'C' fork users only (inferior 'A' fork users need not apply)

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 3/7/01 12:44:12 PM Central Standard Time,    
tunenbww@clear.lakes.com (Paul) writes:

<< John
 I've never had trouble getting A to be 440, either. Every time I check my
 tuning from a C fork, the A is right on.
 
 Paul Chick >>

Bill Garlick covered this in his class too.  A4 at 440 cycles per second is 
what is known as "Standard Pitch".  C5 at 523.3 is not "Standard Pitch" it is 
merely the result of multiplying 440 by the twelfth root of 2 three times.  
It is the *equivilant* of Standard Pitch but only theoretically.

Therefore, these days, it is usually recommended to use an A-440 pitch source 
when tuning, even if tuning a temperament other than Equal.  Technically, one 
should expect that if a C fork is used when tuning Equal Temperament (ET), 
the A4 would be expected to be off by a very small amount because of 
Inharmonicity.

As a practical matter, however, (and this is what is important), that small 
amount is generally so small that it cannot be detected aurally.  This means 
that it would be an amount of less than one cent which is indeed not 
significant.

This is definitely not true for Historical Temperaments, however.  If a C 
fork is used when tuning most any popular HT, the A4 will fall flat by as 
much as 2 cycles per second (8 cents).  Many HT enthusiasts cannot reconcile 
tuning from an A fork.  C is supposed to be the starting note, and that's 
that.  They seem to believe that if you start on A, you are necessarily 
making A be the tonal center but it simply is not true.

Actually, using A as the pitch reference when tuning an HT causes all notes 
to be nearly the closest they can be to the theoretical equivalent of 
Standard Pitch.  That is why I use A-440 as a reference *and* the starting 
note of my temperament, regardless of which temperament I am tuning, even 
such an ancient and classic temperament as 1/4 Syntonic Meantone Temperament.

So, ET tuners, never fear, C or A does not make any significant difference.  
Use whichever one you are most used to and comfortable with.

Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin