<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Robert,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>You talk about the "correct" stretch. There are varying ideas as to the amount of stretch octaves might need. Some people may have recommendations that will undoubtedly help you, but it will be hard to avoid adding in their own particular preference. I think the highest (and the lowest notes on a small piano) are the hardest to learn to tune, it's about learning to hear and using whatever method to hear what you want. It's not necessarily about getting the "correct" stretch, it's about making the piano sound nice.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Personally, except for the temperament I only compare octaves throughout the entire keyboard. I used to compare various intervals as I was taught, but I found I could tune using just the octaves better and produce a better result. My goal is not to tune any particular partial, but to quote some others on the list, I tune the "whole" note.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Not sure if that helps :)</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>- John</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; ">I am learning to tune the piano by ear and have a question about tuning octaves in the high treble and performing the tests on them. Lower down the piano and for an octave or two above the temperament octave I use a 3rd-10th test to check whether the beat rate of the 10th is the same as or slightly faster than the 3rd, to provide an octave that is correctly stretched. When I go higher in pitch I use a 3rd-17th test so that I can still hear the beats and do the comparison. The problem I am having is that when I go still higher, say in the final octave, I can hear the beats of the third but I can't hear the beats of the 17th, or any ripple at all. I can't therefore compare the two beats rates and check the octave. The higher note also dies away quicker so it makes it even more difficult. Is there any special technique I should use to be able to hear the beat rate of the 17th so that I can check the higher octaves? Thank you very much for your help.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"></FONT> </DIV><DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; ">Robert Finley</SPAN></FONT></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>