C fork/A fork

[Tony Caught]

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Hi Bill,

Guess I'm in one of my moods to answer some of this garb......

When you tune by ear, do you set an octave note on the exact beat, on =
the slight rise of the beat or on a slight fall of the beat.  Personally =
I like it on the slight rise, you know, about .01 of a cycle sharp, that =
is around C5 of course. Mind you, you have to think about the other =
aspect of tuning that doesn't seem to get much of a mention. Had =
something to do with perception. but then again how do you measure =
something that you perceive.?

Regards,

Tony Caught
Darwin
Australia
caute@optusnet.com.au

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 4:51 AM
  Subject: Re: C fork/A fork


  In a message dated 4/27/02 6:57:28 PM Central Daylight Time, =
joegarrett@earthlink.net (Joseph Garrett) writes:=20



    Close only counts in Horseshoes, Hand Grenades and H Bombs. If we =
espouse=20
    tuning to A=3D440 then, shouldn't we use an A Fork? Granted the =
difference is=20
    minimal, but a difference non the less.=20


  Yes, but Joe, the difference would never matter under ideal =
circumstances by a skilled technician.  By Al Sanderson's figure of .02 =
cents, it could not be perceived aurally.  Bill Garlick proved this time =
and again in his classes.=20

  What would make a difference would be the fork's sensitivity to =
temperature.  Some forks vary wildly, others a cent or two.=20

  The other assumption being made is that anyone who uses a fork to tune =
aurally will produce a perfect ET.  If you know me, you know that I =
don't believe it is really true most of the time.  So, if anything, this =
would be the argument for using an "A" fork over the "C".=20

  I actually do agree that an "A" fork which is properly calibrated and =
reliable should be used rather than a "C" but having said that, the =
people who are experienced and more comfortable using the "C" fork and =
the temperament sequence that goes with it will produce results =
indistinguishable from the other method.  This has been proven enough =
times that the PTG Tuning Exam permits the use of either pitch source.  =
Whatever difference there may be falls far short of the very tight =
tolerances in the pitch and temperament portions of the exam.=20

  It is those whose temperament varies by either design or default who =
will produce an A4 which is off the mark by using a "C" fork.  The =
standard for pitch is A4 at 440.  C5 at 523.3 is merely the *theoretical =
equivilant*.  Some time ago, there were those who were saying that a =
temperament could still be considered "equal" with 2 or even 3 cent =
tolerances for each note.  Those are loose enough standards to produce =
an 18th Century style Well-Tempered tuning or even 1/7 Comma Meantone. =
Using that kind of loose standard and a "C" fork would most certainly =
produce an A4 which would be unacceptably off pitch.=20

  Bill Bremmer RPT=20
  Madison, Wisconsin=20
  Click here: -=3Dw w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o m =3D-=20


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