Interesting and timely thread (for me, at least). Lots of good input about the benefits of tuning left-handed. I have experienced increasing back problems as I grow into middle age. The deep-tissue message therapist who works on me says the imbalance between my right and left lats is exacerbating the problem. The left side is normally developed and the right side, highly developed. This is no doubt due to the asymmetrical nature of our work. Anything I can do to give the right side less of a work out and the left side more (in exercise as well as work) would be beneficial. So yesterday I did my first complete tuning pass left-handed (and the ratio right to left is now tens of thousands to one!). It was a pitch-raise pass on an upright done with an impact-tuning lever. It was tedious and tiring, but the longest journey begins with blah, blah, blah. Looking back, here is some advise about tuning I wish I had gotten decades ago (and headed): Use hearing protection Do at least some tuning with your non-dominant side. Use some kind of key pounder (something between your hand and the key) as much as is feasible for your personal hand traffic style (I have one I use when sitting and another for standing). Alternate between sitting and standing positions Get a tuning lever that is as stiff and lightweight as possible (My current weapon of choice n this regard is Fujan. YMMV.) FWIW, Alan Eder -----Original Message----- From: pcpoulson at sbcglobal.net To: bdornfeld at earthlink.net; Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:13 pm Subject: Re: Left Handed tuning/pitch raises Michelle: I taught myself to tune left handedly on uprights using an impact hammer, and would never switch back. I was finding that trying to tune the bass with my right hand was putting a sever strain on my back dut to the twisted position that required. Very bad body mechanics. I started training myself to use the impact hammer on pitch raises, first just in the bass, and then gradually up to the mid treble. I then switch back to tuning right handed up to the top. The technique will come, if you stick with it. I tune grands with my right hand, as there is little or no twisting required to tune the bass. Good luck, Patrick C. Poulson Registered Piano Technician Piano Technicians Guild ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003
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