Background Piano tuning

a piano tuner s basic tools include tuning lever (or hammer ) , mutes



an illustration of beating. sum (blue) of 2 waves (red, green) shown 1 of waves increases in frequency. 2 waves identical, frequency of green wave gradually increased 25%. constructive , destructive interference results in beating pattern in resulting wave.

many factors cause pianos go out of tune, particularly atmospheric changes. instance, changes in humidity affect pitch of piano; high humidity causes sound board swell, stretching strings , causing pitch go sharp, while low humidity has opposite effect. changes in temperature can affect overall pitch of piano. in newer pianos strings gradually stretch , wooden parts compress, causing piano go flat, while in older pianos tuning pins (that hold strings in tune) can become loose , don t hold piano in tune well. frequent , hard playing can cause piano go out of tune. these reasons, many piano manufacturers recommend new pianos tuned 4 times during first year , twice year thereafter.

an out-of-tune piano can identified characteristic honky tonk or beating sound produces. fluctuation in sound intensity result of 2 (or more) tones of similar frequencies being played together. example, if piano string tuned 440 hz (vibrations per second) played piano string tuned 442 hz, resulting tone beats @ frequency of 2 hz, due constructive , destructive interference between 2 tones. likewise, if string tuned 220 hz (with harmonic @ 440 hz) played string tuned @ 442 hz, same 2 hz beat heard. because pianos typically have multiple strings each piano key, these strings must tuned same frequency eliminate beats.

the pitch of note determined frequency of vibrations. vibrating string, frequency determined string s length, mass, , tension. piano strings wrapped around tuning pins, turned adjust tension of strings.

history

piano tuning became profession around beginning of 1800s, pianoforte became mainstream. musicians owned harpsichords, easier tune, , musicians tuned themselves. piano tuners trained , employed in piano factories, , underwent apprenticeship of 5–7 years. tuners faced challenges related large variety of new , changing pianos , non-standardized pitches.

historically, keyboard instruments tuned using intonation, pythagorean tuning , meantone temperament meaning such instruments sound in tune in 1 key, or keys, have more dissonance in other keys. development of temperament allowed fixed-pitch instruments play reasonably in of keys. famous well-tempered clavier johann sebastian bach took advantage of breakthrough, preludes , fugues written 24 major , minor keys. however, while unpleasant intervals (such wolf interval) avoided, sizes of intervals still not consistent between keys, , each key still had own distinctive character. during 1700s variation led increase in use of equal temperament, in frequency ratio between each pair of adjacent notes on keyboard made equal, allowing music transposed between keys without changing relationship between notes.

pianos tuned a440 pitch standard adopted during 1900s in response varying standards. pitch standards had gradually risen a415 during late 1700s , 1800s a435 during late 1800s. though a440 standard, orchestras, particularly in europe, use higher pitch standard, such a444.