Pianotech

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Steven and David.  Thank you for the detailed explanations.  I had told the client that the piano would not want to stay at A432 and would need subsequent tunings to make it stay down there and it might be detrimental to the instrument, but she wanted to go ahead.  Even if I lose the client, I will let her know that I cannot do this to her piano.  I don't know of any tuner in my chapter who would want to do this either.  Maybe she can find a "tooner" to do it for her.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

David, thanks for that reference, it is in line with what I was able to find out and as you mention, it says nothing about frequencies 432,440 or otherwise. I did look outside the AI for other references as some AI responses weren't credible. And, like you could not find references to concert pitches. Let me know if you find something.

Best,

~S

Steven and David.  Thank you for the detailed explanations.  I had told the client that the piano would not want to stay at A432 and would need subsequent tunings to make it stay down there and it might be detrimental to the instrument, but she wanted to go ahead.  Even if I lose the client, I will let her know that I cannot do this to her piano.  I don't know of any tuner in my chapter who would want to do this either.  Maybe she can find a "tooner" to do it for her.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Steven and David.  Thank you for the detailed explanations.  I had told the client that the piano would not want to stay at A432 and would need subsequent tunings to make it stay down there and it might be detrimental to the instrument, but she wanted to go ahead.  Even if I lose the client, I will let her know that I cannot do this to her piano.  I don't know of any tuner in my chapter who would want to do this either.  Maybe she can find a "tooner" to do it for her.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

Below are the reasons people choose 432 according to chat gpt and also what I've read.  Steiner is credited with saying the A=440 Hz standard is"Luciferian" and claimed it was responsible for creating discord and separating human consciousness from the body but there is no historical record for this. He did say that C= 128hz is part of the 'scientific' or 'philosopher's pitch standard as they were all divisible by 8 (the number of planets orbiting the sun as believed in Steiner's time). But he did not advocate it for use as a musical application. This view was held by others for 100's of years including Chladni and even Verdi. 

It's speculated modern proponents extrapolated Steiner's advocacy of A432 because it align's with C128hz (if the tuning is equal temperament.)

• Natural Harmony: A belief that 432 Hz resonates with natural frequencies, creating a more harmonious, soulful, and less jarring sound than the sharper 440 Hz standard.
• Relaxation & Healing: It's thought to induce calm, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing, with some claiming it lowers heart rate and connects to universal peace.
• Historical & Spiritual Connection: Some believe it's a return to older, more "correct" tunings from before A=440 became the global standard, aligning with Pythagorean principles and universal patterns.
• Warmer Sound: It produces a richer, warmer, and more mellow tone, which some find more pleasing, especially for certain types of music or meditative practices. 

I did it once for someone. Lowering the pitch over 30 cents is not a fun or easy task, if you don't overshoot the target it will creep back up unless you do several passes. Then again, you might ask when the piano was tuned last. There are plenty of pianos that are at that pitch or lower due to neglect, her piano might already be closer to 432 than 440.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

I have an appointment next week to lower the pitch of a piano, I think they want 432 or something.

I asked if they tune other instruments to the piano, and they do.

Frankly, it's not a big deal to me. If they want it, I don't really have a great reason to refuse. It shouldn't take too much longer to lower the pitch. What if it bounces up a little? I really doubt they'll notice. I'd just rather not start giving them a lecture. I'll keep my eye rolls to myself.

I'll point out that 1. The low tenor might sound a little tubbier and 2. It might not be very stable.

I'd be more resistant to raising the pitch. Last year, a customer who bought a used B wanted it at 444.

In that case, I did talk them out of it and told them broken strings were more likely. Since they live about 75 miles away, I pointed out that a broken string would be very expensive…

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

I second the idea that this is not such a big deal. It's not going to hurt the piano. The tonal effects will be subtle. It's their piano.

I say charge for a pitch raise or two and do it. 

I have an appointment next week to lower the pitch of a piano, I think they want 432 or something.

I asked if they tune other instruments to the piano, and they do.

Frankly, it's not a big deal to me. If they want it, I don't really have a great reason to refuse. It shouldn't take too much longer to lower the pitch. What if it bounces up a little? I really doubt they'll notice. I'd just rather not start giving them a lecture. I'll keep my eye rolls to myself.

I'll point out that 1. The low tenor might sound a little tubbier and 2. It might not be very stable.

I'd be more resistant to raising the pitch. Last year, a customer who bought a used B wanted it at 444.

In that case, I did talk them out of it and told them broken strings were more likely. Since they live about 75 miles away, I pointed out that a broken string would be very expensive…

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.

I charge $432 dollars to tune a piano to A4 = 432 Hz.

It's a very calming dollar value, aligns with the natural fiscal frequencies of the celestial orbs, and promotes financial health and healing.

A client called me and said she would like for me to tune her piano to A432 and she wants some other instruments (dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar)  tuned to A432..I am thinking she wants a really "old fashioned sounding" Christmas.  I have never tuned a piano to A432 and since I tune aurally, could I just find an app that would transmit that tone and I would tune the piano down to it?  In 38 years, no one has ever asked me to do this and I tried to discourage her a bit on it, but she seems determined.

What do you all suggest?  I may decline to do this as I do not want to mess up her piano.