[LUTE] Re: help on tuning
Tom
First a return question: what is you string material, brand, diameters
('numbers' for some brands)/tenison and last but certainly not least,
age? All these factors play a role. If strings are old, replace and
you'll feel better. If strings are gut, you might have a tough time
adjusting. If strings are metalwounds and plastics (nylon or
otherwise), ditch the octaves on courses 5 and 6 and you'll be fine.
David
***
David van Ooijen
[1]davidvanooi...@gmail.com
[2]www.davidvanooijen.nl
***
On 10 October 2013 08:44, Tom [3]tgw...@gmail.com wrote:
I posted this to the lutening group but thought it wouldn't hurt
to try
here, also.
Hello everyone,
I have what is probably a newbie question. I am unable to tune
the 5th,
6th, and to a lesser degree the 7th and 8th courses to my
satisfaction.
When tuned so that the octaves have no beats between the two
strings,
the strings are out of tune when fretted. The octave course is
invariably sharp, or at least sharp enough to drive me batty
(although
there are those who would argue that it's a drive...more like a
putt).
My ears are pretty good to within 5 cents of a tone.
I've tried lowering the fundamental by a few cents, but it
doesn't seem
to help until the the two strings of a course are out of tune
when
open.
Help!!! (please)
--
Sincerely,
Tom
--
To get on or off this list see list information at
[4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
--
References
1. mailto:davidvanooi...@gmail.com
2. http://www.davidvanooijen.nl/
3. mailto:tgw...@gmail.com
4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: help on tuning
Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android __ From: William Samson willsam...@yahoo.co.uk; To: Tom tgw...@gmail.com; Subject: Re: [LUTE] help on tuning Sent: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 6:53:37 AM It sounds like your octaves are at a lower tension than their partners. Try replacing them with strings at the same tension and see if that helps. Good luck! Bill Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android __ From: Tom tgw...@gmail.com; To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu; Subject: [LUTE] help on tuning Sent: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 6:44:16 AM I posted this to the lutening group but thought it wouldn't hurt to try here, also. Hello everyone, I have what is probably a newbie question. I am unable to tune the 5th, 6th, and to a lesser degree the 7th and 8th courses to my satisfaction. When tuned so that the octaves have no beats between the two strings, the strings are out of tune when fretted. The octave course is invariably sharp, or at least sharp enough to drive me batty (although there are those who would argue that it's a drive...more like a putt). My ears are pretty good to within 5 cents of a tone. I've tried lowering the fundamental by a few cents, but it doesn't seem to help until the the two strings of a course are out of tune when open. Help!!! (please) -- Sincerely, Tom -- To get on or off this list see list information at [1]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: help on tuning
Hi Tom Sounds like it could be a problem with the grooves in the nut. If the octave string is set too high relative to the fundamental, it will need that much extra tension to be pressed down onto the fret, with the obvious tuning discrepancy that you describe. It is complicated because of the different in thickness (and stiffness) between the two strings. If I were you, I would try inserting a very thin layer of card or plastic under the fundamental, at the nut groove, and see if it improves the tuning of your fretted octaves (in this case by raising the fundamental. Forget the fact that the frets are now slightly out of position). If so, the next step would be to consider whether the groove for the octave string can be made deeper without bringing the string too close to the frets. Good luck John On 10 October 2013 07:44, Tom [1]tgw...@gmail.com wrote: I posted this to the lutening group but thought it wouldn't hurt to try here, also. Hello everyone, I have what is probably a newbie question. I am unable to tune the 5th, 6th, and to a lesser degree the 7th and 8th courses to my satisfaction. When tuned so that the octaves have no beats between the two strings, the strings are out of tune when fretted. The octave course is invariably sharp, or at least sharp enough to drive me batty (although there are those who would argue that it's a drive...more like a putt). My ears are pretty good to within 5 cents of a tone. I've tried lowering the fundamental by a few cents, but it doesn't seem to help until the the two strings of a course are out of tune when open. Help!!! (please) -- Sincerely, Tom -- To get on or off this list see list information at [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. mailto:tgw...@gmail.com 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re;: help on tuning
Thanks for the suggestions. Here is the info David asked me to include: The strings are about a week old NNG52 - 8 course lute 5th octave c' NNG100 - 8 course lute 5th c NNG68 - 8 course lute 6th octave g KFG121 - 8 course lute 6th G NNG76 - 8 course lute 7th octave f KFG132 - 8 course lute 7th F NNG88 - 8 course lute 8th octave d KFG160 - 8 course lute 8th D As you can see, the srings are either New Nylgut and KFG -- Sincerely, Tom -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: help on tuning
David, I forgot to mention the lute is 63 cm. Thanks for your suggestions. I have had Chris at [1]catlines.com help calculate the tensions, but as I've only had a lute for 3 months, the tension is a bit of a mystery at this time. -- Sincerely, Tom -- References 1. http://catlines.com/ To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
