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1.
How is a piano tuned?
(page
top)
Most
piano's
have either 85 or 88 notes.
The very bottom notes have 1
string; the mid range bass having 2 strings and the treble having 3 strings.
The
tuner uses a starting point (usually A-440) and tunes in one octave around
this starting point, this
is known as "laying the scale".
All the 12 intervals of this
"scale" are equally spaced, this is known as Equal
Temperament.
The equal spacing of the notes
ensures that chords and tunes can be played on the piano in any key and
sound correct.
2. Why should
I have my piano tuned? (page
top)
A piano sounds it's best when tuned to the standard pitch of A-440cps.
The strings on a piano are in three parts .Top string, active string and
lower string length. The job of the piano tuner is to equalize the three
parts or the string and this helps the piano stay in tune longer.
Heavy playing or thumping can cause the tension to move from one part of
the string to another making the piano go out of tune. A change of climate
or humidity can also make this happen.
3. How often should a piano be tuned? (page
top)
To maintain a piano in tip top
condition it should really be tuned twice a year. This applies to new pianos
because, the strings will stretch quite quickly due to the newness of the
strings, and to older piano's because the natural drying out process of
the wood may cause the wrest pins in the pin block not to hold as tight,
therefore slipping slightly out of tune.
Humidity
and climate also come into the equation, causing the wood work and cast
iron frame to expand and retract. In reality most people tend to have
their piano's tuned annually.
4. How do I clean my piano? (page
top)
Use a
slightly damp cloth or Chamois leather on the case . The emphasis is on
slightly damp . If it's really greasy use a tiny bit of vinegar and a soft
cloth.
The keys
can be cleaned with a slightly damp chamois leather, a little mild soap,
and lots of elbow grease. Older pianos with ivory keys will suffer
from yellowing this is a natural aging process . The best remedy for
this is to have the white keys taken out, sanded down and buffed up.
5. What is Concert Pitch?
(page
top)
Concert pitch
is a standard pitch that Orchestra's
tune their instruments to
. The pitch being 440 cycles per second ,( known as A-440), the "A"
representing the A above middle C. Old standards for pitch were:
| Old
Philharmonic: |
A-454 |
British
Army: |
A-454.4 |
| Medium:
|
A-444 |
American
Federation: |
A-440 |
| New
Philharmonic (1896): |
A-439 |
Diapason
Normal:
|
A435 |
6. What
is Over Strung ?
(page
top)
Overstrung simply means that the Bass strings cross over the
treble strings diagonally.
This means that the Bass string length can be maintained and
the piano can be made smaller in height.
Opening the top lid of the piano and looking in you will see
the strings either all dropping straight down (Straight Strung) or the
Bass Strings crossing the treble strings (Over Strung).
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