Pianotech

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

Wim,

Progressive 3rds/10ths/6ths are fine, but they don't determine the size of the octaves, right? Isn't octave size the issue?

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

Summer --

I think that questioning Verituner over your instructor is not going to be the best path moving forward. If you plan on taking the RPT Tuning Exam, and I recommend you do, then you need to meet the requirements for that exam, which may be different than what your instructor is teaching you. I believe that all the major ETD's will meet those requirements, out of the box. The tuning exam, as I learned the hard way, is not about completing a tuning that pleases your ears so much as it is meeting the requirements of the test. 

I further recommend that if you are interested in learning to tune aurally then you need to do that first. Don't get hooked on the ETD before you learn how to listen. The technology is so good that it's just too easy to let it take over. And because it's so good, and easy, so many of us wind up seldom going back to full aural tunings after that. That said, I used RCT as a check on my aural tunings when I was practicing for the exam. I would tune the whole piano, by ear, than use RCT, in exam mode, to check what I had done. 

There are many aural tuning temperament sequences out there. They all will get you to pretty much the same place. Using the checks in those sequences, your aural tuning skills will then be needed to fine tune that sequence into the temperament you want to spread out over the rest of the piano. What you need to do is try several of them and find the one that you are most comfortable with, and the one that you can actually remember. Personally, I use the Swafford Every Which Way temperament sequence. It's the one I used to pass the tuning exam. Here is a link:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2424528/Every-Which-Way-Temperament-Swafford 

Finally, learn how to tune aurally, using your ETD as a check, before you start messing with the ETD settings to try and make it match what you want do to. Once you pass the tuning exam, and once you can nail down a good aural tuning that meets all those requirements, you will have a more educated idea of how you may want to tweak the ETD settings. The settings are there to tweak but resist that temptation until you know what you are doing. 

The PTG Store has a series called PACE that is very helpful in learning the basics of tuning and repair. They are written, specifically, to help you pass the exams as they are given and graded. The exams are really a necessary starting point from which you can then start to really learn. Go to PTG Conventions and Conferences and really learn. 

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2026 09:54
From: Summer Eells
Subject: Verituner settings

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

------------------------------
Summer Eells
Friendsville TN
(865) 337-2728
------------------------------

Summer,

Tuning aurally (a.k.a., analog...meaning to compare), REQUIRES that you 1) Know where to find the beats for any given interval, 2) What other intervals share the same beating partial(s), and 3) Listen to these beats and learn to compare their relative speeds in whatever context you are using them. It is exactly like learning to speak another language. 

I've been doing this over 50 years and have yet to see someone who starts with a digital brain eventually discard that for their far superior analog brain. If you keep using the ETD, you will end up using the ETD, and do the absolute bare minimum analog...just enough to "pass" the exam...and then continue relying on the ETD.  Aural tuning will become non-existent for you...guaranteed. Mark my words. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2026 11:57
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Verituner settings

Summer --

I think that questioning Verituner over your instructor is not going to be the best path moving forward. If you plan on taking the RPT Tuning Exam, and I recommend you do, then you need to meet the requirements for that exam, which may be different than what your instructor is teaching you. I believe that all the major ETD's will meet those requirements, out of the box. The tuning exam, as I learned the hard way, is not about completing a tuning that pleases your ears so much as it is meeting the requirements of the test. 

I further recommend that if you are interested in learning to tune aurally then you need to do that first. Don't get hooked on the ETD before you learn how to listen. The technology is so good that it's just too easy to let it take over. And because it's so good, and easy, so many of us wind up seldom going back to full aural tunings after that. That said, I used RCT as a check on my aural tunings when I was practicing for the exam. I would tune the whole piano, by ear, than use RCT, in exam mode, to check what I had done. 

