Welcome to our Tech corner. These additional pages may be useful to someone who has just purchased a piano for the first time, or that they generally like to read further into a subject. Also look out for various highlighted words that may take you into other realms! .... but for the technically-minded person, or anyone interested in some of the finer details of piano tuning, please read on....
'Pitch' ....
generally means the ''high and low notes'' played by a musical instrument or voice.
A technically related word for pitch is frequency. Frequency is measured in sound waves - cycles per second, and the arrangement of pitch was contributed by Hertz. The higher the note, the higher the pitch; for example - the high notes on a piano are played moving to the right (treble), and the low notes are played moving to the left (bass).
All instruments have all their notes tuned - each one to a specific pitch....
this is how we recognise a melody or song.
STANDARD PITCH....
Often (but incorrectly) referred to as ''Concert Pitch'' - this is the
internationally recognised pitch setting requirements and 'benchmark' for all instruments, namely for various symphony orchestras, ensembles, groups, bands, choirs, accompaniment and solo performances.
The most common 'orchestral' pitch setting being A440 Hz (Hertz) (6 notes above middle C).
Pianos are often tuned and referred to as C523.3 Hz - being one octave (8 notes)
higher than middle C. Therefore if we half this number, Middle C is referred to
as C261.6Hz - this is the pitch setting for middle C. All the other notes within the range of each instrument are then performed in accordance with the original ''settings'' of standard pitch. To
check the pitch of an instrument, you need to use a tuning fork or electronic tuning device.
FIXED PITCHED INSTRUMENTS....
Most instruments that can be blown into and having a tubular or conical shape with holes,
stop pads or valves - such as the recorder, flute, trumpet, oboe (in no particular order)...
have fixed pitch (with exception to the church organ).
'Fixed pitch' means that the instrument is automatically in tune when it leaves the factory.
If we take a recorder and place our fingers over the intended relevant holes for middle C, and blow 'middle C' .... we would get the pitch of middle C. This may vary slightly depending on the condition of the instrument and weather conditions.
VARIABLE PITCHED INSTRUMENTS....
All instruments with strings and tuning pins/pegs attached ( eg piano, violin,
guitar....) and having their strings tensioned across a soundboard and bridge are variable in pitch, and are not automatically in tune when they leave the factory - they must be tuned several times by increasing or decreasing tension on every string. Each string is initially set to a specific pitch.
However, a fixed pitched instrument (eg flute) only requires finer adjustments later to
be tune with another instrument; and it relatively remaining at the same pitch;
a piano, violin or guitar will require regular tuning to keep it up to pitch.
If we play middle C on a very recently 'professionally tuned to Standard Pitch'
piano, it will sound as middle C (261.6Hz) but if we play middle C on a very
old/neglected piano that has not been tuned for many years, it will not actually sound
as a 'pitched' middle C (261.6 Hz) - but somewhat much lower in
pitch.
PIANO TUNER'S ASSESSMENT OF TUNING AT STANDARD PITCH
Prior to a piano being tuned, the tuner will assess the pitch of the piano first.
This is the standard procedure:-
1. Play middle C checking with tuning device one octave higher (eg tuning fork C523.3Hz)
2. Compare pitch of middle C one octave lower with tuning device.
3. Gradually adjust pitch of middle C's middle string (tri-chord) string accordingly
4. Tune rest of piano at standard pitch.
My piano is below concert pitch.... can you advise me?
Yes we can. Pianos often fall or rise from their standard pitch when they have not been tuned and serviced for a long period of time. A piano can be tuned at the 'settled' pitch for the same price as a standard piano tuning.
If your piano is (say) about one semitone below concert pitch, and you need it to sound in tune with another musical instrument/ CD sound track etc., then two tuning visits are required. The first visit is to pre-tune your piano, and raise the tension of all the strings back to concert pitch.... this is a rough tuning at this stage. The 2nd visit (about 7-10 days later) - will consist of a finer piano tuning, as though it was a normal standard tuning. AA Tuners UK will first of all assess the pitch of your piano with a tuning meter/ tuning fork, and let you know the cost before the first pre-tuning begins. We are unable to give you an exact price on-line, as many pianos vary greatly in their pitch register.
