The meaning of the word tuning fork. What is a tuning fork? Description of the pitch standard and the source of the ideal sound Tuning fork what note
A tuning fork - (diapason, Stimmgabel, tuning fork) serves to obtain a simple tone of a constant and definite height. Hit the tuning fork on your knee again. TUNING FORK - (from lat. camera, and tone tone). A steel instrument in the form of a two-pronged fork, by means of which they give the tone to the choir.
A tuning fork (German: Kammerton - “room sound”) is an instrument for fixing and reproducing a reference pitch, which is also called the word “tuning fork”. A modern tuning fork produces a sound for the 1st octave with a frequency of 440 Hz. In performing practice, it is used to tune musical instruments.
See what "TUNING FORK" is in other dictionaries:
Symphony orchestras rarely use a tuning fork these days. In the orchestra, the role of the tuning fork is played by the oboe woodwind instrument, since in its design the temperature does not affect the musical structure and its note A is always stable.
Tuning fork online - note A (440 Hz)
Today, a tuning fork can be purchased at specialized music stores. To enhance the sound of a tuning fork, it is mounted on a resonator - a wooden box open on one side. Its length is taken equal to 1/4 of the length of the sound wave emitted by the tuning fork.
However, there are tuning forks tuned to other sounds. Knowing exactly how one note sounds, you can correctly tune all the others. From the blow it gives a certain sound, serves as a day for tuning musical instruments and for setting the tone for chanters. All this can be done using a special device called a tuning fork! So what is it and what does it look like? Such a tuning fork has its own handle, that is, a handle by which it is held.
Chords, sheet music and guitar lessons in rock and related genres of music
This is a small tube that makes a sound when you blow into it. Such a look is considered, as it were, not a classic. That is why tuning forks are so necessary for many people who make music. By the way, you can’t do without a tuning fork if you walked with an instrument, for example, a violin or a guitar down the street, or if you had a piano transported. And in this case, the tuning fork and your refined ear for music will help you!
All musical instruments - guitar, piano, violin, cello, etc. - in order to play in ensembles, must be tuned to a single standard of sound. By virtue of this circumstance, you can tune any musical instrument to the sound of this note.
The open strings of a six-string guitar can also become the standard of sound. Tighten or loosen the tension of the string until it sounds exactly like it sounds in the given online tuning fork for guitar. In the comments, you can write reviews, wishes and tips on tuning the guitar. A tuning fork is a metal structure shaped like a fork; which fluctuates at a constant pace. Scientists say - fluctuates with a certain frequency.
Fill the cup with water. Hit the tuning fork on your knee, carefully bring it to the cup and touch the surface of the water. What do you see? Many residential humidifiers are based on the same principle. What surface properties help amplify the sound? What properties only muffle the sound of a tuning fork? An oscillating tuning fork transfers its energy to air particles. The fork of a tuning fork is small, and therefore it can transmit vibrations directly to only a small number of air particles.
There are mechanical, acoustic and electronic tuning forks. But if a piano is playing with the orchestra, then all the instruments of the orchestra are already tuned to the piano, and the piano before the concert should be well tuned to the tuning fork.
In order for the tuning fork to sound, it is necessary to hit it softly with a special metal upholstered hammer
Russia adopted k., giving 440 oscillations per second. How can you check how well the instrument is tuned: piano, violin, guitar, cello? In the first case, the temperature difference will play a cruel joke, the instrument will be upset.
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It doesn't have to be a guitar. The guitar does not have to be tuned to the fifth fret of the first string. Play the sound from any unpressed guitar string. Compare its sound with the sound of the same string (E string, 6th string) in the appendix. Repeat these simple steps with each guitar string. All! The guitar is set. Authors of publications can provide their work on the selection of compositions, including for free download of sheet music, tabs and tablature.
Musicians always need to play in unison. At home, you can use any hard object with a soft surface. Do you hear the sound? Hit again. Is the sound the same, or has the pitch changed? Water from a special tank enters the evaporation chamber. The bottom of the camera oscillates at a very high frequency that the human ear cannot detect (which is why this frequency is called ultrasonic).
