Hi Ronald, On the piano the harmonics are theoretical values. Because of the strings being struck and no energy being added later the partials are sharper than the theoretical values. The reason a tune box will not work is directly related to the above. A temperament octave on a Yamaha C3 (f3 to f4) checked at the third partial would be 5.1 cents wide of pure. In other words the octave instead of being 1200 cents (theoretical) *is* 1205.1. Visual tuning devices must spread the 5.1 cents across the thirteen notes. So a tune box that is + or - 1 cent is simply not accurate enough to do the job. At 08:22 AM 10/21/98 -0500, you wrote: >What I, as a novice do not understand is the tuning process in >general. I am an accomplished trumpet player and have a pretty good >ear. What I'm asking myself is... do you not use any mechanical aids >in tuning pianos? It seems to the uneducated (like me) that you would >set an electronic chromatic tuner, plunk each key and adjust it based >on the instrument. > >Ronald W. Murray Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. "Tuner for the Centre of the Arts" drose@dlcwest.com http://www.dlcwest.com/~drose/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK S4S 5G7 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
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