Procedure for unison tuning two pianos.

[Richard Moody]

When called to tune two pianos and they expect them to be in tune with
each other, you must state a fee for parallel tuning or a fee for two
piano at the same site.   As Ron mentions below to make sure both are
in tune with each other requires extra checking so "parallel tuning"
may require more time.  It also may require a second person to play
notes to compare if the two pianos are not close at hand. If the two
pianos are tuned "dead on" ("to each other" or "parallel tuned as I
learned the term) the players might get lost when playing them
together.  So usually it is appreciated if you just tune the two
pianos to the same pitch source.  For curiosity you might want want to
hear how the two sound together, but unless reqested just tune one and
then the other and that should suffice. ---ric

----- Original Message -----
From: Overs Pianos <sec@overspianos.com.au>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: Procedure for unison tuning two pianos.


| Vinny and list,
|
| Vinny wrote;
|
| >  I am an oral tuner, and will be tuning two Yamaha consoles
| >  together.  If I make sure the A's are in exact tune with my
| >  fork and with each other, and then proceed with my
| >temperament, should that be accurate enough; or are there
| >  other methods?
|
| On several occasions I have tuned two pianos together for duo
| performances. Like you, I too tune without an electronic assistant
| (which like most assistants can be more of inconvenience).
|
| Over the years I have refined the procedure to get more accurate
| results. I now set the pitch and temperament in one piano, then set
| the pitch of the second from the first and put in a temperament.
|
| Ron O