Custom Tuning by Ear -vs- Electronics
Over the last few decades, I've been asked by many prospective clients " Do you tune by ear, or do you tune with an electronic gadget?"
A very valid question. The reason that most piano teachers and professional pianists prefer tuning by ear vs. electronic methods is because tuning by ear gives the piano a "customized" tuning to the harmonic, and tonal characteristics that were built into THAT piano, not some preset mathematical frequency. If pianos were perfect, they would sound like an electronic keyboard. The imperfection of an acoustic instrument is what produces its color, art, and warmth. Ahhh...
Over the last few decades, I've been asked by many prospective clients " Do you tune by ear, or do you tune with an electronic gadget?"
A very valid question. The reason that most piano teachers and professional pianists prefer tuning by ear vs. electronic methods is because tuning by ear gives the piano a "customized" tuning to the harmonic, and tonal characteristics that were built into THAT piano, not some preset mathematical frequency. If pianos were perfect, they would sound like an electronic keyboard. The imperfection of an acoustic instrument is what produces its color, art, and warmth. Ahhh...
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Show and Tell
One of the things I enjoy most about my work is showing my customers and their children how their piano action works. It's very rare that anyone gets the chance to see the inner workings of their piano, the movement of the individual parts, and how they affect the way that the other pieces move. The biggest reaction from kids is always when I touch the vibrating tuning fork to the soundboard, which makes it really loud - their mouths drop open with an astonished "WOW!" I love it!!!! I can't count the number of times I've been asked, "Just exactly what is the difference between an upright (or vertical) piano, and a grand piano?" Obviously, the strings in an upright piano run vertically, and the strings in a grand piano run horizontally. The real difference, however, is in the way they play and sound. |
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Vertical pianos range in height from 37 inches up to 52-inch professional studio pianos. The taller pianos have a great advantage over the shorter ones because the action can strike the strings harder, the strings are much longer, and the soundboard is much larger, which amplifies the vibrating strings much louder.
Grand pianos range in length from around 5 feet up to 9-foot concert grands. These are the magnificent pianos we see playing with the symphony orchestra. Very long strings being struck by a very powerful action, then being amplified by a huge soundboard are what make a grand piano the prime performance piano choice of the great pianists.
Grand pianos range in length from around 5 feet up to 9-foot concert grands. These are the magnificent pianos we see playing with the symphony orchestra. Very long strings being struck by a very powerful action, then being amplified by a huge soundboard are what make a grand piano the prime performance piano choice of the great pianists.
Here's How a Piano Works
I've included some photos of action models which show how each individual key works.
I've included some photos of action models which show how each individual key works.
Figure A:
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Description of what this is and what it does...
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Close-up of Figure A
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Description of what this is and what it does...
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Figure B:
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Description of what this is and what it does...
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Close-up of Figure B
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Description of what this is and what it does...
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