You're right on pitch changing.  I usually have to do the first couple of tunings as a two steps forward, one step back, meaning that the temperament gets 7-8 times through by the time I get through all of it.  Maybe this is the long way to do it, but it works for me.  When I chip tune, I like to start in the middle, then chip octaves one up, one down, two up, two down, etc in a sort of temperament order, constantly going back to my first notes to see how they are reacting. My thinking is that I am spreading the new tension across the whole piano perhaps a bit more evenly.  I, too would like to hear other techniques.... Thanks Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Wimblees@aol.com Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 06/06/2007 08:16 AM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>caut@ptg.org <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>[CAUT] chipping, was Re:  pre-stretching new string?</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> In a message dated 6/6/07 8:02:22 A.M. Central Daylight Time, pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu writes: I agree Wim, That is exactly the same method I use.  When restringing a whole piano, however, I only tune sharp by 30-35 cents for three to four tunings, then tune at 440, then re-settle the strngs with tapping at bridges, re squeezing beckets, tightening coils, releveling, if needed, then tune again perhaps slightly above 440.  If it is the humid time of year, I'll just tune at 440 as nature will pull it sharp for a few months.  Then, it's pretty stable after that. Best, Paul   I want to add that when stringing, I also do all of the above, (tapping, tightening, etc.) I just assumed everyone does those things, and that it is nothing "different". Also, when I chip, the first note is a semi tone sharp. As I said, by the time I get done chipping the piano, and probably when I'm about a third of the way through, the pitch of that note has probably dropped to about even, or even lower than the pitch.   BTW, here is my chipping technique. I wonder if this is how others do it.   I chip the left string of the first note at the break. (I get my pitch from another piano. When I was in St. Louis, for a while I had my shop by my house, and often didn't have another piano to get a pitch from. So I would go in the house, and play the note I needed, and then hummed it while walking back to the shop. I guess if anyone would have seen and heard me, they probably though I was crazy. ((No comments please)))   I "play" a major scale all the way to c8. (I do this aurally). I then go up a half a step, and again chip only the left string. Of course the 3rd and 7th notes are already in tune, so that more or less gives me a guide. When I get done with the right strings, I tune the left strings, but chipping every note. I then chip the bass section. Finally I go back and chip tune the middle strings. I believe this evens out the tension as much as possible.   Comments??   Wim <hr>See what's free at <a href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target=_blank>AOL.com</a>.