Tuning, pitch and humidity
Nov 13, 2023 8:52:18 GMT
Post by keff on Nov 13, 2023 8:52:18 GMT
Over the last three or four weeks indoor humidity has been falling because heating is beginning to kick in. Outside humidity has been relatively constant because we are near to the sea and it rains a great deal. This morning my inexpensive hygrometer is reading 44%.
Falling humidity causes the piano soundboard to contract so that the tension in the strings is also slightly reduced and the pitch of the notes also falls. Concert A note, which ideally is 440Hz, has fallen about O.5-1.0Hz during this period. Because the soundboard is constantly either letting strings relax as it contracts or is pulling on strings when expanding pianos go out of tune. Fortunately the tuning of my piano has been relatively stable so far this autumn.
Falling humidity causes the piano soundboard to contract so that the tension in the strings is also slightly reduced and the pitch of the notes also falls. Concert A note, which ideally is 440Hz, has fallen about O.5-1.0Hz during this period. Because the soundboard is constantly either letting strings relax as it contracts or is pulling on strings when expanding pianos go out of tune. Fortunately the tuning of my piano has been relatively stable so far this autumn.
