Using a tuning fork vs computer tuner for violin

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    Accuracy Violin
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the use of tuning forks versus electronic tuners for tuning violins. Participants explore the accuracy and reliability of different tuning methods, including personal experiences and historical context regarding pitch standards.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants use tuning forks to tune their violins, while others prefer electronic tuners, leading to questions about the accuracy of these devices.
  • Concerns are raised about the reliability of the tuning fork used by the original poster (OP), including its age and labeling, with references to historical pitch standards.
  • One participant notes that electronic tuners are typically more precise than tuning forks.
  • There is a discussion about various pitch standards over the years, including A4 at 440 Hz and the international pitch of 435 Hz.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the OP's tuning fork, suggesting it may not be a standard pitch reference and could be a remnant from outdated practices.
  • Suggestions are made that the OP could have their violin measured in a laboratory setting for precise tuning, although this does not address subjective sound quality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the accuracy of the tuning fork versus electronic tuners. Multiple competing views remain regarding the reliability of each method and the historical context of pitch standards.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various pitch standards and the historical evolution of tuning methods, highlighting the complexity and variability in tuning practices. There are unresolved questions about the specific tuning fork used by the OP and its accuracy.

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TL;DR
Tuning fork vs computer tuner
I use a fork to tune my violin. The school teacher uses an ekectronic tuner which is low. I tried an app tuner on my phone. It is also low. How do I confirm for the teacher that these electronic tuners are not correct?
 
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Welcome to PF.
sussertown said:
I use a fork to tune my violin.
sussertown said:
How do I confirm for the teacher that these electronic tuners are not correct?
How do you know that your fork is correct ?
 
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As they say, "If everybody else is out of tune, it might not be everybody else."
 
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How old is your tuning fork, and how is it labelled?
It should probably be marked A4, 440.00 Hz, which is the American Standard pitch, adopted in 1936. Before that, the reference was international pitch, where A4 = 435.00 Hz.

Electronic tuners are usually ten times more precise than a metal tuning fork.
 
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He hasn't been here since he posted. Presumably now his violin is tuned so he will never have to tune it again. :smile:
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
He hasn't been here since he posted.
The OP is irrelevant. Google will watch, then others will follow.
 
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Baluncore said:
How do you know that your fork is correct ?
"What!? I've been using my favourite tuning fork for years! It's always kept perfect pitch for me!"

the tuning fork:
1716673265096.png
 
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DaveC426913 said:
"What!? I've been using my favourite tuning fork for years! It's always kept perfect pitch for me!"
No you haven't.
A-440 Hz is the International musical pitch reference. The fork shown is clearly a C-512 Hz remnant, from the failed scientific metrication of music, back in the 1960s and 70s.

Wikipedia says: "An alternative pitch standard known as philosophical or scientific pitch fixes middle C at 256 Hz (that is, 28 Hz), which places the A above it at approximately 430.54 Hz in equal temperament tuning. The appeal of this system is its mathematical idealism (the frequencies of all the Cs being powers of two)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_pitch#19th-_and_20th-century_standards

C-512 is cheap, it is an exact integer frequency, one octave above the defined scientific; Middle C-256. There were many forks made in the 1970s, that never sold, but were picked up cheap by "sound therapists". Those forks are now only used as a test pitch, or an alternative medical therapy, since they have a strong placebo harmonic, with excellent internet publicity.

I believe your picture was photoshopped from the same source as this advertisement: https://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Hearing-Frequency-Tuning-Fork/dp/B00062N4P0?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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Baluncore said:
I believe your picture was photoshopped from the same source as this advertisement
Took me a good 20 minutes, too!
 
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Ahh.. a question about laboratory standards, or good music? IDK.
If the OP resurfaces, he can take his violin to any good EE lab and have it measured with electronic instruments with calibration to NIST standards. If he cares to go to the right lab the precision could be extreme.
But, they can't tell him if it sounds good or not.
 
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DaveE said:
Ahh.. a question about laboratory standards, or good music? IDK.
If the OP resurfaces, he can take his violin to any good EE lab and have it measured with electronic instruments with calibration to NIST standards
But he already told us ... they're all loooow! :wink:

DaveE said:
. If he cares to go to the right lab the precision could be extreme.
Sounds like the old adage:
Q: How long does it take to perfectly tune one piano key?
A: Forever.
 

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