tuning timing

[Paul]

Charles
I don't know what muting technique you or the others who responded to you
use, but I discovered that I can tune better-more efficiently and
proficiently when I mute the whole piano, tune the center strings, pull the
mute and tune the rest of the unison(s). I've developed this process into
using two strip mutes for treble unisons, but that gets into another area.
What I learned was that the piano "quieted down." Fewer strings speaking
made fewer sounds. This makes it easier for me to hear the string(s) I am
tuning. What I've also learned is that the piano must be close to the
desired/required pitch BEFORE any tuning can be done. So, if any pitch
raising of any amount needs to be done, DO IT! And while pitch raising, As
Jim Coleman SR. has stated, don't tune; you want the tension right. It's
down and dirty. Then tune. The whole process has speeded up my tuning
considerably. Several passes ARE faster than one slow, methodical run.Three
passes is very common for my tunings; and it usually takes me less than an
hour to produce a quality tuning. Keep practicing hammer technique. Listen
carefully how far your pitch changes (if any) after you've removed your
tuning lever. Compensate that drift with over or under pull. Several steady
forte blows should give you a set string and tuning pin. Hang in there. It
will come eventually!

Paul Chick
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Neuman <cneuman@phy.duke.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 9:42 AM
Subject: tuning timing


> I'm curious how long it takes you all to complete each part of the tuning
> process. I'm not as concerned with the overal time as with the proportion
> of time spent on each section. For example, setting the temperament,
> midrange, high treble, and bass.
>
> The high treble seems to eat up a lot of time. The unisons are harder for
> me there since the beats are more sensitive to hammer movement. By the
> time I get to the last octave, I'm ready to scream, and the notes start to
> sound like a metal spoon hitting a frypan. Perhaps a nice grand would have
> nicer sounding notes up there. It seems like a drag to spend so much time
> on notes that will rarely be played.
>
> Charles Neuman
> Plainview, NY
>
>
>