bass tuning

[Brian Trout]

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Hi John,

Wow, what a can of worms you've opened!  Tuning the bass...

I never had any formal instruction, but have been able to glean some =
info from my reading, so my comments are from the 'untrained'.

My 'temperament area' goes through most of the middle section on the =
decent grands, usually being about C below middle C to the C above =
middle C, perhaps a little farther up.

When I start to tune down from the temperament area, I continue just =
like I was tuning my temperament.  I'm listening to the thirds and =
sixths very heavily.  But I'll also let the fifths and octaves tell me =
which way to lean it.  (All of which is under my hand so to speak.)  I =
usually tune 5 or 6 or 7 notes, and then check with the 10ths, double =
octaves,... the larger intervals, just to see if I like what I hear, and =
if I'm on track.  If I don't like it, I haven't gone too far and can =
easily go back and tweak.  Perhaps I'm unusual, and I've never heard =
other tuners do this, but on some of the finer and clearer pianos, I use =
sixths as a test all the way down into the first octave.  (Certainly not =
the only one, but a test.  It fits under my hand.)  Also, the beat rates =
usually don't die out as fast as the 'theoretical' would lead me to =
believe.  When I keep the beat rates going in the thirds and sixths, I'm =
stretching the octaves, and it seems to help me to keep some consistency =
in the stretch.

I find that using multiple intervals all the way down helps me to keep =
the overall picture a little more in mind.  It can also help me to put =
the stretch I like in it.  For example... As I move down through the =
scale, often I find myself putting the strings here: (Tuning the lower =
note)  I tune the octave.  I leave it a little flat.  If I pull it up to =
'pure', the fifth is too wild.  So I let it down just far enough that I =
can stand the fifth.  But now the octave 'talks to me' just a little.  =
Then I check the (major) third and the (major) sixth.  If they're a =
little too fast, I'll lean the bottom note just a little to the sharp =
side.  If they're a little too slow, I'll lean them to the flat side.  =20

I do 'em in groups of 6 or so, then check with wider intervals, =
eventually ending at the bottom, tweaking as I go.  Then I'll play =
octaves in as wide a fashion as I can up through the scale and see what =
'talks to me', what I might want to tweak.

It's pretty simplistic, and I'm sure there are much more involved and =
'scientific' ways.  I certainly appreciate this thread 'cause I'm =
learnin' too!

But that's how I've been doin' it.  And it seems to do pretty well.  I'm =
beginning to think that just the experience of Doing it may be where it =
is.  A fellow tuner of mine told me... "Just Do It!".  Maybe there's =
something to be said for that?.  You gotta do what works for you.

Best wishes,  and good luck.

Brian Trout
Quarryville, Pa.
    -----Original Message-----
    From: John M. Formsma <jformsma@dixie-net.com>
    To: PianoTech <pianotech@ptg.org>
    Date: Saturday, May 29, 1999 8:47 PM
    Subject: bass tuning
   =20
   =20
    Dear List,
    =20
    I have a general topic, but have some specific questions also if =
anyone can help.
    =20
    In tuning the bass, which are the best partials to listen to? I have =
four books on tuning: J. Cree Fischer, Reblitz, "Let's Tune Up" by John =
W. Travis, and "Professional Piano Tuning" by W. Dean Howell. These =
books seem to be a little vague, which makes me wonder if tuning the =
bass has to come by experience. For instance, Reblitz gives some chords =
to try to see what sounds best with the chord. Travis says listen for =
the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th partials, and then "try to lean the =
lower tones toward the bass--but only very, very slightly."  For small =
pianos, "lean ... toward the bass without producing any audible beats" =
which makes it blend with the upper notes. What have you found is the =
best for tuning a "fantastic" bass?
    =20
    Specifically, today's tuning brought me to a fairly nice Wurlitzer =
console. I turned off my SAT and tuned it aurally, with a Vallotti =
temperament. The temperament turned out fine, as did the treble. As I =
moved into the bass, it became progressively harder to hear (which is a =
common problem, so I read). In addition to the more general topic of =
bass tuning, what is best to do while tuning the bass on smaller pianos? =
I have been using the technique described by Bill Bremmer in which the =
double octave and twelfth are made to beat equally. This seems to work =
well for me, but today I could not hear those partials well on the =
Wulitzer. If you have any suggestions for budding aural tuners, I surely =
would appreciate it.
    =20
    Thanks in advance.
    =20
    John Formsma

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