Why It's Impossible to Tune a Piano

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Pianos can't be perfectly tuned - it's a mathematical fact!

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This also gives a nice explanation for why it is natural to have 12 notes in a chromatic scale, and not some other number: powers of the twelfth root of two have a tendency to be surprisingly close to simple rational numbers. For instance it's fifth power is strangely close to 4/3, it's seventh power is close to 3/2, it's 4th power is close to 4/5, etc. Powers of, say, the 11th root of 2 would not play so nicely.

Great video!

bluebrown

Minute physics is actually an "Hour physics" when after every 2 sentences you find yourself reading a new content in Wikipedia.

ofirshukrun

I'm a piano tuner and I approve this message.

flickering_wick

Allow me to clear up some confusion:

I’ve seen many comments below from people that think Henry got it wrong, because “obviously pianos can be tuned”.
As with many armchair experts on the internet that can’t be bothered to do a modicum of research before they chime, there are doubters. I’m here to tell you Henry is spot-on correct.

We are a dying breed us aural piano tuners. I can argue that there are fewer than 2, 000 people on the planet today that truly know how to tune a concert piano by ear. Every single one of us is in demand like never before due to software. Software tuning is getting very good compared to what it once was, but all professional piano tuning software STILL must pIt itself against an aural judge before it is released. Aural piano tuning is a learned skill that requires years of practice- no matter how “perfect” you think your pitch is.

I’m going to make several statements below about western tuning in general, and then some specific statements about the industry of piano tuning itself. Stay with me:

1) It is not possible to tune all 12 notes of the western scale simultaneously. (That’s the point of Henry’s video)

2) The history of Western composition itself is deeply rooted in the limitations of 12 notes being in tune. Until recently, composers simply avoided the out of tune notes. Right up until the late Baroque. Check out Chant to hear what 800 years of music sounded like before Josquin des Prez and the Renaissance.

3) IMPORTANT! All instruments of the (professional) modern orchestra or choir constantly alter pitch flat or sharp as they perform so as to be in tune at any given moment. They talk and teach amongst themselves as to how to be in tune when they play any interval at any moment. This is the price of 12 note equal temperament. It’s the reason why skilled youth orchestras are always out of tune. Position and embouchure are only learned with experience. And don’t you dare argue me percussion section that has some pitched bells and stuff. Those instruments are out of tune and it’s not your fault.

4) Pianos are a unique exception from #3. Pianos are the ONLY instrument in the orchestra who’s pitch is fixed. As a pianist, you are stuck with the notes the tuner gives you and that’s it. You can’t alter pitch as a pianist. Everybody else can.

5) Pianos are almost impossible to a physicist. High notes are played by small instruments such as the piccolo for a reason. Low notes are played by big instruments such as a bass. Here the problem:
“I want one instrument that plays higher that a piccolo and lower than any bass at the same time. Plus everything in the middle must also be in tune always.”

6) Pianos have an incredible disadvantage that most instruments don’t. It’s called Inharmonicity. Henry didn’t delve here in this video, but it’s only because he must limit his scope of a short video.

7) Pianos are never, ever, EVER, tuned by pitch. That’s the barrier to you musicians that think you know how to tune. Whether or not you tune pianos by ear or software, you simply don’t care about the fundamental (note). You only match coincident partials and forget about the note. Always.

8). There is no such thing as a perfectly tuned piano for all scenarios.
I am called in to tune the same piano 4 days in a row because a solo piano tuning is different that a chamber tuning that is different from a pop recording that is different from jazz. None of this is a secret- it’s simply what pros know.

cjheaford

I love pretending to understand these videos.

carledwardsagan

What ever happened to the well tested rigor of "Eh, close enough" ?

Paul-A

"man physics is difficult, i'll just be a musician, there's no way there's gonna be physics and math right?"

"shit"

aghanr

I watched this video 4 years ago when it came out and I didn't understand it at all. Well, it took 4 years, but I've finally returned and now I can confidently say that I still do not understand anything.

toastedclubsandwich

Sounds simpler than the string theory. Wait...

Lulink

When you finish physics, music and math in school

PuckishAngeI

Bach's Theory of Relativity:
E = Fb

admiralcapn

What about the elusive "brown note"?

TheHoaxHotel

Irrational Numbers. So we met again...

tenani

Ah, tuning.
I have once in my life heard music that was completely in tune. Only once.
It was a recording of a small group of singers that sang a-Capella and had trained hard on singing with clear notes and in complete harmony with each other. A very rare experience.

TheEvertw