<DIV>One thing I didn't see mentioned was using the sostenuto pedal to help set the pitch. Of course this isn't much help on most uprights, but exam pianos always have a sostenuto: gives you a third hand. Dave Nereson <davner@kaosol.net> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cy Shuster" <741662027@theshusters.org> To: "Pianotech" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 11:02 AM 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? < . . . . .> --Cy Shuster-- Bluefield, WV I tune verticals "left-handed," i.e., tuning hammer in left hand, striking notes and octaves with my right, piano bench angled so I'm facing the treble end. I often stand to tune the bass, but don't necessarily have to. The following method probably won't work if you tune "right-handed," but maybe it's adaptable. I tap the fork on my knee, hold it up to my ear, then with the fork still held with my right thumb and index (why set it down when I'm going to immediately use it again?), play A 49 with my right 3rd & 4th fingers and just get A in the right ballpark. Then I quickly tune A3 to A4, approximately beatless, but not bothering with any other checks than just the two A's together. Then I get F2 to beat fairly slowly with A4, in the neighborhood of three to six beats a second -- that's just where I find it easiest to compare beats. Now I can hit the fork on my knee, hold it up to my ear or put the base of it against my cheekbone or jawbone up near the ear while I play F2 and memorize the beat rate. Then, still holding the fork with right thumb & forefinger, play A with the 3rd & 4th fingers, and F2 with the left hand, comparing the beat rate with the previous one. When the beat rates sound the same, I again hit the fork, move it immediately to my ear and play A4, and let them both ring, listening for any "slow roll." If F2 doesn't beat that loudly with the fork, try using B1. --David Nereson, RPT _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Pianova Piano Service Olympia, WA <hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!? <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/100/*http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail/static/efficiency.html">New and Improved Yahoo! Mail</a> - 100MB free storage!