How were stringed instruments and pianos tuned before electronic tuners?
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Before electronic tuners were invented, musicians and instrument makers used a variety of methods to tune stringed instruments and pianos. One common method was to use a tuning fork, which is a device that produces a specific pitch when struck. The musician would strike the tuning fork and then use it to tune the instrument by matching the pitch produced by the fork to the pitch of the strings on the instrument.
Another method was to use a “reference pitch,” which is a known, fixed pitch that can be used as a point of reference for tuning. For example, the reference pitch for many orchestras is A440, which is the musical note A at a frequency of 440 Hz. The musician would tune the instrument by matching the pitch of the strings to the reference pitch.
Additionally, some musicians and instrument makers would use their ears to tune the instrument by listening carefully to the pitches produced by the strings and adjusting them until they were in tune with one another. This method can be difficult and requires a lot of skill and practice, but many musicians still use it today, even with the availability of electronic tuners.
Overall, the process of tuning an instrument without the use of electronic tuners can be time-consuming and challenging, but it is a crucial skill for any musician to learn.
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