Do You Have the Ears to Tune Pianos?
A single piano string produces many frequencies called "partials".
In order to tune a piano to a reasonable level, a piano tuner must be able to hear each of these partials at will.
Take this test and find out if you can hear these partials or if you only think you can!
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Audio Files for Question #1
Which answer lists these unisons from slowest beating to fastest beating.
A4 #1
A4 #2
A4 #3
A4 #4
A4 #5
Audio Files for Question #2 - Match the A4 unison with its 1st and 2nd partial pair.
Listen to the A4 unison on the left. . Match it with its filtered partial pair on the right.
For example, the following unison is paired with its filtered 1st and 2nd partial.
A4
Partial 1 (A4)
Partial 2 (A5)
Question 2
Which Pair of Partials Belonge to the Unison Below?
Partial 1
Partial 2
Pair #1
Pair #2
Pair #3
Pair #4
Pair #5
Audio Files for Question #3 - Which partial set belongs to this unison?
Play the A4 Test Unison below.
Beside it are nine sets of the partials 1, 2, 3, and 4. (A4, A5, E6, and A6)
Only one of those sets belongs to the test unison.
Here's an example of a unison with its upper partials filtered. Try to hear the filtered partial sound in the unfiltered A4 Unison.
A4 Unison
Partial 1 (A4)
Partial 2 (A5)
Partial 3 (E6)
Partial 4 (A6)
Question #3 - Match the unison below with its partial set:
A4 Test Unison
Partial Sets
Partial 1, 2, 3, and 4
A4, A5, E6, A6
Partial 1
Partial 2
Partial 3
Partial 4
Set #1
Set #2
Set #3
Set #4
Set #5
Set #6
Set #7
Set #8
Set #9
Audio Files for Question #4 - Which 2:1, 4:2 pair belongs to this octave?
Listen to the octave below and the 2:1, 4:2 partial pairs.
Which 2:1, 4:2 partial pair belongs to this octave?
Octave
2:1 Partial
4:2 Partial
Set #1
Set #2
Set #3
Set #4
Set #5
Audio Files for Question #5 - Tuning a P5
The P5, A3-E4 has a 3:2 coincident partial at E5. It also has a 2nd coincident partial at E6, called the 6:4.
See if you can hear each separately?
Identify the 3:2 and 6:4 partial speeds that go with each A3E4 P4?
Perfect Fifth A3-E4
3:2 Partial (E5)
6:4 Partial (E6)
Set #1
Set #2
Set #3
Set #4
Set #5