Below you will find 22 free lessons on how to tune a simple F3-F4 temperament octave using the fourths/fifths temperament sequence published by Braide-White over 100 years ago.
It is by no means an accurate sequence - we have come a long way since then - but it is a good place to start if you want to get your feet, or ears rather, wet in the piano tuning arena.
These lessons use the Piano Tuners Ear to help you hear the beats but if your ear is already trained to hear beats, you won't need it. However, if you are still having trouble hearing beats easily at the piano, save yourself hundreds of hours of frustration and purchase your own Piano Tuners Ear right here!
LESSONS
1. INTRODUCTION
In this lesson you will get an introduction to the course and the sequence we will be studying.
2. MUTING THE PIANO
This course describes tuning the temperament using single strings. It is not the most accurate way to tune but it is more simple to understand.
3. SETTING UP THE PTE-101
This lesson describes how to set up the PTE so that the beats are easy to hear.
4. TUNING A4
We use an electronic tuning device, ETD, to tune A4.
5. TUNING A3-A4
Here is how we tune the second note, A3, as an octave, A3-A4.
6. TUNING D4
This lesson shows how to tune D4 as a perfect fourth, A3-D4.
7. TUNING G3
This lesson shows how to tune G3 as a perfect fifth, G3-D4.
8. TUNING C4
This lesson shows how to tune C4 as a perfect fourth, G3-C4.
9. TUNING F3
This lesson shows how to tune F3 as a perfect fifth, F3-C4.
10. TUNING Bb3
This lesson shows how to tune Bb3 as a perfect fourth, F3-Bb3.
11. TUNING Eb4
This lesson shows how to tune Eb3 as a perfect fourth, Bb3-Eb4.
12. TUNING Ab3
This lesson shows how to tune Bb3 as a perfect fifth, Ab3-Eb4.
13. TUNING Db4
This lesson shows how to tune Db4 as a perfect fourth, Ab3-Db4.
14. TUNING F#3
This lesson shows how to tune F#3 as a perfect fifth, F#3-C#4.
15. TUNING B3
This lesson shows how to tune B3 as a perfect fourth, F#3-B3.
16. TUNING E4
This lesson shows how to tune E4 as a perfect fourth, B3-E4.
17. CHECKING THE LAST INTERVAL, A3-E4
If you have tuned all your fourths and fifths correctly, the last interval, A3-E4, should fit because A3 was the first temperament note you tuned.
18. PEANUT BUTTER ON TOAST
Traditional aural tuning procedures are not very accurate. That means you will always have error and will need to refine or correct your errors.
"Peanut butter on toast" is one way to correct errors by making errors on purpose.
19. TUNING THE OCTAVE F3-F4
In this system, F3 was tuned as a fourth. That leaves F4 untuned. This step tunes F4 as an octave F3-F4.
20. CONCLUSION
Closing comments on the method.
21. MORE "PEANUT BUTTER ON TOAST"
Bonus. Some extra discussion of the method.
22. WHY I INVENTED THE PTE
What makes this invention so amazing and what it can do for you.
What's next? Why not get your own Piano Tuners Ear?