[pianotech] Aurally pure octaves

[John Formsma]

On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 1:42 PM, <PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> In a message dated 3/10/2009 1:24:48 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> formsma at gmail.com writes:
>
> also need to learn how to set the middle string slightly above that sweet
> spot so that when the other strings are tuned to the middle, the pitch is
> correct for all three strings sounding together. (Pitch does change somewhat
> when unisons are tuned to the middle string.)
>
> John:
>
> I know this has been posited, and claimed, but I have yet to
> see/hear/experience any proof of this "phenomenon". Can this be provided?
> Thanks.
>
>

I don't have an ETD, so I can't give any measurements.  But, when you do
tests for a middle string and then with the three strings sounding together,
the beat rate slows slightly.  Also, after having tuned the best octave
possible for all three strings sounding together, mute two of those strings,
and a beat on the sharp side can be heard. At least typically.

So whether pitch actually changes, or whether the combination of all three
strings sounding together does something to the perception of pitch, I
couldn't say for sure. But if you don't compensate for this during your
tuning, the octaves end up flatter.

Perhaps David Andersen will demonstrate this if his demo comes together for
GR.

-- 
JF
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