Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 2000/08

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Unloading.....
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 10:49:28 -0400

On Tue, 15 Aug 2000 10:26:02 EDT, LeliaLoban@-----.com said:

> Those compact piano-shaped objects almost always sound flat in the
> treble to me, too, even when an electronic device shows the note is
> properly tuned. I've always wondered why. Anyone know?

The overtones are flat to whole number multiples of the fundamental
frequency, which is what an electronic tuner looks at. The ear/brain
system assigns pitch essentially by trying to fit the overtone pattern
into a whole-number template. Though it obviously fails to do that,
what the system delivers is a perceived lower pitch.

The waveform produced by a piano string, a bell, or anything struck
rather than being continuously excited, is usually anharmonic. This is
in contrast to the waveform produced by, say, a clarinet.

Modern pianos suffer from the same defect, but it's better compensated
for by careful design. However, even on a modern piano, the fundamental
is still tuned sharper on the high notes, which is why to play in
*unison* with the high notes on a modern piano, you generally have to
play sharper on a clarinet.

That's because we judge unison playing usually by lack of beating
between fundamentals.

On the other hand, to play a note so that it sounds the same pitch as a
high piano, but *after* the piano has sounded, requires a flatter pitch
than what's required for the unison.

It's a miracle we ever get anywhere, isn't it?-)

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

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