Pianotech

  • 1.  How does a fixed pitch instrument such as Sax cope with unequal tuning?

    Posted an hour ago
    Dear Colleagues
    https://youtu.be/TOQkGxxheec was an exciting concert yesterday with Saxophone and strongly unequal temperament tuning. 
    If of interest, the Sax player said that the instrument was much more in tune with him than a normally tuned instrument. The pianist adapted to sustain pedal use as indicated by Adolfo at the Convention.
    What also becomes interesting is that because the instrument is more limited in its modes of vibration, like a vintage played violin, the sound of the instrument seems to improve with time. The instrument recorded in the video is an 1885 Model III  Bechstein. The improvement of sound of a Steinway can be even more spectacular. 
    Best wishes
    David P


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    David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
    Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
    +44 1342 850594
    "High Definition" Tuning
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  • 2.  RE: How does a fixed pitch instrument such as Sax cope with unequal tuning?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 44 minutes ago

    I would not call that a fixed pitch instrument. I asked my son how often he tuned his trumpet, after he asked me how often a piano needed tuning. He said every time he played. Came back in the room 15 minutes later and said he tuned every note he played.



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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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  • 3.  RE: How does a fixed pitch instrument such as Sax cope with unequal tuning?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 29 minutes ago

    Clearly, that trumpet needs 'fixing'.  

    As for the sax player's comment: "...that the instrument was much more in tune with him than a normally tuned instrument", I fear that has to be taken somewhat in context  of the first few bars of the video, as well as a real-world understanding of whose role it is to make such adjustments.  Listening to the pre-performance tuning (piano and sax) would have been illuminating.



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    David Skolnik [RPT]
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    (917) 589-2625
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: How does a fixed pitch instrument such as Sax cope with unequal tuning?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 24 minutes ago
    A French horn tunes on the go, using the hand in the bell. Yes, we tune in general at the beginning of a concert, but as we play, we fine tune all the time, especially on sustained notes.