Tone Regulation Flashcards
What effect does a flatter strike part of a hammer have?
It makes the tone louder as more energy is transferred to the string
What can overwhelm the fundamental tone?
Overtones
Overtones are additional frequencies that can distort the perceived pitch of the fundamental tone.
List the parts of a hammer.
- Molding
- Underfelt
- Hammerfelt
- Staple
What is the relationship between hammer shape and energy transfer?
A flatter hammer shape allows for more energy to be transferred to the string, enhancing volume
This dynamic is crucial for achieving desired sound levels in musical instruments.
What is hammer felt made of
Long and short wool fibers
What wood is most commonly used for the molding
Walnut, mahogany & horn beam because they are durable and lightweight
Hard pressed hammers features
Long, well interlocked fibres
Dense core, high tension outer layers
Allows good voicing w/o hardening chemicals
Soft pressed hammer features
Less dense
Need chemicals on hammers to make brighter
Sound made by Quick bounce off vs slow bounce off
Quick= bright sound
Slow= dark sound
Three hammer shapes and features
Egg: more fundamental tone,lower partials
Pear; more moderate choice, most common
Diamond: little contact made by crown, emphasizes higher partials
Before changing(sanding or needling) hammers do this:
Squeeze shoulders of hammers, comparing mvmt in felt with sound quality
Do NOT needle randomly
Use customers fave/best note as an auditory reference
3 main ways to sand
- Sanding paddle: sand paper on a wood paddle that is slightly wider than hammer
- Gang filing: wider paddle allows sanding several hammers at a time (only use on straight bored hammers)
3.Shoe shine shaping: strip of sand paper used most on lightly worn hammers, arc to crown on both sides
What is the point of prepping terminations
Seats the speaking length of wire nicely to make more stable instrument
levelling strings purpose
Best done with a Charles Faulk gauge which checks for single strings that either are not hit or not dampened
Needling areas to avoid or use last
Large cushion(10:00 and 2:00) very little
Battery: lower than 9:00 and 3:00: LAST RESORT
Crown(12:00) AVOID
Needling best area
Small Cushion ( 10:30- 11:30 and 12:30-1:30)
Allows tone inconsistencies to be removed w/o changing overall note color
Soft pressed hammers should be needled where?
In or near the crown areas
Mostly on Steinways