This is its importance both in physics and in music. The tuning fork helps a lot with this. Therefore, the sound from one tuning fork is not so loud. This "fork" was called a tuning fork. This is the pitch standard for the note La of the first octave 440 Hz. It is this frequency that is now considered the international standard in tuning musical instruments. A tuning fork is a sound standard for tuning musical instruments.
The sound of a tuning fork helps tune musical instruments, allowing them to be played correctly. You can, of course, rely on your own hearing, but it will be more reliable to double-check.
About musical instruments
The need for creativity has appeared in people for a very long time. This is how the first musical instruments began to appear. Of course, at first they were extremely primitive, but over time they became more complicated. And at some point it turned out that for convenience they need to be brought to a certain standard, especially if they have a different design. So there was a need for a universal reference point. Knowing one note, you can build the rest, but where can you get it from? In search of a solution to this problem, a device was invented, which is sometimes also referred to as musical instruments. You cannot do without it if you need to tune a piano or grand piano, so it is not easy to find a replacement.
What is a tuning fork?
Those who have pianos at home sometimes call in a tuner to make sure the instrument is not out of tune. And then you can see a strange curved wand in the hands of the master. In fact, this device may look different, but its purpose is always the same. A tuning fork is a device that emits the note "la" of the first octave. Focusing on you can build all the other notes.
Each musical instrument has its own characteristics and principle of operation. There are also factors that disrupt proper functioning - for brass and strings, this can be inaccurate movement, sudden changes in temperature, etc. Therefore, a tuning fork is an indispensable thing for every musician that allows you to quickly put everything in order. No wonder it was invented, because it was so badly needed. This gave impetus to the development of ideas for performing the same pieces with a large number of very different musical instruments, because now it was easy to harmonize their sound.
By the way, "tuning fork" is a German word, although it does not mean exactly that. It translates as "room sound", and the musical instrument in question is called Stimmgabel in Germany.
History of appearance and development
The tuning fork was first invented by the English court musician John Shore. He was a trumpeter and apparently had a good understanding of the laws of physics, in particular acoustics. plate for the note "la" at that moment was 119.9 Hertz. This is how the tuning fork was born. Photos of old specimens are very interesting, because today you rarely see such a device in life. It looked like a two-pronged metal fork that needed to be struck against something in order for it to start making a sound.
Over time, the appearance of the tuning fork changed, varieties appeared with a wooden box that served as a resonator. In addition, the oscillation frequency of the device gradually increased. Today, for the note "la" of the first octave, it is 440 Hertz.
Modern varieties
Today, musicians can choose from a huge variety of tuning forks. They can be made in the form of a metal fork, pipe or whistle. They can also make sounds of different pitches, the most popular are "la", "mi" and "do". Sometimes these are even several tones at a time - guitarists and violinists often use such devices, since the classical tuning for each of these instruments is the same.
In addition, in recent years, a large number of electronic tuning forks, which are called tuners, and applications and sites on this topic have appeared. So it is difficult for a modern musician not to be able to tune his musical instrument - there will always be an opportunity to push off from the main tone. By the way, the tuning fork is a serious help for the choir, especially if the singing takes place without music - in this case, the singers are guided by the sound of a standard tone, but do not forget about the compatibility of their voices.
For each specific purpose there is a tuning fork. For a guitar, it can contain all six notes for open strings, for violin and cello - four, etc. This greatly simplifies the tuning process. But no matter how it looks and no matter what it is intended for - in any case, the tuning fork works in accordance with the laws of physics.
Principle of operation
Probably most of the school physics course remembers that sounds are caused by vibrations. And this case is, of course, no exception. A tuning fork for a guitar, piano or any other instrument works on the same principle - some action sets the plate in motion. She, in turn, oscillates and emits a tone of one or another pitch. The device creates harmonic waves, which means that the resulting sound of the tuning fork is very clear. In addition, it is not affected by the ambient temperature.
By the way, most of the tuning forks are quite compact, and there is also a physical reason for this. The fact is that the larger it is, the lower the sound it makes, even if the other parameters are the same.
