Tuning Compromises Across a Challenging Break

[John Formsma]

Jeff,
The short answer is that you must get the best compromise for several
intervals.  (And I think we as tuners worry more about that than most
owners.  So it might not be as big a problem as we tend to think it is.)

There are priorities I have during tuning at the bass/tenor break. Listed in
order, they would be a good octave, decent P5, fudge a little more on the
P4, M3, M6, m6 and m3.

I'm not sure there is any particular one-size-fits-all strategy to handle
tuning inconsistencies across the bass/tenor break; such as, "intervals that
straddle the break should be narrowed and intervals above, and perhaps
below, the break should be widened."  It's often true that beat rates of M3s
(and other faster beating intervals) decrease as you hit the wound strings.
But I think it's something that happens because it's the best
compromiserather than a
goal at which you aim.

What helps most is getting the correct stretch for the piano. If you do
this, the break becomes less of an issue. (On some pianos, there will always
be inconsistencies, but that's unchangeable until the scale is changed.)
It's helpful to start with a temperament that spans two octaves. But
eventually, I think the more one tunes aurally, the better one can hear what
will work best even if he is working within one octave for the temperament.

You might begin with a A2-A4 octave that beats no more than 1 bps.  Then
chop it up into small chunks with your favorite method, whether it be the
Baldassin-Sanderson temperament, or whatever one you choose.

-- 
JF

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 7:33 AM, Jeff Deutschle <oaronshoulder at gmail.com>wrote:

> List:
>
> This is my first post. I have been lurking for a while and have searched
> extensively for methods on making compromises when setting the temperament
> across a challenging break. I have not found very much that is useful, just
> that intervals that straddle the break should be narrowed and intervals
> above, and perhaps below, the break should be widened. I am interested in
> tests to determine how challenging the break is and how much these intervals
> should be narrowed or widened. Of course, this being a compromise, every
> tuner will have their own preferences.
>
> The only test I have come up with is to straddle the break with a P4,
> beating about 1 bps wide, and then tune a reasonable M3 above the upper
> note. This M3 should beat about 6 times for every 5 times that the M6 that
> is formed with the lower note of the P4 beats. If the beat rates are too
> close together, the P4 can be tuned less wide. This same test can be used
> just above the break. If the beat rates are too far apart, the P4 can be
> tuned wider.
>
> Does anyone know of other tests to determine how challenging a break is and
> how to best compromise for it?
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Jeff Deutschle
>
> Please address replies to the List. Do not E-mail me privately. Thank You.
>
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