Selective Hearing Test

Piano Tuner's Hearing Test

To tune a piano by ear, one must be able to selectively hear different partials beating. This test will test your ability to do that.

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Audio Files for Question #1

You will be asked to sort these A4 unisons from slowest to fastest beating according to the specific beat speed of the 2nd partial (A5).

A4 #1

A4 #2

A4 #3

A4 #4

A4 #5

Audio Files for Question #2

There are three A4 unisons on the left and eleven pairs of filtered 1st (A4) and 2nd (A5) partials on the right.
Match each unison with its filtered partial pair on the right.
For example, the following unison is paired with its filtered 1st and 2nd partial.

Partial 1 (A4)

Partial 2 (A5)

A4 Unisons

Question 2A

Question 2B

Question 2C

You only need to check the following Pairs:
Question 2A: Pairs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Question 2B: Pairs 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Question 2C: Pairs 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Partials Pairs: 1st (A4) and 2nd (A5)

Pair #1:

Pair #2:

Pair #3:

Pair #4:

Pair #5:

Pair #6:

Pair #7:

Pair #8:

Pair #9:

Pair #10:

Pair #11:

Audio Files for Question #3

Play the A4 unison below.
Beside it are nine sets of partials 1, 2, 3, and 4. (A4, A5, E6, and A6)
Only one of those sets belongs to the original unison.

Here's an example of a unison with its upper partials filtered. Try to hear them.

A4 Unison

Partial 1 (A4)

Partial 2 (A5)

Partial 3 (E6)

Partial 4 (A6

A4 Test Unison

It might be a good idea to get a paper and pen and cross off sets that definitely are not part of the unison sound.

Partials 1, 2, 3, and 4. (A4, A5, E6, and A6)

Set #1:

Partial 1

Partial 2

Partial 3

Partial 4

Set #2:

Set #3:

Set #4:

Set #5:

Set #6:

Set #7:

Set #8:

Set #9:

Audio Files for Question #4

There are three A3A4 octaves below.
There are 11 sets of filtered 2:1 and 4:2 partials.
Only one set fits with each octave.
Questions 4A to 4C will ask you to enter which set belongs to which octave.

Question 4A

Question 4B

Question 4C

You only need to check the following Sets:
Q4A: Sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Q4B: Sets 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Q4C: Sets 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

2:1 and 4:2 Pairs

Set #1:

2:1

4:2

Set #2:

Set #3:

Set #4:

Set #5:

Set #6:

Set #7:

Set #8:

Set #9:

Set #10:

Set #11:

Audio Files for Question #5

The P5, A3E4 has a coincident partial at E5(3:2). It also has a 2nd coincident partial at E6(6:4).
See if you can hear each separately?
Identify the 3:2 and 6:4 partial speeds that go with each A3E4 P4?

Question 5A