Temperament Piano tuning

an a440 tuning fork

one practical method of tuning piano begins tuning notes in temperament octave in middle range of piano. beginning pitch tuned external reference, a440 tuning fork, , tuner successively adjusts each note s tempered intervallic relationships other notes in scale. during tuning common assess fifths, fourths, thirds (both major , minor) , sixths (also major , minor), in ascending or descending pattern hear whether progression of beat rates has been achieved.

once temperament octave tuned, tuner tunes other notes on piano using octave intervals align them, first tuned notes in temperament octave, , lastly tuned notes below , above.

the following table lists beat frequencies between notes in equal temperament octave. top row indicates absolute frequencies of pitches; a440 determined external reference. every other number indicates beat rate between 2 tones (which share row , column number) in temperament octave. slower beat rates can timed metronome, or other such device. thirds in temperament octave, difficult tune many beats per second, after setting temperament , duplicating 1 octave below, of these beat frequencies present @ half indicated rate in lower octave, excellent verification temperament correct. 1 of easiest tests of equal temperament play succession of major thirds, each 1 semitone higher last. if equal temperament has been achieved, beat rate of these thirds should increase evenly in temperament region.

the next table indicates pitch @ strongest beating should occur useful intervals. described above, when tuning perfect fifth, instance, beating can heard not @ either of fundamental pitches of keys played, rather octave , fifth (perfect twelfth) above lower of 2 keys, lowest pitch @ harmonic series overlap. once beating can heard, tuner must temper interval either wide or narrow tuning has no beatings.