On Dec 2, 2005, at 2:19 PM, central wrote: > > Fred and All, > A visiting harpsichordist many years ago, (sorry, cant > remember his > name), observed my piano like pin setting technique on his > harpsichord and > commented, "you must always approach pitch from below." He said that > approaching target pitch from above will result in the string going > sharp. > If it is flat just raise to pitch not beyond. (This is for pin and > string > setting only, not overall pitch raising) Somehow it seemed counter > intuitive. What do you think? > -Mike Jorgensen I dunno, these darned harpsichordists don't know anything <G>. I have heard all sorts of things, including people who rail against ever using a gooseneck (I don't see how they can stand a T hammer, when a gooseneck will work - the extra leverage and minute control make it so much easier, as long as you know how to allow for or incorporate a bit of flagpoling - or avoid the effect altogether by the direction you place the hammer). I think it's all in the minutia of the technique. How much attention do you pay to where the pitch has moved while you are putting pressure on the hammer, as opposed to noticing by feeling precisely how much the pin has turned in the block - ignoring what you are hearing? The "natural" tendency of the amateur is to tie the movement of the hammer/pin to what the ear is hearing. There is no question that it is somewhat less intuitive to arrive at a stable point from above as opposed to below. It takes a different set of feedback loops (what you hear, what you feel, how you react). I think this is the source of that particular "old wives' tale." It's just harder to learn to lower than to raise. But in the final analysis, the proof is in the pudding. When you think you have it there, if you give the hammer that little jiggle, and the pitch meanders just above and just below, and settles at right in the middle, you've got it. If it doesn't, you try again. Eventually, with persistence, you learn good technique, and from above or from below is irrelevant. If a string is barely sharp, I do my utmost to move the pin just enough to put it exactly where I want it. I certainly don't make sure to overshoot so I can approach from below. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico fssturm@unm.edu
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