[CAUT] pitch rise

[Don]

Hi Richard,

>From your description "I have to first pull the string higher than I like
in order to move the tight pin and then allow the stretchy string to settle
back to the pitch I want." It is clear (at least to me) that two things are
possibly happening. 

1. The string is *rendering* over the bridge. A few moments later the
tension on the rear segement attempts to equalize and *bingo* the string
drifts sharp--and the unison is not so nice. 

2. A counter clock wise twist is being left in the springy steel of the
tuning pin. As higher notes are tuned this twist is normalizing and the
string drifts sharp--unisons not so nice again. This scenario is *if* the
tuner is applying counter clockwise pressure to "settle" the string.

Of course a combination of the above is quite possible.

One possible solution is to "hold" clockwise tension on the tuning pin
while giving the key extra super duper heavy blows to bring the string up
to pitch from below. once it gets there--let go of the tuning lever. I
don't like it, but I find it does work for recalcitrant instruments. I
never feel comfy with the unisons when having to abuse an instrument in
this manner.

If the string slides sharp past the selected level, then lower the pitch
and start over, raising the pitch from below.

Good luck! 

At 09:44 AM 3/9/2006 -0600, you wrote:
>With the discussion of unison drift, I have a question which may be 
>related.  What is the cause for pitch rise while tuning?  I can 
>understand why the pitch might fall, especially if there's a significant 
>pitch change.  But I'm not talking about a radical pitch alteration. 
>
>Here's the scenario.  I'm working on a newer or rebuilt piano with tight 
>pins and still relatively stretchy strings.  I'm trying to stabilize the 
>instrument, but it's being stubborn.  I'm having to be more aggressive 
>with my tuning technique, i.e., in order to settle the pitch I have to 
>first pull the string higher than I like in order to move the tight pin 
>and then allow the stretchy string to settle back to the pitch I want.  
>As I move up the piano, the pitch  behind me tends to creep higher, 
>sometimes to the point I have to retune the note below.  I'm not a 
>pounder, so I don't think that I'm beating the piano too hard.  I'm not 
>trying to pitch raise/lower the piano, just give it a good solid tuning. 
>
>What can I do to prevent this "phenomenon?"  Does anyone else experience 
>this?  What is the cause?
>
>Richard West

Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat

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