<HTML>In a message dated 3/20/02 2:31:27 AM !!!First Boot!!!, mickeykes2@uf.znet.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">How do all of you aural tuners handle the high end of the piano?  Any trade secrets you'd care to share? Thanks in advance for all your great advice. Mickey (Mark) Kessler </BLOCKQUOTE> Mark You've gotten some pretty good advice so far. Let me give you a few more things to think about that has worked for me. First of all, if you're already using an ETD, unless you want to just do it to know how to do it, why aren't you using it to tune the whole piano? I started tuning using the old SAT, (back 25 years ago). By using the machine, I "learned" what is supposed to be right. But I can understand you wanting to hear it on your own. Strip muting, as Clyde suggested, is the way to go. But I want to add two more things to what he said. First, when you're pushing the strip mute behind the dampers, the damper should move away from the strings enough for the strip to go in between. But if the dampers don't want to come forward far enough, take your business card and slip it between the strings and the dampers. This allows the the strip to be able to be pushed between teh damper and the string without damaging the damper felts. When you're done tuning the middle string, remove the strip, and an insert it again every other note. Tune the outer strings that are not muted to the middle string. When you're done, go back and check your octaves, double octave, octaves and fifth, 17ths, arpeggios, or what ever else method you feel comfortable with. At this point, you're only tuning two strings. So when you hear an interval that isn't light, using a rubber mute, mute off the outside string, tune the middle, and then retune the outer string. When you're satisfied the upper treble is in tune, go back and reinsert the strip on the "other" every other note, and tune the outside string to the middle. When this is done, using a split mute, correct any notes that are still out. I like this method because it equalizes the tension on this part of the board. This area of the piano is the hardest to stabilize, and by retuning it at least three times, you're constantly checking and correcting any problems. I hope my explanation wasn't to confusing, or too long, (too late), but it should help you get a better grip on tuning the high treble. Wim </HTML>