more on floating pitch

[John Formsma]

I would assume the problem came when the piano was tuned to A440 in March.
 This would likely be just before the RH begins to rise (at least it does
here in Mississippi around that time).  If the piano had been tuned to A439
then, it would be closer to A440 now.
I would agree that a one-pass tuning might not have every note "spot on."
 However, one could get the piano in decent musical shape with a one-pass
tuning ... even with numbers that you mention below. Since this is a school
piano, and schools generally won't pay for a pitch correction, I'd do the
best I could with a single pass.

My attempt would be stabilizing the entire middle section to A440 first.
 (By tuning all unisons there.)  Then begin working on the treble, tuning
slightly flat octaves, and tuning unisons as you go.  By listening to your
progress, it will become evident if you've chosen the right amount of
"flatness" to your octaves.  My first try would be tuning the treble so that
the octave-fifth has a beat of 1-2 bps.  This would be perhaps even a
slightly flat double octave.  But, it usually goes back up when it's that
sharp, so you anticipate that.

If you have to correct some, you have to correct some. <G>  It's not that
hard with shimming.  I'd just correct the worst ones in the time that I got
paid for.

-- 
JF


On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 1:45 PM, Mike Spalding
<mike.spalding1 at verizon.net>wrote:

> List,
>
> I need to go back through the archives and see where all the proponents of
> floating live and work.  Surely not in the temperate zones of North America.
>  Today I tuned a Yamaha P22 at the local elementary school.  It was last
> tuned in March, to A=440 at about 38%RH.  Piano pitch at 68% RH today was:
>  A0 +0, A1 +3, A2 +5, A3 +18, A4 +12, A5 +24, A6 + 35, A7 +20.  No matter
> where I decide to set the pitch of this piano, it's going to require a pitch
> correction.  Floating wouldn't save me any time or effort, nor would it
> improve the stability of the piano.  This is the norm for the upper midwest,
> and I suspect for much of the country.  Floating might work on the coast or
> in the desert, but not here.
>
> Mike
>
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