This is probably just me, but here goes...
I love some classical music, but as soon as the violins start up it's like fingernails on a blackboard to me. Am I alone in this? What could be causing it?
I have a theory that it is something to do with them being fretless and the players are going for the true note instead of the note that for example a piano would play. On a piano, E =659.26 Hz, but on a violin (or viola or any fretless stringed instrument) a perfect E at 440×1.5=660 Hz can be played. Is this difference big enough to notice?
Brian
I love some classical music, but as soon as the violins start up it's like fingernails on a blackboard to me. Am I alone in this? What could be causing it?
I have a theory that it is something to do with them being fretless and the players are going for the true note instead of the note that for example a piano would play. On a piano, E =659.26 Hz, but on a violin (or viola or any fretless stringed instrument) a perfect E at 440×1.5=660 Hz can be played. Is this difference big enough to notice?
Brian
My wife has the same problem, she cant listen to live violins.
My old piano tuner would use something called classically tuned piano method. The piano was not perfectly tuned. It sounded softer. When we bought the piano it came with a couple of free tunings. The tech would use an electronic device to tune the piano. After tuning it with the device it always sounded bright. I only used the guy who tuned by ear.
Before covid I used to go to local concerts put on by an amateur orchestra. If there were more than 10-15 violins I would sit on the opposite side of the hall. The violins folks had a hard time of playing together in tune. At one concert the Conductor stopped the performance and asked the concert master to go through tuning for the violin section.
The orchestra usually had guest performers to do the important solo stuff.
Your ears/speakers might be sensitive to that band of frequencies.
My old piano tuner would use something called classically tuned piano method. The piano was not perfectly tuned. It sounded softer. When we bought the piano it came with a couple of free tunings. The tech would use an electronic device to tune the piano. After tuning it with the device it always sounded bright. I only used the guy who tuned by ear.
Before covid I used to go to local concerts put on by an amateur orchestra. If there were more than 10-15 violins I would sit on the opposite side of the hall. The violins folks had a hard time of playing together in tune. At one concert the Conductor stopped the performance and asked the concert master to go through tuning for the violin section.
The orchestra usually had guest performers to do the important solo stuff.
Your ears/speakers might be sensitive to that band of frequencies.
I can now answer this: Yes, but not with a sine wave. If there are plenty of harmonics, like with a square wave, it really sounds bad and is akin to what I get with violins - a harmonic rich instrument. Still don't know what the violinists are playing though
Brian
Thanks, I'm glad I'm not alone
It must be my ears as it is the same live, so guess I just have to wait until my high frequency hearing rolls off a bit more 🙂
Brian
Look for a piano tuning stretch chart if interested. A piano tuned to exact pitch may not sound as good. Mostly because the harmonic balance can change octave to octave to you stretch the tuning.
what is the source of your music CD ? enough said. Not enough bits to get an accurate copy of the original possibly nice sound. Some exceptions in composers like Schoenberg Cage etc. . Suggest you also look at the quality of the parts in the hifi chain. I cannot stand metal film resistors or tantulum caps or even mica caps...I ve spent too long checking out their sonics and I still have my ears as the best measuring guide.
No, but it does sound like me. I have a really short tolerance for sounds that shouldn't be there. I'll be going to the doctor post pandemic thanks
Thanks, this is what I thought was going on, but a problem with my ears/brain is more likely. If everyone heard string sections the way I do, Beethoven would never have caught on
It happens with live violins too, so I'm sure it's me
Oh but I do, but only in ones and twos
That's probably true
Thanks everyone, I am now fairly sure it's me and not violinists!
Brian
i have a fretless bass , with all my strings perfectly tuned EADG , the fifth note on my D string ( that should be a G ) is out of tune with the loose G string , havent checked if its the same on my freted basses
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This discrepancy between equal temperament and natural tuning is called Pythagorean comma. It's the same as the discrepancy between twelve stacked fifths and seven stacked octaves. (3/2)12 is less than 27.
Best regards!
Best regards!
That`s the chronic, incurable screeching violin syndrome.
Right on the nail, but the list is far from complete.
Right on the nail, but the list is far from complete.
Question nailed.
There is different ways to tune instruments and differences in tune within the same family of instruments or the different octave within the same instrument ( saxophone anyone?).
This is why you see musician playing on 'original' instruments for some style (piano in baroque comes to mind) and this is open to interpretation/ vision of players.
Piano tuners are professionals which discuss a lot with the artists and there needs and goals.
Hello Johnsykes,
You very probably have an issue with your bass's setup. What you describe is an 'intonation' issue: you have to change the length of the string to correct the pitch:
It is done at the bridge by varying the 'depth' parameter (hence the length of the string) using twelve's fret as reference ( open string and the octave should be the same). Try not to change the height as you'll change the action.
It happens regularly when you change strings's gauge and doesn't compensate for it. It may happen too when your neck move a bit or change tuning...
Anyway you need a digital tuner ( you won't be accurate enough with a microphone driven one, you need to plug the jack into the tuner for accuracy) and a bit of patience. Or visit a stringed instrument maker if you don't feel confident enough ( or you neck have moved).
Sometimes a video is easier than a lot of words:
SETUP your bass like a PRO with NO SPECIAL TOOLS!!! - YouTube
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Wrong theory. What you have got is manifest high frequency distortion, an exaggerated high frequency response with plenty of interharmonics. The quality of the recorded and amplified violin sound is a most revealing measure of system performance.