Piano Technology > Tuning Stability > Flashcards

Tuning Stability Flashcards

(58 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

Why does “setting the pin” (go sharp ease flat) sometimes work?

A

Because the unbending and untwisting of the pin towards the sharp side after easing flat causes the NSL to tighten

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2
Q

The two ways to check if a string has gone out of tune after a stability test are:

A

using an ETD (look for a change of less than 1 cent), or using double-string unisons (should still sound like 1 string)

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3
Q

The two ways to test string stability are:

A

hard blows, or bending the pin towards the strings to equalise non-speaking length

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4
Q

A string goes out of tune when:

A

it slips over the upper termination point (v-bar/agraffe)

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5
Q

What is the difference in the pitch behavior between a long NSL and a short NSL?

A

the long NSL requires a larger change in tension to make the string slip

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6
Q

What is the best technique to tune a long NSL?

A

slow pull up

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7
Q

What is the best technique to tune a short NSL?

A

raising sharp and bending towards the string to flatten

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8
Q

When there is additional friction it causes strings to behave like…

A

long NSLs

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9
Q

A long NSL requires what kind of bending to change the pitch?

A

more forceful

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10
Q

When is it necessary to use hard blows?

A

To set the string at the bridge

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11
Q

When might the string not be set at the bridge?

A

If the string has recently been replaced, or the piano is never played loudly

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12
Q

How are hard blows used as a tuning technique?

A

The string is tuned sharp and then “whacked” into tune

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13
Q

How can you check how much is TOO MUCH bend to stabilise a string?

A
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14
Q

How can you check how much is TOO LITTLE bend to stabilise a string?

A
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15
Q

Massaging up to stabilise a string requires what 2 prerequisites in order to work?

A
  1. the NSL tension needs to be close to the top of the tension band, and
  2. the pitch needs to be very close already
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16
Q

How does bending technique need to differ for LONG NSLs?

A

more force is required

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17
Q

What are the 4 hammer techniques?

A

Slow pull up, go sharp & ease flat, move & massage

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18
Q

How does bending technique need to differ for SHORT NSLs?

A

less force is required

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19
Q

Is a bend test necessary when using the move + massage technique?

A

no, because the massage IS the bending

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20
Q

A short NSL is typically how long?

A

Less than 3 inches

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21
Q

A long NSL is typically how long?

A

More than 5 inches

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22
Q

What can cause a short NSL to behave like a long NSL?

A

Extra friction caused by additional bearing points e.g. understring felt

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23
Q

What can cause a long NSL to behave like a short NSL?

A

Too little friction as a result of lubrication of bearing points

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24
Q

“Good rendering” refers to:

Study These Flashcards
A

a pin that is very responsive to hammer movement

25
"Poor rendering" refers to:
a pin that is NOT responsive to hammer movement
26
When are 5 situations where hard blows useful?
1. new strings just installed 2. large pitch raises 3. strings not set on bridge 4. when figuring out how much force to use in the bend test 5. when uncertain about stability
27
Why does the "slow pull up" technique work?
Because it keeps the tension in the NSL high
28
What is "setting the pin"?
Leaving the pin in a condition where it doesn't move after removing hammer force
29
From a physics perspective, what are we doing when we set the pin?
Moving it in the same direction as the forces exerted on it by the string at rest (towards the string and counter-clockwise)
30
How many kg of tension does a string exert on a pin?
approx 70
31
What forces does the string exert on the tuning pin at rest?
Bending towards the string, and twisting counter-clockwise
32
What is the most important step in achieving a stable tuning?
Setting the string, aka, leaving the string in a state where it does not slip
33
Why does "go-sharp-ease-flat" not always result in a stable tuning?
Because it sets the pin, NOT the string
34
When is it ok to not set the pin?
In a piano with long NSLs (e.g. grand) and somewhat loose pins (so less twisting force is needed), since the rebound will be less and have minimal effect
35
What happens if you don't set the pin?
The pin will eventually "settle", untwisting and unbending by itself
36
Why is it a problem for the pin to 'settle' by itself?
Because the unbending and untwisting of the pin can leave the NSL tension too low, exceeding the lower bound of the friction and allowing slippage of the string
37
Where in the tension. band does the NSL tension need to be in order to achieve a stable tuning?
High of middle
38
Go-sharp-ease-flat works best on what kind of tuning pins?
Tight ones with short NSL
39
The longer the NSL:
the less change in NSL tension after hammer force is removed
40
Why does Go-sharp-ease flat work better on tight pins with short NSL?
Because more twisting is required to move the pin so the rebound is greater, and has more impact due to the short NSL
41
What are the two mistakes when tuning that cause tuning to be unstable?
a) the NSL tension was left too low when tuning, so that a hard blow is enough to overcome the friction and cause the string to slip; b) the pin wasn't settled when tuning, so it bent and untwisted towards the string over time, slowly loosening the NSL and allowing slippage to occur
42
The average NSL length of a specific piano is directly proportional to what:
the size of the piano
43
Why does slow pull work well on LONG NSLs?
because the longer NSL is less effected by the drop in tension when the pin untwists
44
Hammer position effects what aspect of the pin?
How much and in what direction it bends
45
A large amount of pin twisting (e.g. on tight pins) leads to what?
A large amount of untwisting (and thus change in NSL tension)
46
In order for slow pull to work, the pitch must be:
sufficiently out of tune that it requires moving the pin foot
47
Slow pull does not work well for what kind of NSL?
Short NSL
48
Why does slow pull work poorly for short NSL?
because it requires twisting the pin a lot, and the untwisting causes too much tension change in short NSLs that are sensitive to tension change
49
Placing the tuning lever at 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock on an upright has what effect on the bending of the pin?
It unbends AWAY from the string when the lever is released
50
As a general rule, the pin unbends in which direction relative to the direction of force on the tuning lever?
the opposite direction
51
To improve stability with a slow pull on an upright, you can do what 2 things?
- tune at 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock - use downbending
52
What is "Downbending"?
the deliberate addition on bending force towards the string when turning the pin
53
With the slow pull technique, what must you do if you don't reach the target pitch the first time?
Detune the string and start over, to ensure the pin foot moves
54
What type of pins behave more like a SHORT NSL regardless of the actual NSL length?
tight pins
55
Why do tight pins behave more like a short NSL?
Because more bending/twisting force is required to turn them, which exaggerates the rebound unbending/untwisting
56
What type of pins behave more like a LONG NSL regardless of the actual NSL length?
loose pins
57
For loose pins, what tuning technique is likely to work better?
slow pull
58
What is "aftertuning"?
The effects of untwisting and unbending on pitch when the lever is let go
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