| In musical parlance tuning refers to two | | | | |
| types of tuning methods. One is the tuning | | | | A simple way of tuning the music gear is to |
| practice, which is the applying procedures of | | | | start sounding the two pitches and then |
| tuning an instrument, its gear or the voice. | | | | tinkering with the one to match with the |
| The other one is the tuning of the music | | | | other one. For this purpose a tuning fork is |
| systems. | | | | used as a reference device. There are |
| | | | electronic tuning devices also which help in |
| The question that comes to the mind is why do | | | | deciding the right tune for the gear. |
| we need tuning of music gear? Tuning is a | | | | |
| process through which certain pitches are | | | | Accuracy of the tuning of the music gear is |
| built up in relation with each other. The | | | | sometimes measured by the interference beats. |
| matching is done in tandem. For certain times | | | | When the two working pitches are going on |
| they cross each other and at other times they | | | | side by side and moving towards a harmonic |
| complement the other one, at periodic | | | | relationship the frequency of the beating is |
| intervals. When a pitch is too high or near | | | | decreased. The apt way to tune an octave or |
| too inaudible with respect to the others, we | | | | unison is to lessen the beating frequency |
| call it out of tune. | | | | till it cannot be noticed. The type of tuning |
| | | | system determines in case of other intervals. |
| Out of tune is also called when the pitch | | | | |
| does not match a standard, such as a concert | | | | In tuning the music gears for strings, which |
| A 440. For a wind musical gear like pipe, | | | | are not tuned to unison, harmonics can be |
| flute or any bass instruments, modifying the | | | | used. |
| length or width can adjust the pitch. | | | | |
| | | | Only one pitch is used as a reference pitch |
| Guitar is a string instrument. Tuning of | | | | to tune a gear or instrument. For a string |
| music gear like guitars are also different. | | | | instrument only one string is tuned first, |
| So, the tuning done to adjust the pitch is | | | | then it becomes the reference pitch to tune |
| also different. There are adjustable pegs on | | | | the others. In case of guitar, the lowest |
| the head of the guitar. Turning them will | | | | string is tuned to E; the successive ones are |
| increase or decrease the tension of the | | | | done next. |
| strings, which in turn will change the | | | | |
| tuning. This holds true for, almost, all of | | | | In the 16th century, the Italian musicians |
| the string instruments and the gear. | | | | first used unconventional tunings or |
| | | | scordatura. The main uses were to facilitate |
| Tuning the music gear is done with voice | | | | difficult passages in tuning of gear, |
| also. This process is known as matching | | | | reinforce tonalities by using the open |
| pitch. This is considered to be one of the | | | | strings, and also extending the range of the |
| basics of the ear tunings. | | | | instruments. |
| | | | |
| Along with the harmonic gear, there are some | | | | There are times when a musical instrument or |
| inharmonic instruments also. The type with | | | | gear is intentionally pitched lower during |
| which the tuning is applied also determines | | | | tuning. This process of tuning the music |
| the complexity. A brass instrument like bell | | | | gears is called down tuned. |
| is an intricate instrument to tune. | | | | |