Special types
There is another type of tuning fork, which is important not to be confused with the rest, since they are used in completely different cases. We are talking about a medical tuning fork, which is needed by otolaryngologists, orthopedists and neurologists in order to study the characteristics of the conduction of sounds through the patient's bones.
This device also serves to determine the response to vibration. With its help, diseases such as pallisthesia or polyneuropathy, which occurs, for example, in diabetes mellitus, can be detected. This device is called a tuning fork not only for its similar appearance, but also, of course, for a similar principle of operation.
In a figurative sense, this word is also used, for example, by psychologists. They sometimes offer their patients to find the "internal tuning fork", that is, the core, support, basis of the personality.
In symphony orchestras, where the number of different musical instruments is simply huge, the tuning fork is not such a frequent guest. Usually the tuning is done according to the oboe - almost nothing affects its sound. However, if the performance uses a grand piano, then first it is tuned in accordance with
tuning fork, and the rest of the instruments are already regulated by it. Even if some mistake occurs, the whole orchestra will sound in harmony, and perhaps the audience will not even notice the flaw.
Guitar tuning
This musical instrument remains extremely common among those who are not professionally engaged in performing activities. Of course, this is a classic. When it is new or the strings have been recently changed on it, it has to be tuned often. And later, after inaccurate movement and as a result of temperature changes, it may be necessary to correct its sound.
If you have a special tuning fork for the guitar at hand, the task is greatly simplified, because each published note corresponds to a separate string. But if only the classic variety is available, you will have to work a little and strain your hearing. The sound emitted by the tuning fork should correspond to the tone of the first string, clamped at the fifth fret. When this is achieved, you can continue. To do this, each subsequent string is clamped at the fifth fret and tuned in unison with the previous one. It's not difficult, but it takes some practice. The only exception is the third, for which the third fret is used.
By the way, if the guitarist does not have a tuning fork at his disposal, then you can listen to ordinary telephone beeps, they also correspond to the note "la". You can also adjust the strings of violin, cello and similar instruments yourself. Well, tuning a piano or grand piano is so complicated that it is better to entrust this matter to professionals.
The musical world is built on harmony and pleasant sound. This means that all instruments and voices must be in the same tuning. Achieving this was not easy, a certain standard was needed, on which the tuners and musicians could rely. Through trial and error, the world still learned what a tuning fork is.
Setup is immediate!
It was this position that John Schur, the trumpet maestro at the court of the great Queen of England, Elizabeth, adhered to. He listened and memorized a lot, possessing absolute pitch. In 1711, a trumpeter invented a strange object - a metal fork, from which a thin sound was heard from a blow to something.
Oddly enough, this sound was clear and pleasant enough. It was decided to tune instruments according to it, up to organs and choral ensembles in temples. The pitch was assigned to the note la of the first octave.
What does a real tuning fork look like?
The musical device outwardly strongly resembles a fruit fork in high society. By analogy with a cutlery, it has two absolutely equal teeth connected exactly in the center by an outgoing handle.
Hearing the question of what a tuning fork is, English-speaking tuners often say so - tuner-fork, which literally means "tuning fork".
An interesting fact is that the sound of the tuning fork itself is very quiet, so it needs a resonator. Most often, its role is played by a wooden box located under the device. In order for the vibrations to resonate and the sound to grow, this box is made equal to ¼ of the sound wave in length.
A little theory about frequencies
If what a tuning fork is is already known, then it is interesting to know what kind of standard it symbolizes and how it is determined. Initially, the pitch was 420 Hz, but as manufacturing improved, it increased. In Vienna and other theaters of European capitals, the vocalists were indignant - the tuning was inaccurate. So, in 1885, a standard for musical tuning was defined in Austria, where the frequency of vibration of the tuning fork for the note la of the first octave was 435 Hz.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the ideal sound again underwent changes, stopping at around 440 hertz. The main reason for this is the ensemble form. Orchestra instruments, from brass to strings, are tuned to the most convenient frequency, from 440 to 442 Hz. We found that a difference of 2 hertz is not detectable by the human ear, but different instruments may require it for fullness of sound. The increased standard gave the sound brightness and greater expressiveness.
