Tuning Source Book/Test: hints #2 & #18

[Gene Nelson]

Regarding the beat rate of contiguous M3ds - the idea is to use the lower notes like A2 C#3 so the beat rates are slower and easier to count. Start with A2-C#3 and count 4 - establish your own beat speed - tap your foot and count 4 beats in whatever time interval that is comfortable for you. Then shift to the next M2 C#3-F3 and you will be able to count 5 beats within the interval that you have previously established for 4 beats. This proves the 4:5 ratio. All contiguous M3ds above that will have the same 4:5 ratio but they get so fast that counting is impossible but you can still hear their character and identify weather or not they are spaced correct.
If you have a tuning sequence that works for you I would stick with it but it always helps to add to it and the contiguous M3ds are a great way to help put it all together.
Gene Nelson
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: KeyKat88 at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 8:09 AM
  Subject: Tuning Source Book/Test: hints #2 & #18


    
  Greetings,


          In hint #2 it claims that you dont want to tune a piano with it muted to single string for the first time in an exam room. What is so unnerving/bad about that, aside from just not being used to it? 

          In hint #18 it says that you should learn to hear 4:5 ratios on contiguous M3's by counting 1 2 3 4 and compare to 1 2 3 4 5.  How does one go about hearing beat rates while doing/counting this? Is the Source Book implying that the contiguous M3 from A2 to C#3 is 4BPS and the next M3 from C#3 to F3 is 5BPS?  If the beat rate in higher pairs of M3's are more than 4 or 5 BPS, say 6 or more than do you have to do the math to arrive what the contiguous M3 above it should beat like?

    Also, has a tuner ever passed this exam without the skill of knowing how to handle/count the 4:5 ratio? Not that I am not willing to learn it but, that will take time and I have concentrated since inception of tuning on 5ths, 4ths, 3rds, 6ths, octaves and other tests.

  thanks in advance,
  Julia
  Reading, PA









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