In a message dated 8/21/00 7:33:58 AM Central Daylight Time, dbrown@tri-city.org (Brown, David) writes: << Could someone describe their method of tuning in under 100 words. I was taught by an old timer who started at the lowest bass string and went all the way to the top using his Peterson 520. He did get a nice result. Isn't this method somewhat untraditional? He did teach me to stretch the upper octaves as I go for a nice bright sound. Was this correct? A novice. >> Please don't consider my response as insulting or condescending. There is no simplistic approach to piano tuning. To be successful, it should be considered a lifetime learning experience of which no one really knows all there is to know. There are many kinds of techniques that people use in different situations. Generally speaking, a Peterson Strobe tuner is not the right tool to use to get a really good quality tuning. For starters, any person wishing to tune a piano must have some kind of idea of what a piano really being in tune means. Using any kind of Electronic Tuning Device (ETD) without having learned to listen and control the piano by ear is a poor way to approach the profession. Such individuals rarely succeed in passing the PTG Tuning Exam. The "nice result" achieved by the above description can only be a hopeful opinion. With such a method, there can be no variation or way to deal with unusual problems. Pianos have different kinds of scale designs, many of which are irregular. In no way can all of the different kinds of pianos and scale designs conform to the singular method suggested by the use of a Strobe Tuner. Pianos are also found in many different states of care or neglect. A singular method cannot possibly cope with all of the variations that will be encountered on a daily basis. While I do know of excellent technicians (even highly skilled RPT's) who start tuning on the note A0 and proceed in one direction through to note C8, to me, in my opinion, this is about the most illogical way to tune a piano that may be conceived. I would never, ever do that. Unfortunately, it would take far more than just 100 words to describe even the most usual and practical approach to piano tuning. If you really want to be a good piano technician, you should seek out membership in PTG and avail yourself of all of the resources. It takes commitment, diligence, time, disappointment and failure before truly good results may be expected. There are no short cuts for beginners. Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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