Temperature regime
The oscillation frequency, as is known, depends on the temperature. Therefore, the tuning fork should be tuned at exactly the specified temperature, and further verification of the sound with the instrument should be as close as possible to it. What is the reason for this?
The French acoustic maker Koenig found that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature, the number of vibrations decreases by 1 in every 10,000. Therefore, manufacturers tend to tune tuning forks to 20 degrees, which is standard room temperature.
Achieving the right sound
When you hit the tuning fork, you can first hear higher tones, which almost instantly fade away and leave only the main one. To achieve maximum accuracy and volume, as already mentioned, a resonator is attached - a wooden box, and sometimes other cylindrical or spherical structures made of glass or metal.
Standing waves are formed in the resonators, which are caused by air vibrations from impact. Thus, the sound is amplified, but stops faster. The most optimal is a tuning fork made of steel, since it needs less resonance, and the sound is clear and without a strong amplitude. With slight temperature fluctuations, it is the steel “fork” that is considered the standard of sound pitch.
Application in physics and other sciences
Tuning forks are widely used among researchers of acoustics in general. They achieve the longest sounding with the help of an electromagnetic tuning fork, keeping the oscillations at the same level for an unlimited amount of time (more precisely, limited solely by the flow of current).
Electric current is passed through the magnet coil, based on a galvanic cell (current source). Since any charged object is a magnet, the "horns" of the plug are attracted to each other. The overlapping current causes them to return to their original positions. The handle in this case acts as a circuit breaker. The invention of the device is attributed to Mercadier.
In practice, the device is used in the Scheibler and Lissajous method to determine the exact number of oscillations over a period of time. Also the Helmholtz microscope adopted the principle. It is much more efficient to study string vibrations with its help. Tuning forks with resonators help form standing waves in various devices, and are also used in chronographs.
Secrets of quality tuning
Just before a performance on a keyboard instrument, in no case should the piano be tuned to those same 2 Hz for “brightness”, from 440 to 442. The system will instantly begin to creep, which will already become noticeable not only to the absolute, but also to the ordinary listener.
Pianos of the late 19th and early 20th centuries may not be adapted to the later accepted 440 Hz, so they are tuned to the Vienna standard - 435 Hz at the desired temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Attempts to tune higher can lead to stretching and breaking of the strings, and it is no longer possible to change them on a similar instrument.
Modern modified instruments in an orchestra can generally follow a single standard. Therefore, experimenting with height is not worth it. Everything is checked by simple electronic keyboards - always at 440 Hz, without the slightest deviation. Convenient for checking the tuning in large ensembles.
Despite the abundance of modern gadgets for tuning, like tuners, the simplest steel device remains the most reliable and favorite. Every tuner knows what a tuning fork is - a reference sound accepted all over the world and established by centuries of research.
tuning fork, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks, tuning forks Zaliznyak's grammar dictionary
A tuning fork is a device that plays a reference note, from which all other sounds on the instrument are tuned. There are the following common types of tuning fork: metal, brass and electronic.
1.1. Metal tuning fork
The metal tuning fork came to us from time immemorial. It is reliable, accurate, durable, and just looks beautiful.
Most of these tuning forks give the note "La" of the first octave, which corresponds to the sound of the 1st string (the strings are counted from the bottom up, the first string is the thinnest), pressed at the 5th fret. The tuning fork is used in two modes: quiet and loud. Quiet mode is when you hold a vibrating tuning fork to your ear. And loud - when you touch it, say, to the piano or to the guitar deck. At the same time, the volume of the sound increases noticeably.
So, let's start tuning the guitar.
- Take the tuning fork from the side where it has one tip, and hit it.
- Listen to the note.
- It is necessary to tune the first string so that, being pressed at the 5th fret, it gives the same sound as the tuning fork gives - the note "la". Turn the peg carefully so as not to overtighten or break the string.
- Set up? Now let's listen to the open (not pressed) 1st string. This is the note "mi". We need the 2nd string, pressed at the 5th fret, to sound the same way - to the note "mi". Set it up. Please note that the note "mi" on the 1st and 2nd strings does not sound exactly the same - there is a difference in timbre (sound color).
