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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hi John,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Wow, what a can of worms you've opened! Tuning =
the
bass...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I never had any formal instruction, but have been =
able to
glean some info from my reading, so my comments are from the
'untrained'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>My 'temperament area' goes through most of the =
middle section
on the decent grands, usually being about C below middle C to the C =
above middle
C, perhaps a little farther up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>When I start to tune down from the temperament area, =
I
continue just like I was tuning my temperament. I'm listening to =
the
thirds and sixths very heavily. But I'll also let the fifths and =
octaves
tell me which way to lean it. (All of which is under my hand so to =
speak.) I usually tune 5 or 6 or 7 notes, and then check with the =
10ths,
double octaves,... the larger intervals, just to see if I like what I =
hear, and
if I'm on track. If I don't like it, I haven't gone too far and =
can easily
go back and tweak. Perhaps I'm unusual, and I've never heard other =
tuners
do this, but on some of the finer and clearer pianos, I use sixths as a =
test all
the way down into the first octave. (Certainly not the only one, =
but a
test. It fits under my hand.) Also, the beat rates usually =
don't die
out as fast as the 'theoretical' would lead me to believe. When I =
keep the
beat rates going in the thirds and sixths, I'm stretching the octaves, =
and it
seems to help me to keep some consistency in the stretch.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I find that using multiple intervals all the way =
down helps me
to keep the overall picture a little more in mind. It can also =
help me to
put the stretch I like in it. For example... As I move down =
through the
scale, often I find myself putting the strings here: (Tuning the lower
note) I tune the octave. I leave it a little flat. If =
I pull
it up to 'pure', the fifth is too wild. So I let it down just far =
enough
that I can stand the fifth. But now the octave 'talks to me' just =
a
little. Then I check the (major) third and the (major) =
sixth. If
they're a little too fast, I'll lean the bottom note just a little to =
the sharp
side. If they're a little too slow, I'll lean them to the flat
side. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I do 'em in groups of 6 or so, then check with wider =
intervals, eventually ending at the bottom, tweaking as I go. Then =
I'll
play octaves in as wide a fashion as I can up through the scale and see =
what
'talks to me', what I might want to tweak.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>It's pretty simplistic, and I'm sure there are much =
more
involved and 'scientific' ways. I certainly appreciate this thread =
'cause
I'm learnin' too!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>But that's how I've been doin' it. And it =
seems to do
pretty well. I'm beginning to think that just the experience of =
Doing it
may be where it is. A fellow tuner of mine told me... "Just =
Do
It!". Maybe there's something to be said for that?. You =
gotta
do what works for you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Best wishes, and good luck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Brian Trout</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Quarryville, Pa.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>-----Original =
Message-----</B><BR><B>From:
</B>John M. Formsma <<A
=
href="mailto:jformsma@dixie-net.com">jformsma@dixie-net.com</A>><BR>=
<B>To:
</B>PianoTech <<A
=
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR><B>Date:
</B>Saturday, May 29, 1999 8:47 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>bass
tuning<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=510081101-30051999>Dear
List,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=510081101-30051999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=510081101-30051999>I =
have a general
topic, but have some specific questions also if anyone can
help.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=510081101-30051999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=510081101-30051999>In =
tuning the
bass, which are the best partials to listen to? I have four books on =
tuning:
J. Cree Fischer, Reblitz, "Let's Tune Up" by John W. =
Travis, and
"Professional Piano Tuning" by W. Dean Howell. These books =
seem to
be a little vague, which makes me wonder if tuning the bass has to =
come by
experience. For instance, Reblitz gives some chords to try to see =
what
sounds best with the chord. Travis says listen for the 2nd, 3rd, =
4th, 5th,
and 7th partials, and then "try to lean the lower tones toward =
the
bass--but only very, very slightly." For small =
pianos,
"lean ... toward the bass without producing any audible =
beats"
which makes it blend with the upper notes. What have you found =
is the
best for tuning a "fantastic" bass?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=510081101-30051999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=510081101-30051999>Specifically,
today's tuning brought me to a fairly nice Wurlitzer console. I =
turned off
my SAT and tuned it aurally, with a Vallotti temperament. The =
temperament
turned out fine, as did the treble. As I moved into the bass, it =
became
progressively harder to hear (which is a common problem, so I read). =
In
addition to the more general topic of bass tuning, what is best to
do while tuning the bass on smaller pianos? I have been using =
the
technique described by Bill Bremmer in which the double octave and =
twelfth
are made to beat equally. This seems to work well for me, but today =
I could
not hear those partials well on the Wulitzer. If you have any =
suggestions
for budding aural tuners, I surely would appreciate =
it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=510081101-30051999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=510081101-30051999>Thanks in
advance.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=510081101-30051999></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN =
class=510081101-30051999>John
Formsma</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>