The Acme A1 Temperament

[Geoff Sykes]

For an interesting read on ET, see the Wikipedia entry here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_temperament

It states, among other things I did now know, that apparently William Braid
White, in 1917, developed the first aural method of tuning a piano to equal
temperament.

-- Geoff Sykes
-- Los Angeles




-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Formsma
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2007 1:00 PM
To: tune4u at earthlink.net; Pianotech List
Subject: Re: The Acme A1 Temperament


Alan,

I'm not sure why ET has achieved near-universal dominance in modern piano
tuning. But...one possible reason is that tuning ET is faster once you have
established the bearing octave. It's particularly faster if you tune ET all
the time and it becomes second nature.  Those ascending/descending chromatic
tests are great for identifying errors.

I know when I tune non-equally, I have to listen more carefully. With ET,
the fifths have the "same" sound, as do the fourths. Knowing this, you can
get into a faster rhythm, then refine with appropriate chromatic tests.

With a non-equal temperament, you have to know how each interval is supposed
to sound. E.g., which fifths/fourths are pure, or how contracted/expanded
the intervals are relative to other intervals.

Just a thought.

I like non-equal temperaments better for musicality, but I also like
*tuning* ET for its rigid precision. It's good practice anyway.

JF

On 6/30/07, Alan Barnard <tune4u at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> So how come the pretty much whole world has settled on ET as the 
> tuning goal of choice?
>
> Not challenging anyone's opinion or ability here (I've never even 
> heard a Coleman 11 or EBVT tuning), it's just a response to the 
> comment that they would be better sounding than ET. Is that a 
> key-specific observation?
>
> Alan Barnard
> Salem, MO
>
>
>  ________________________________
> Original message
> From: "Jon Page"
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Received: 6/30/2007 8:30:46 AM
> Subject: The Acme A1 Temperament
>
>
>
>
> "And this the proof why this tempermant is superior to any other." BS 
> "WHOA! How can you possibly say that? I have heard many great 
> tunings," DA
>
> Put it up against a mild WT such as Coleman 11 or EBVT and I bet
> it would take a back seat as ET usually does.     --
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Page