There are many aural tuning temperament sequences out there. They all will get you to pretty much the same place. Using the checks in those sequences, your aural tuning skills will then be needed to fine tune that sequence into the temperament you want to spread out over the rest of the piano. What you need to do is try several of them and find the one that you are most comfortable with, and the one that you can actually remember. Personally, I use the Swafford Every Which Way temperament sequence. It's the one I used to pass the tuning exam. Here is a link:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2424528/Every-Which-Way-Temperament-Swafford 

Finally, learn how to tune aurally, using your ETD as a check, before you start messing with the ETD settings to try and make it match what you want do to. Once you pass the tuning exam, and once you can nail down a good aural tuning that meets all those requirements, you will have a more educated idea of how you may want to tweak the ETD settings. The settings are there to tweak but resist that temptation until you know what you are doing. 

The PTG Store has a series called PACE that is very helpful in learning the basics of tuning and repair. They are written, specifically, to help you pass the exams as they are given and graded. The exams are really a necessary starting point from which you can then start to really learn. Go to PTG Conventions and Conferences and really learn. 

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2026 09:54
From: Summer Eells
Subject: Verituner settings

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

------------------------------
Summer Eells
Friendsville TN
(865) 337-2728
------------------------------

Summer,

Tuning aurally (a.k.a., analog...meaning to compare), REQUIRES that you 1) Know where to find the beats for any given interval, 2) What other intervals share the same beating partial(s), and 3) Listen to these beats and learn to compare their relative speeds in whatever context you are using them. It is exactly like learning to speak another language. 

I've been doing this over 50 years and have yet to see someone who starts with a digital brain eventually discard that for their far superior analog brain. If you keep using the ETD, you will end up using the ETD, and do the absolute bare minimum analog...just enough to "pass" the exam...and then continue relying on the ETD.  Aural tuning will become non-existent for you...guaranteed. Mark my words. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2026 11:57
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Verituner settings

Summer --

I think that questioning Verituner over your instructor is not going to be the best path moving forward. If you plan on taking the RPT Tuning Exam, and I recommend you do, then you need to meet the requirements for that exam, which may be different than what your instructor is teaching you. I believe that all the major ETD's will meet those requirements, out of the box. The tuning exam, as I learned the hard way, is not about completing a tuning that pleases your ears so much as it is meeting the requirements of the test. 

I further recommend that if you are interested in learning to tune aurally then you need to do that first. Don't get hooked on the ETD before you learn how to listen. The technology is so good that it's just too easy to let it take over. And because it's so good, and easy, so many of us wind up seldom going back to full aural tunings after that. That said, I used RCT as a check on my aural tunings when I was practicing for the exam. I would tune the whole piano, by ear, than use RCT, in exam mode, to check what I had done. 

There are many aural tuning temperament sequences out there. They all will get you to pretty much the same place. Using the checks in those sequences, your aural tuning skills will then be needed to fine tune that sequence into the temperament you want to spread out over the rest of the piano. What you need to do is try several of them and find the one that you are most comfortable with, and the one that you can actually remember. Personally, I use the Swafford Every Which Way temperament sequence. It's the one I used to pass the tuning exam. Here is a link:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2424528/Every-Which-Way-Temperament-Swafford 

Finally, learn how to tune aurally, using your ETD as a check, before you start messing with the ETD settings to try and make it match what you want do to. Once you pass the tuning exam, and once you can nail down a good aural tuning that meets all those requirements, you will have a more educated idea of how you may want to tweak the ETD settings. The settings are there to tweak but resist that temptation until you know what you are doing. 

The PTG Store has a series called PACE that is very helpful in learning the basics of tuning and repair. They are written, specifically, to help you pass the exams as they are given and graded. The exams are really a necessary starting point from which you can then start to really learn. Go to PTG Conventions and Conferences and really learn. 

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2026 09:54
From: Summer Eells
Subject: Verituner settings

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

------------------------------
Summer Eells
Friendsville TN
(865) 337-2728
------------------------------

Summer,

You may find my comments harsh, however I find that one of new tuners' biggest stumbling blocks is that they don't fully understand the SOURCE of the beats they're supposed to listen to. I know this because that was my issue when I was learning. The books I used and my first instructor were not CLEAR and specific on identifying and isolating the relevant partials. KNOWING THIS (not guessing) is a game changer when learning aural tuning. 