- Now by analogy. Tune the 3rd string so that it sounds like an open 2nd at the 4th fret. This is the note "C".
- 4th string at the 5th fret - as the 3rd open (note "sol").
- 5th string at the 5th fret - like the 4th open (note "re").
- 6th string at the 5th fret - like the 5th open (note "la").
Unlike metal, wind tuning fork gives 6 sounds of open strings. This is convenient, but there are significant drawbacks. Such tuning forks are short-lived and gradually lose accuracy due to oxidation of the reeds.
- Blow into the hole corresponding to any string;
- Tune this string.
Although the error does not accumulate, checking by intervals and chords will still allow you to tune the guitar more accurately.
1.3 Electronic tuning fork
It can produce many different sounds, the set of which differs depending on the model. The photo shows a device from Korg, which successfully combines a tuning fork and a metronome in one case.
On most of these tuning forks, you can calibrate the pitch of the reference note “la” of the first octave, relative to which the device tunes the rest of the sounds. This is useful if you play, say, with a piano tuned to 442 Hz (remember that the reference frequency is 440 Hz). Here's how the guitar is tuned:
| String | Name of note and octave | Designation on the display (depending on the instrument model) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The device indicates octaves according to the Helmholtz system | The instrument denotes octaves in scientific notation | The device indicates the note and number of the guitar string | ||
| 1 | "Mi" of the first octave | e1 | E4 | E1 |
| 2 | "Si" small octave | b (possibly "h"*) | B3 (possibly "H3"*) | B2 (possibly "H2"*) |
| 3 | "Sol" of a small octave | g | G3 | G3 |
| 4 | "Re" small octave | d | D3 | D4 |
| 5 | "La" of the big octave | A (capital "A") | A2 | A5 |
| 6 | "Mi" of a large octave | E (capital "E") | E2 | E6 |
* - there is confusion associated with the designation of the note "si". Part of the music world designates it with the letter "B", and part - "H". Moreover, in the case of "H", the B-flat note is designated as "B". Most likely, your tuning fork will use the first notation, where "si" is "B".
Keep this in mind not only when tuning your guitar, but also when reading alphanumeric chords.
Another interesting point concerns where which octave is on the guitar neck. You can often find information that the first open string is “Mi” of the second octave, and all the rest, respectively, refer to the first and small ones. This is an erroneous statement. It came from the fact that notes for the guitar are written an octave above the piano. I will dispel this assertion. The first open string is "Mi" of the first octave, as it is written in the table.
1.4. Other tuning fork options
The role of a tuning fork can be performed by a beep on a landline phone, the first note of a ringtone on a cell phone, or something else. Just use your imagination.
2. Piano tuning
Here everything is simple. The piano is the same tuning fork, you just need to know which key to press. The diagram shows which key corresponds to which open string.
Another thing is how well the piano itself is tuned. Practice shows that usually not very. In this case, you can take only one of the piano notes as a standard, and build up all the others from it, as in the case of a metal tuning fork. It is important that the strings of the guitar are first built with each other, and only then with the piano. If you tune your guitar to a synthesizer, then there is no tuning problem (as long as the synthesizer is in good technical condition).
3. Tuning the guitar by the tuner
A tuner is a device that responds to the sound of your instrument and helps you tune it. The display shows various useful information, for example:
- Note name and octave;
- string name;
- Note vibration frequency;
- Recommendations for stretching or loosening the string;
- The frequency of the reference note "La" of the first octave.
The most important characteristics for a tuner are how quickly the indicator responds to the sound played and the step size of the indicator (the smaller the step, the more accurately you can tune the guitar). Tuners are different in terms of design and purpose. The following table lists the main varieties:
| Tuner type | Purpose | pros | Minuses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clip-on tuner attached to the fretboard | Acoustic concerts | Aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, set and forget | Has moving parts that fail over time |
| Effects Pedal | High Volume Electric Concerts | Reacts only to the useful signal of the guitar, the noise in the hall does not interfere with it | Bulky, only works via cord connection |
| Small rectangular device powered by AA or AAA batteries | homework | These tuners often have a built-in metronome, which is convenient for home practice. | Not suitable for concert use |
| Tuner mobile application | homework | Free | Not suitable for use at concerts, may ring |
Now let's look at how to tune a guitar using the example of two tuners - mobile applications. The first of them is the most popular GuitarTuna. This tuner is designed specifically for guitarists, as indicated by its "guitar" style interface.
