----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Gamble" <michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 11:16 AM Subject: Re: Raising Don Rose to Standard Pitch > This is how I do it. I do use an "etd" (thank God I don't have perfect > pitch! I have to work with an Orchestra at A=430 as well as A=415 - and > even, dig this, A=397) which has a meter on it and able to be set to A = > 445,444,443,442,441 and, of course, 440. Then starting from the MIDDLE > mentally divide the entire piano into "Quadrants". That is to say into major > thirds. Having first established the current ruling pitch of the piano AND > satisfying the criteria that the piano will stand this treatment and is > worth it, AND (not least) establishing with the Client the necessary > "caveats" of broken strings/frame etc., off we go. Start on middle "B" (why > not? got to start somewhere!) This is the governing rule. Go down to the > bottom first then, starting from the middle, go to the top end. Tune all > the Bs on the piano '#' in accordance with the following simple rule: If the > piano is semi-tone flat set the meter to A=445. Then, by ear, tune the > "quadrants" (major thirds - so-called quadrants because you get four in an > 8ve.) between the Bs. Done it? Good. The piano is now quarter of the way up! > Next tune all the A's. to A=444. Then follow the previous route of tuning by > ear. The piano is now half-way up! Next tune the A#'s to A=442. OK? Follow > this by tuning the intermediate two notes per 8ve by ear as before. During > this cycle there are, just for self-satisfaction, a few cross-checks you can > try. Now we are three-quarters of the way through. Finally tune the G#'s > throughout to A=441 (or 440 - depending on how the cross-checks in this > final phase turn out) Finally tune the intermediate major thirds by ear as > before. This will give all the cross-checks you could possibly want. The > piano is now ready for a Fine Tuning...Done!! One of the useful things about > quadrants is that they follow the pattern of the wrest (tuning) pins. You > have "Upper Quadrants" and "Lower Quadrants" - and knowing this helps as a > mnemonic - particularly if you're chipping the srings up without the > advantage of a keyboard in-situ. > It goes without saying, obviously, that you all have a fine awareness of the > beats given by descending/ascending major thirds. Of course you do - as I > said "It goes without saying..." > Good luck! > Am off now to tune a largish Bechstein grand up to pitch for some charity > raising operatic venture in a large country mansion. This piano I don't > know. I must take my Roslau Blues with me! The owner, on asking him what it > is, "thinks" it's a Bechstein... 'nuff said. > Ta ta all! > Michael G (UK) >
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