silly question

[Richard West]

Hello All,

It's Friday for whatever that's worth, but I thought it might be a good
day to ask a silly question that's been rattling around my head for
years (along with that loose screw that's up there, too)

Why is it that head position makes such a difference when you're
tuning.  Sometimes if I have trouble picking out a beat, I just move my
head, and the sound becomes clearer.  Also, I find I hear a lot better
standing up.  When I use the machine, it makes a difference where I put
the mike.  The machine has trouble reading some notes but if I move it,
the reading is clearer.  What is it about sound waves that creates this
effect?  Are there nodes in the air in addition to nodes on the string?
There's probably an obvious answer, but I've never looked it up or heard
it.  I'll leave it to more educated personages than I to give me the
answer.  Thanks in advance.

Richard West
University of Nebraska