tuning the treble aurally

[Elwood Doss, Jr.]

When you feel you need to chip the top octave, try a Dunlop L thumb pick,
not the kind where the pick part is an extension of the thumb; but the one
that seems to wrap around the thumb.  Use it on your index finger,opposite
hand from the one on the tuning lever.
Joy!
Elwood Doss, Jr.
Technical Director/Piano Technician
Department of Music
University of Tennessee at Martin
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Borgstrom" <orchman@attbi.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 9:17 PM
Subject: tuning the treble aurally


> another newbie question:
>
> I can set an equal temperament quite well for a beginner and have no
> trouble with the bass, tenor and low treble strings. But I have a
> horrible time in the last octave, not with tuning the center string,
> but with tuning the left and right strings to center. Such minute
> movements of the lever!! Sometimes I even have to "chip" the strings
> with a guitar pick I bring along to tell if I'm too high or too low.
> erk!!
>
> I know it is a matter of practice, 'cause I can do it, but it takes a
> lot of time. Something that Ron Nossaman said really helped with my
> speed of tuning the rest of the piano, he reminded me not to "listen
> past the resolution of the particular piano". Words of wisdom, indeed,
> because the very next piano I tuned was a well cared for grand that was
> hovering around A 440 and just needed a normal fine tuning, not a 100
> cent pitch raise like some of the lesser cared for pianos I had tuned
> prior to this nice grand. Tuned it so it sounded great in an hour,
> which I was really proud of. The lesser expensive verticals I tuned
> AFTER that grand came together quite a bit quicker due to his advice!
>
> So it's concept tips and tweaks and nuggets of knowledge like the above
> that I am looking for in regards to the treble trouble I'm having.
> Thanks folks!
>
>
> Steve Borgstrom
> Brooklyn Park, MN
>
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