Setting pitch with a fork

[Jerry Cohen]

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Cy,

 

I have always used a tuning fork, and I don't seem to have a big problem
holding it. Here is how I do it.

 

I hold the fork with my thumb and 1st  finger and strike it on my knee. With
my 3rd, 4th, 5th fingers and the palm of my hand on the end off the lever, I
move the tuning pin while striking the note with my other hand which is
free. The trick is to hold the fork with 2 fingers while moving the lever
with the other fingers and palm. It's not that hard and the sound from the
fork is pure and clear.

 

I recall reading an article which stated that the direct sound from a tuning
fork produces almost all fundamental and almost no harmonics, but if the
same fork pressed against something will produce more harmonics. Of course
the harmonics forces us to use the 2 oct. + maj. 3rd test. I find by
listening directly to the fork, the 2 oct. + maj 3rd is just a confirmation.
Does this make sense?

 

Jerry Cohen

 

NJ Chapter  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Cy Shuster
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 1:02 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Setting pitch with a fork

 

List,

 

I'm practicing setting pitch with a tuning fork (for the RPT exam, someday),
and I'm finding it hard to hear the beats between F2 and the fork.  I'm also
struggling to hold the fork, play the note, and turn the pin.  What works
for you?

 

For one thing, if I play F2 with my left hand, and hold the fork to my right
ear, it's really hard to hear beats (I know I can adjust F2 as needed for a
comfortable beat speed).  I found if I hold the fork over my left ear, so
that it's between my ear and the piano, the beats are clearer.  (Is it
because the wave interference happens in the air, not in my head?  Sarah?)

 

Is there a difference in the beats when the fork is in the air, vs. on the
stretcher (or the keybed; I've also tried dangling it from two fingers,
pressing on the underside of the keybed, while playing F2 with my thumb --
less than satisfactory)?  Maybe it's time to try the rubber tubing on the
end, and holding it in my teeth...

 

--Cy Shuster--

Bluefield, WV


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