[CAUT] electronic tuning device preference?

[Susan Kline]

>I think if you ask most ETD using tuners why they use the machine 
>instead of just aurally, one of the answers will be
>they suddenly found their solid tunings were in fact drifting 
>slightly...i.e. going back over notes previous tuned, even within 
>the same unison you were tuning...;-]
>Aurally, we rely on one string as being set and tuning the other 
>strings to it and venturing out...but if it changes?   If you 
>aurally tune with a temp strip and come back to do the unisons you 
>are kidding yourself...

<smile>

One adjusts to that in various ways. I also present to you the idea 
that there is a line between reasonable and unnecessary accuracy, and 
the machines are well past the line. If a machine were invented which 
allowed one to measure a note to a hundredth of a cent, some turkey 
would probably think he had to work to that level.

I think that aural tuning allows for a more natural judgment of which 
aspects of tuning and voicing really make a difference to performers 
and listeners, as opposed to those which are just easiest to measure. 
But then, I am biased ...

Susan Kline