PITCH RAISING MY PIANO .... Learn more
'Pitch' ....
generally means the ''high and low notes'' played by a musical instrument or voice.
A technically related word for pitch is frequency. Frequency is measured in sound waves - cycles per second, and the arrangement of pitch was contributed by Hertz. The higher the note, the higher the pitch; for example - the high notes on a piano are played moving to the right (treble), and the low notes are played moving to the left (bass).
All instruments have all their notes tuned - each one to a specific pitch....
this is how we recognise a melody or song.
STANDARD PITCH....
Often (but incorrectly) referred to as ''Concert Pitch'' - this is the
internationally recognised pitch setting requirements and 'benchmark' for all instruments, namely for various symphony orchestras, ensembles, groups, bands, choirs, accompaniment and solo performances.
The most common 'orchestral' pitch setting being A440 Hz (Hertz) (6 notes above middle C).
Pianos are often tuned and referred to as C523.3 Hz - being one octave (8 notes)
higher than middle C. Therefore if we half this number, Middle C is referred to
as C261.6Hz - this is the pitch setting for middle C. All the other notes within the range of each instrument are then performed in accordance with the original ''settings'' of standard pitch. To
check the pitch of an instrument, you need to use a tuning fork or electronic tuning device.
FIXED PITCHED INSTRUMENTS....
Most instruments that can be blown into and having a tubular or conical shape with holes,
stop pads or valves - such as the recorder, flute, trumpet, oboe (in no particular order)...
have fixed pitch (with exception to the church organ).
'Fixed pitch' means that the instrument is automatically in tune when it leaves the factory.
If we take a recorder and place our fingers over the intended relevant holes for middle C, and blow 'middle C' .... we would get the pitch of middle C. This may vary slightly depending on the condition of the instrument and weather conditions.
VARIABLE PITCHED INSTRUMENTS....
All instruments with strings and tuning pins/pegs attached ( eg piano, violin,
guitar....) and having their strings tensioned across a soundboard and bridge are variable in pitch, and are not automatically in tune when they leave the factory - they must be tuned several times by increasing or decreasing tension on every string. Each string is initially set to a specific pitch.
However, a fixed pitched instrument (eg flute) only requires finer adjustments later to
be tune with another instrument; and it relatively remaining at the same pitch;
a piano, violin or guitar will require regular tuning to keep it up to pitch.
If we play middle C on a very recently 'professionally tuned to Standard Pitch'
piano, it will sound as middle C (261.6Hz) but if we play middle C on a very
old/neglected piano that has not been tuned for many years, it will not actually sound
as a 'pitched' middle C (261.6 Hz) - but somewhat much lower in
pitch.
PIANO TUNER'S ASSESSMENT OF TUNING AT STANDARD PITCH
Prior to a piano being tuned, the tuner will assess the pitch of the piano first.
This is the standard procedure:-
1. Play middle C checking with tuning device one octave higher (eg tuning fork C523.3Hz)
2. Compare pitch of middle C one octave lower with tuning device.
3. Gradually adjust pitch of middle C's middle string (tri-chord) string accordingly
4. Tune rest of piano at standard pitch.
My piano is below concert pitch.... can you advise me?
Yes we can. Pianos often fall or rise from their standard pitch when they have not been tuned and serviced for a long period of time. A piano can be tuned at the 'settled' pitch for the same price as a standard piano tuning.
If your piano is (say) about one semitone below concert pitch, and you need it to sound in tune with another musical instrument/ CD sound track etc., then two tuning visits are required. The first visit is to pre-tune your piano, and raise the tension of all the strings back to concert pitch.... this is a rough tuning at this stage. The 2nd visit (about 7-10 days later) - will consist of a finer piano tuning, as though it was a normal standard tuning. AA Tuners UK will first of all assess the pitch of your piano with a tuning meter/ tuning fork, and let you know the cost before the first pre-tuning begins. We are unable to give you an exact price on-line, as many pianos vary greatly in their pitch register.
PITCH RAISING MY PIANO .... Learn more
AA PIANO TUNERS UK T: 01274 968993 // M: 0791 485 4072 E: aatuners@hotmail.com
W: www.aatuners.com
W: www.aatuners.com
