For an alternative portable, and programmable tuner check:
http://www.turbo-tuner.com/
Frankie Sierra
Ernic Kamerich wrote:
I agree with Neil that, when tuning strings of a hg pure to each other
in a noisy environment, an electronic tuner (build in or used with a
contact microphon) can be a great help and may give better results
than tuning by ear beause of the noise. That works if you have learned
the properties of your tuner by tuning by ear and see what your tuner
does. I know that I get a pure fifth with my simple tuner exactly at
the point where it doubts between pure( green led) or too high (right
red led).
For tuning the tangents I need my ears, a quiet environment and no
tuner, but a programmable tuner could be helpful. At present I know
only one brand for a programmable tuner: Peterson (StroboFlip); it
seems that Korg has discontinued making such things, although they
make a tuner with a choice of some temperaments, including natural
harmonic temperament, and in my opinion that is the only thing you
need for a hg. Best and cheapest idea seems to be using tuning
software on the computer.
Forget Kirnberger, Valotti, mean tone temperament and other baroque
tunings: they have been conceived for harmony, for changing chords and
changing tonalities, not for drone music. They make as little sense
for a hg as equal temperament.
And yes, Neil, you are almost right: this natural harmonic tuning
makes things worse, or even terrible, with different drones,
generally. But it works (almost) perfectly if only two drones a fifth
or a fourth apart are used, for instance only G and c or only G and d.
Details and explanations can be found in my article on tuning the
tangents:
http://www.orfeo-fiato.nl/hurdy_gurdy_tuning.html
Tuning your hg in something like natural harmonic temperament may
conflict or not with other players/singers. If you are really playing
drone music, there should not be a conflict. But, for instance,
playing with a melodion or a guitar, the conflicts are already
intrinsic to the combination of a drone and a harmony instrument; so,
why not give it a try in such a case as well?
Ernic
----------------
2007/12/10, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>:
Hi all
I feel the need to defend the onboard ( or any other type) electronic
tuner.
Its main function of course is to give a visual confirmation that
your open
string is in tune -very useful anytime but particularly in a session.
Having this indication at the flick of a switch is far more
convenient than
fumbling around with hand held units or having to repeatedly
attach the clip
on type.
The onboard tuner will usually take its signal direct from a
transducer in
the instrument so it gets a much purer signal.
Getting both chanterelles in perfect unison is also more simple done
visually , particularly if there are other drone instruments
tuning up at
the time.
The other point is that many accompanying instruments - all the
fretted
instruments, keyboards and melodeons for instance - are normally
tuned in
equal temperament and if you routinely play with these
instruments, your
carefully set up intonation is just a bit out.
I suppose it all comes down to what you want to play on the
hurdy-gurdy.
General playing for fun with other musicians would seem to suit equal
temperament and the purists have every right to embrace any tuning
standard
that they choose.
IMHO, life's too short to agonise over the finer points
of Kirnberger II
and Valotti ( no offence Simon ). It takes immense skill to give
every note
exactly the same pressure and unless this is achieved, the notes
are always
going to vary in pitch by a tiny amount each time they are played.
The Wittman tuner I use to build in has indicators for sharp and
flat of
equal temperament, these flash at an increasing rate as the pitch
differs
from equal. The rate of flashing is an indicator of the degree of
shift.
Four flashes per second, for instance indicates a ten cent
deviation so it's
not hard to work out where you need to be.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that if the tangents
are set to
play in D, surely larger errors will be apparent when you change
to playing
in G, Am etc.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Neil
----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Wascher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
To: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: [HG] Building Questions: onboard tuners
> Hello,
>
> Am 05.12.2007 um 23:18 schrieb John Tappan:
>> Three, a number of instruments are being built with
onboard electronic
>> tuners. It works nicely on my guitar, I'd think that with
some 46 or so
>> tangents, it could be a big help in getting set up.
>
> there are two purposes for the onboard tuner. First is to find and
> control the pich of the open string, really helpful.
> Second is to tune the tangents. To tune the the tangent pitches
well you
> will need a tuner that is capable of at least one or the other non
> equally tempered scales, like Kirnberger II, Valotti, ... or
one that
> allows to reprogram its scale to the needed.
>
> Most small tuners that you might find nice to build in support
modern
> standard equal temperament pitches only. If you find a
small reprogamable
> one, please let me know...
>
> Simon
>
>
> ---
> have a look at:
> http://hurdygurdywiki.wiki-site.com
> http://drehleierwiki.wiki-site.com
> ---
> my site:
> http://simonwascher.info <http://simonwascher.info>
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database:
> 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 08/12/2007 11:59
>
>
