Piano Tuner: Loosen or Further Tighten String?

  • Thread starter allabout42
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In summary, the piano tuner is hearing 2 beats per second when the tuning fork and piano note have different frequencies. After tightening the string, the beats decrease to 1 per second. This suggests that the frequencies are getting closer, and loosening the string would be the correct solution. If the two notes were of the same frequency, no beats would be heard.
  • #1
allabout42
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Suppose a piano tuner hears 2 beats per second when listening to the combined sound from her tuning fork and the piano note being tuned. After slightly tightening the string, she hears 1 beat per second. Should she loosen or shoud she further tighten the string?

I believe the answer is to loosen the string, but I'm not sure...

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Allabout42
 
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  • #2
Well, the beats occur because the notes are of different frequencies, right? As their frequencies get closer, do the number of beats per second increase or decrease? How many beats per second will you hear if you play two notes of the same frequency?
 
  • #3


I can offer an explanation for the phenomenon observed by the piano tuner. The frequency of a sound is directly related to the tension of the string producing that sound. When two frequencies are close to each other, they create a beating effect, which is what the piano tuner is hearing. In this case, the frequency of the tuning fork and the piano note were not perfectly aligned, resulting in the 2 beats per second that were initially heard.

By slightly tightening the string, the frequency of the piano note increased and became closer to the frequency of the tuning fork, resulting in a decrease in the beating effect to 1 beat per second. This indicates that the string is now closer to the desired tension for the desired frequency.

Based on this understanding, it would be appropriate for the piano tuner to loosen the string in order to decrease the frequency and bring it closer to the frequency of the tuning fork. This would result in an even smaller beating effect or potentially eliminate it altogether, indicating that the string is now perfectly tuned.

In conclusion, the piano tuner should loosen the string in order to fine-tune the instrument and achieve the desired frequency. It is important for a scientist to understand the underlying principles and mechanisms behind a phenomenon in order to make informed decisions and provide accurate solutions.
 

What is the purpose of loosening or further tightening a piano string?

The purpose of loosening or further tightening a piano string is to adjust its tension, which ultimately affects the pitch of the note produced by the string.

When should a piano tuner loosen or tighten a string?

A piano tuner should loosen or tighten a string when the pitch of the note produced by the string is not in tune with the rest of the piano or when the string is damaged.

How does a piano tuner determine whether to loosen or tighten a string?

A piano tuner uses a specialized tool called a tuning hammer to turn the tuning pins, which are connected to the strings. By listening to the pitch of the note produced and using a tuning fork or electronic tuner as a reference, the tuner can determine whether the string needs to be loosened or tightened.

What are the consequences of loosening or tightening a string too much?

If a string is loosened or tightened too much, it can break or cause damage to the piano. It can also cause the piano to go out of tune faster and affect the overall sound quality of the instrument.

How often should a piano tuner adjust the tension of the strings?

The frequency of adjusting the tension of piano strings depends on factors such as the frequency of use, changes in temperature and humidity, and the quality of the piano. In general, it is recommended to have a piano tuned at least once a year, but it may need to be done more frequently for pianos that are used more often or in extreme weather conditions.

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