFTER doing it by ear. But frankly I
can't think of a better or quicker way to check
some of these things when starting out, and I find
the instant feedback very helpful.

If you have a PC (preferably laptop) then Tunelab 97 is
cheap and more than  adequate for all the above tasks.

The other real key is to find a good teacher...

-Mark Davidson

so umm, what is Proposition 12 anyway? or do I
have to learn the secret handshake first to find out...
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