In a message dated 6/8/98 11:26:23 PM Central Daylight Time, drose@dlcwest.com writes: << >> > - The ear hears each note individually so is able to adjust to the small inharmonicity differences from note to note, but is not nearly as accurate at consistently setting octaves to the same stretch amount from note to note. Variations of a few 10ths of a cent are normal. >> > >> > So, if the aural tuner were perfectly accurate (a big if) the tuning would measure a little uneven and would look bumpy if your charted it. The electronic tuning charts perfectly smoothly, but doesn't take into account the minute variations in inharmonicity from string to string. >> Here I am again, back from Louisiana and will have some tuning insights to tell later but I saw what was going on here and had to comment in the little time I had this morning. It seems that I will always be the odd man out in these discussions but in my opinion, "smooth" octaves are no more a desired goal or trait of a really good tuning than a "smooth" temperament is. In Louisiana, I worked with an accordian maker on tuning his instruments. I was able to convince him that he was not necessarily bound into the restrictions that everyoner else in his profession felt bound, just because they were conventional. I pointed out to him the difference between what is satisfying musically (which is what really counts) and what is satisfying to a "TOONER" (you folks started it,I didn't), which does NOT matter at all. While most of the gerneral public and even the professional pianists may accept this ultimate compromise that is now the general concensus, it still does not mean it is the best nor that everyone will like it the best. My temperaments and octaves are "rough" compared to most of the rest on the List and my octaves are quite often stretched to the hilt but are always justifiable and not nearly stretched as much as some truly irrational stretching that I have heard. I tune for a musically satisfying sound, not for what might be considered an ideal compromise. To me, the RPT Exam Master Tuning sounds as bland as Velveeta cheese tastes and really would ruin most any music played with it. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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