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| Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67210] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 01:29  |
Kim
Messages: 1246
Registered: October 2005
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Senior Member |
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Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
I'm really after one basic peice of info.
I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the piano
I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a step,
or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because while
I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy me
when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want to
get it back to 440.
What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for a
long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and need
three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never tune
to pitch?
If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get cracking
and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount I
would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest chromatic
tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to slip
back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy out
here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play, surely
I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than flat
a semitone?
And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o) When
you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to, and
it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't fix?
;o)
Cheers,
Kim.
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| Re: Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67212 is a reply to message #67210] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 06:00  |
Stevehwan
Messages: 207
Registered: January 2006
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Senior Member |
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Hey Kim,
I used to tune my piano in the studio. It is a pill. It would cost you more
for the tuning set up than the 45 bucks to have a pro just come out and tune
it. The wrench is about $50.00, then you need a 1/2 strip of felt about 1
ft. long and 4 soft rubber wedges, 3 narrow and 1 wide, then a soft rubber
clamp which looks a lot like a fancy close pin, which you use to tune the
middle of the three strings. You may have $80-100.00 in it before you even
start tuning.
Real encouraging ain't I?
Steve
"Kim" <hiddensounds@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
>
>I'm really after one basic peice of info.
>
>I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the piano
>I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a step,
>or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because while
>I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy me
>when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want
to
>get it back to 440.
>
>What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for a
>long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
>Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and need
>three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never tune
>to pitch?
>
>If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get cracking
>and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount
I
>would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
>
>The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest chromatic
>tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
>me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to slip
>back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
>it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy out
>here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play, surely
>I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than flat
>a semitone?
>
>And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o) When
>you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to,
and
>it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't fix?
>;o)
>
>Cheers,
>Kim.
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| Re: Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67219 is a reply to message #67210] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 08:41 |
Dedric Terry
Messages: 788
Registered: June 2007
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Senior Member |
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If it has been a long time, it could slip back pretty quickly, but what most
pro tuners recommend is having it tuned again in 3-6 months, depending on
how old the piano is, and how particular you are about it. It might hold
fairly well after a couple of tunings if the strings and hammers are in good
shape. Having it tuned every 6 months to 1 year after that should suffice
for a home piano, depending on temperature, humidity, etc.
I would have a professional tuner do it. A reputable tuner that works by
ear (pitch fork) may give you the best tone. I've used both - an older
gentleman that tuned by ear, and a guy that used an electronic tuner. Both
did a great job, but the ear-tuned piano seemed to have a little "warmer"
tone - it's all about getting the surrounding strings at the right
sympathetic resonance.
Another thing you might want to consider is having it voiced too. This
usually isn't a lot more when done with a tuning and evens out the hammers'
felt. Over time, the felt becomes hard and the piano starts to sound "hard"
- some hammers may also be inconsistent. When voicing the tech just softens
up the hammers slightly where necessary. It does make a difference if the
hammers are in good shape.
Regards,
Dedric
On 4/22/06 2:29 AM, in article 4449e951$1@linux, "Kim"
<hiddensounds@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
>
> I'm really after one basic peice of info.
>
> I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the piano
> I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a step,
> or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because while
> I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy me
> when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want to
> get it back to 440.
>
> What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for a
> long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
> Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and need
> three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never tune
> to pitch?
>
> If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get cracking
> and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount I
> would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
>
> The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest chromatic
> tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
> me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to slip
> back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
> it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy out
> here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play, surely
> I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than flat
> a semitone?
>
> And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o) When
> you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to, and
> it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't fix?
> ;o)
>
> Cheers,
> Kim.
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| Re: Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67221 is a reply to message #67210] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 09:15 |
Deej [1]
Messages: 2149
Registered: January 2006
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Senior Member |
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>What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
Absolutely!!!!.........just wrap a big bungee cord around it like a capo.
;o)
"Kim" <hiddensounds@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:4449e951$1@linux...
>
>
> Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
>
> I'm really after one basic peice of info.
>
> I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the piano
> I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a
step,
> or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because
while
> I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy me
> when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want to
> get it back to 440.
>
> What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for a
> long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a
guitar?
> Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and need
> three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never tune
> to pitch?
>
> If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get
cracking
> and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount I
> would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
>
> The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest
chromatic
> tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
> me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to
slip
> back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
> it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy out
> here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play,
surely
> I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than flat
> a semitone?
>
> And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o) When
> you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to,
and
> it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't
fix?
> ;o)
>
> Cheers,
> Kim.
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| Re: Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67224 is a reply to message #67221] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 10:02 |
tonehouse
Messages: 184
Registered: July 2006
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Senior Member |
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Hi there..I am a piano tech/musician...Steve is right...get a "pro"....The
problem is the
unknown condition of your piano. If it is a good sturdy brand,with no cracks
or action problems,then that sort of pitch raise is no bother...I use a
device called a Reyburn Cybertuner..it costs $1,500...if you really want to
tune,get one of those... Would you buy a used car without letting a mechanic
look at it? If not,call a registered piano tech...good luck....
"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote in message
news:444a5818@linux...
> >What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
>
> Absolutely!!!!.........just wrap a big bungee cord around it like a capo.
>
> ;o)
>
>
> "Kim" <hiddensounds@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:4449e951$1@linux...
> >
> >
> > Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
> >
> > I'm really after one basic peice of info.
> >
> > I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the
piano
> > I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a
> step,
> > or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because
> while
> > I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy
me
> > when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want
to
> > get it back to 440.
> >
> > What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for a
> > long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a
> guitar?
> > Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and
need
> > three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never
tune
> > to pitch?
> >
> > If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get
> cracking
> > and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount
I
> > would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
> >
> > The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest
> chromatic
> > tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
> > me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to
> slip
> > back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
> > it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy
out
> > here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play,
> surely
> > I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than
flat
> > a semitone?
> >
> > And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o)
When
> > you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to,
> and
> > it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't
> fix?
> > ;o)
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Kim.
>
>
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| Re: Piano Tuning - Up a semitone... [message #67226 is a reply to message #67221] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 10:40 |
Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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Note to self....make SURE all coffee is swallowed before reading ANY post
by DJ.
rod
"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>>What I want to know is, is it like a guitar?
>
>Absolutely!!!!.........just wrap a big bungee cord around it like a capo.
>
>;o)
>
>
>"Kim" <hiddensounds@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:4449e951$1@linux...
>>
>>
>> Surely somebody here can fill me in on this.
>>
>> I'm really after one basic peice of info.
>>
>> I have a piano here, and it's got some sentimental value as it's the piano
>> I learned to play on from age 5 to 20 or so. Thing is it's down half a
>step,
>> or 90% of half a step. At the moment I don't like to play it, because
>while
>> I don't have perfect pitch per se, I have enough of it for it to annoy
me
>> when something is flat. The piano is no real use to me as is, so I want
to
>> get it back to 440.
>>
>> What's going to happen? I've heard that when a piano has been flat for
a
>> long time they tend to slip back. What I want to know is, is it like a
>guitar?
>> Is it safe for me to assume that it's just going to keep slipping and
need
>> three or four tunes before it will settle on pitch? Or will it never tune
>> to pitch?
>>
>> If it's just a matter of tuning it several times I'm willing to get
>cracking
>> and get it tunes to pitch. Indeed it would probably increase the amount
I
>> would practise jazz if I had a real piano at 440 to practise on.
>>
>> The secondary question... what's to stop me grabbing the nearest
>chromatic
>> tuner and a spanner and giving it a bash myself. Obviously it would take
>> me a while, but is there any real trick to it. I mean if it's going to
>slip
>> back out of pitch, I figure even if I do a bad job, I might as well life
>> it up to around 440 and let it sit for a month before I get a real guy
out
>> here. Even if I do a bad job and it's not particularily good to play,
>surely
>> I'm better off to have it close to 440 as a start point, rather than flat
>> a semitone?
>>
>> And while I'm at it, anybody know anything about fixing pianolas? ;o)
When
>> you start to pedal, a number of keys play when they're not supposed to,
>and
>> it's leaking a fair bit of air... ...surely nothing some gaffa can't
>fix?
>> ;o)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Kim.
>
>
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