The application is able to automatically detect which string you are playing if the "auto" mode is on. It is enabled by default, but check it out anyway.
- Play the first string.
- Look at the display. Make sure that the tuner recognizes exactly the first string (the pin of the first string is highlighted). You will also see an indicator arrow sliding across the top of the screen and a green line extending from it. If the arrow and the line are to the left of the center line, then the string needs to be pulled slightly. If on the right - loosen. It is necessary to ensure that the green line covers the central one*. To figure out which way to turn the peg, you can experimentally.
- Tune the first string and do the same with the 2nd, 3rd, etc.
* - The string does not sound mathematically even, so the arrow dangles a little to the right and left and it may not be possible to completely close the middle strip. Just try to close it as much as possible. The 5th and 6th strings are especially capricious in this regard. When setting them up, you need to wait until the green bar becomes more or less stable. You may have to wait a second or two. At first you will see a curve, as if drawing a mountain across the entire screen, but then the indicator will find a conditionally stable position (“conditionally stable” it is because the arrow still dangles back and forth, but already in a small amplitude). On this conditionally stable position and be guided.
The most common mistakes beginner guitarists make when tuning their guitars are:
- Spins the wrong peg
- Plays the wrong string
- Sets up in a noisy environment
- Disabled "auto" mode and forgot about it
- It plays a note, immediately muffles it, and only then rotates the peg (the peg must be rotated when the note is sounding, observing the behavior of the indicator arrow in real time).
In "auto" mode, the tuner determines the string by its pitch. That is, he hears that now something close in frequency to the first string sounds and determines that this is the first string. If the guitar is very out of tune, then this method does not work. Then you need to set the string manually.
- Disable the "auto" mode;
- Click on the image of the peg of the desired string, make sure that the peg is selected;
- Tune the string;
- Click on the image of the other string's peg and tune it. Tune the rest of the strings in the same way.
It is important not to forget to switch the string by clicking on the image of the peg. Otherwise, there is a risk of overstretching and breaking the string.
Now let's try another tuner. It's called DaTuner. He is a representative of a different concept of tuners. There is no highly specialized guitar information on the display, such as “which peg to turn and which string we are currently tuning”. But there is the name of the note, octave and the frequency of the sound in hertz.
And now, using the table, we tune each string.
If you decide to purchase a clip-on tuner or something else, then I advise you to practice these two mobile applications first. The fact is that they are accurate and have a fast response. Using them, you will understand what a real tuner should be like and, having come to the store, you will choose a high-quality device.
4. Conclusion
The tuner makes tuning the guitar much easier. In fact, it sets up the tool for you. Someone may say that it is harmful to use it, because it does not develop one's own ear for music. But I will object. Quite the contrary: the ear develops as the guitarist has a standard for the right sound of the instrument and over time he gets used to how it should be, and he has the ability to fine-tune the guitar by ear. If he starts with a tuning fork, then it is not a fact that his tuning will be accurate. For some reason, some people think that tuning by ear is easy, but I personally have seen more than once how even musicians, whose ear for music cannot be doubted, cannot cope with this task.
Once you've mastered the tuning methods presented in this article, it's time to deepen your understanding by reading my Professional Guitar Tuning article. The fact is that although the tuner makes it possible to fine-tune open strings, this does not mean that your guitar will perfectly keep the system, say, in consonances of three sounds. For live performances, the accuracy of the tuner is more than enough, but in the studio, more accuracy is required. This is especially important for a distorted electric guitar, where the slightest tuning inaccuracy leads to “beats” and “out of tune” on fifths.
Kirill Pospelov was with you. If you have any questions about the article - write to me at