Honestly answer me: Can you quickly locate the beat source for a M3rd or M6th? (Don't get upset if your answer is "no". This is what education is all about). 

Aside:  I flunked Algebra II in high school (though I did extremely well in Algebra I and other math) because my teacher (though very smart) was unable to simplify things and explain the WHY behind the math. Had I understood this I could figure out how to do it. Unfortunately that never came and I got discouraged and gave up. (Hopefully you get what I'm driving at here). 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Summer,

Tuning aurally (a.k.a., analog...meaning to compare), REQUIRES that you 1) Know where to find the beats for any given interval, 2) What other intervals share the same beating partial(s), and 3) Listen to these beats and learn to compare their relative speeds in whatever context you are using them. It is exactly like learning to speak another language. 

I've been doing this over 50 years and have yet to see someone who starts with a digital brain eventually discard that for their far superior analog brain. If you keep using the ETD, you will end up using the ETD, and do the absolute bare minimum analog...just enough to "pass" the exam...and then continue relying on the ETD.  Aural tuning will become non-existent for you...guaranteed. Mark my words. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2026 11:57
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Verituner settings

Summer --

I think that questioning Verituner over your instructor is not going to be the best path moving forward. If you plan on taking the RPT Tuning Exam, and I recommend you do, then you need to meet the requirements for that exam, which may be different than what your instructor is teaching you. I believe that all the major ETD's will meet those requirements, out of the box. The tuning exam, as I learned the hard way, is not about completing a tuning that pleases your ears so much as it is meeting the requirements of the test. 

I further recommend that if you are interested in learning to tune aurally then you need to do that first. Don't get hooked on the ETD before you learn how to listen. The technology is so good that it's just too easy to let it take over. And because it's so good, and easy, so many of us wind up seldom going back to full aural tunings after that. That said, I used RCT as a check on my aural tunings when I was practicing for the exam. I would tune the whole piano, by ear, than use RCT, in exam mode, to check what I had done. 

There are many aural tuning temperament sequences out there. They all will get you to pretty much the same place. Using the checks in those sequences, your aural tuning skills will then be needed to fine tune that sequence into the temperament you want to spread out over the rest of the piano. What you need to do is try several of them and find the one that you are most comfortable with, and the one that you can actually remember. Personally, I use the Swafford Every Which Way temperament sequence. It's the one I used to pass the tuning exam. Here is a link:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2424528/Every-Which-Way-Temperament-Swafford 

Finally, learn how to tune aurally, using your ETD as a check, before you start messing with the ETD settings to try and make it match what you want do to. Once you pass the tuning exam, and once you can nail down a good aural tuning that meets all those requirements, you will have a more educated idea of how you may want to tweak the ETD settings. The settings are there to tweak but resist that temptation until you know what you are doing. 

The PTG Store has a series called PACE that is very helpful in learning the basics of tuning and repair. They are written, specifically, to help you pass the exams as they are given and graded. The exams are really a necessary starting point from which you can then start to really learn. Go to PTG Conventions and Conferences and really learn. 

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2026 09:54
From: Summer Eells
Subject: Verituner settings

I will preface this by saying - yes, I eventually will tune aurally, but right now, verituner is how I get the job done.

During some tuning instruction I've had, it was pointed out to me that while Verituner does a pretty good job in the midsection of the piano, the targets in the bass were multiple cents sharp where they would be set aurally by my instructor. Aside from that, I had noticed before then that the bass on my tunings could sound better. I'm not quite sure if the high treble also has issues, but the bass has always stuck out to me more.

I do have the Verituner manual, but there are a lot of various settings that I've not messed with. I usually just use the built in style recommended for the size of the piano and start tuning. If anyone here is experienced with this app and can give any pointers on how to correct the bass targets, I appreciate it! Perhaps I need to use the "stretch" setting?

I want my pianos to sound as good as possible while I'm still learning aural tuning!

------------------------------
Summer Eells
Friendsville TN
(865) 337-2728
------------------------------