How to Tune Pianos

The Hobby, Skill, and Career of Piano Tuning

By Mark Cerisano

Free Unisons and Stability Course

BONUS LESSON!

Congratulations! You get the BONUS LESSON for sticking around to the end!

This lesson puts together unisons and stability and how to use an Electronic Tuning Device, ETD, to get the best tuning with the least effort!

Tuning by EAR or with an APP (ETD)?

Many people disagree on whether tuning with an app (ETD) or tuning by ear is best. For the definitive answer, check out this video:

In order to know which way is better, we need to understand what makes a good tuning. For that, take a look at graph #1.

Graph #1 - Importance of Interval Sizes and Unisons in Piano Tuning

Graph #1 just reiterates what we've been saying - Unisons are important, no matter what way you choose to tune pianos. But it also shows by comparison that interval sizes are not as important.

I have come to this conclusion based on 30 years of feedback. People don't complain about interval sizes. If they complain about anything, it is out-of-tune unisons.

The following graph, graph #2, shows how long it takes people to learn how to tune interval sizes.

Graph #2 - How hard is it to Learn How to Tune Interval Sizes

It makes sense. Once you figure out how to measure a piano and then set a pitch, you're basically at the top of the ETD curve. Learning to tune intervals by ear can take a much longer time, but has the potential of eventually producing better interval sizes. Clearly the ETD wins here for efficiency. But interval sizes are so low on the priority list, this doesn't really help us know which way is better. What about unisons? For that, check out graph #3:

Graph #3 - How hard is it to Learn How to Tune Unisons?

Graph #3 shows the ETD unison line at the bottom. It shows that basically ETDs do NOT teach you how to tune clean and stable unisons to a high level, if at all!

Learning to tune by ear can help because you are using your ears to tune, so your ears get better, but it also takes a long time to get good unisons, and there's no guarantee you'll figure it out.

In my experience, the technique that super charges your ear to be able to tune clean and stable unisons in the quickest amount of time, is the Double String Unison technique. DSU gets you clean and stable unisons in the shortest amount of time.

Now, take a moment and look at graph #2 and #3.

Notice something?

ETDs are great at tuning interval sizes.

DSU is great for getting clean unisons.

Too bad there wasn't a way to get the best of both worlds; the high level interval sizes of ETDs, and the superior unisons of DSU.

Wait! There is!

I have just created a NEW Piano Tuning course that shows you how to tune a piano using the popular ETD PianoMeter.

And there are also MORE FREE LESSONS!

Just click the link below and you will be brought to the course that shows you how to tune a piano with an ETD and DSU!

When you go to this page you'll notice a few things.

1) The ETD course is $1497
2) It includes the Unison, Stability, and DSU course.

"But wait a minute," you say. "I just bought the Unison, Stability and DSU course for $795! (You did buy the courses, right? ?) I should only have to pay $702 for the ETD course!"

And to that I would say, "NO! No, you are wrong! As a member of the FREE Unison and Stability course, you can purchase the ETD course add-on, not for the fair price of the $702, the difference between the full course and the price of the included courses you already paid for!

Oh no, for you only, the price of the ETD course is only

$595!!!

"Oh", but you say, "I didn't purchase the Unison, Stability, and DSU course. ?"

No problem. Watch your inbox for a link to a special page that will allow you to get special discounts on all out unison, stability, DSU, and ETD courses.

Special Course Offers for FREE Unisons and Stability Course Members ONLY!

Coming to your inbox very soon!

That's it for the free unisons and stability course. I hope you learned something and I hope you found the quality good enough to purchase some of my other courses. You won't be disappointed!

See you online!
Mark