[pianotech] shorter final tuning time with pitch raises; forearm smash

[David Love]

Let me just amplify on this notion of speed and stability. People who are able to tune fast are, first of all, those who can feel the actual amount of movement of the pin in the block. But more than that, they are able to anticipate from what they feel the amount of pitch change that will accompany that movement. Slower (and less stable) tuners are more reactive. They move the pin and listen for how much the pitch moves and then they react and push it back the other way or add more depending on what they hear. The more skilled tuner will be able to tell from what they feel whether that's enough or not and are often able to hit the target spot on at the first go. This skill is particularly useful when a piano has friction or rendering issues. Once the more skilled tuner senses that the correct amount of pin movement has occurred they then work to equalize tension knowing that no more or very little pin movement is required. In order to build speed, then, you must practice very consciously with the intention of learning to anticipate the amount of pitch movement that accompanies what you feel in the pin to pinblock connection. That not only will increase speed but accuracy and stability as well. 


David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
Sender: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:13:39 
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] shorter final tuning time with pitch raises;
 forearm smash

On 11/4/2010 9:14 AM, David Love wrote:

> However, I agree with Ron overall that people probably tend to listen
> too long into the note especially while manipulating the pin. That is to
> say that the manipulation of the pin should coincide with frequent and
> repeated playing of the note. The mistake is
> play-manipulate-manipulate-manipulate-manipulate-manipulate-manipulate-play
> rather than continuous and simultaneous playing and manipulation. In the
> final check phase then you are simply playing softly enough that there
> is little or no attack distortion and listening. If you find something
> to correct then you need to return to the firmer play-manipulate
> procedure. A bit of a back and forth wiggle of the tuning lever on the
> turning plane (on plane is important) while playing the note to see if
> things are really settled is the final check before leaving the pin.

Yes, of course. That's exactly what I'm saying.

Should have known better than to mention a number, as it's usually used 
to miss the point.
Ron N