Posted by Avogadro on November 15, 2000 at 12:03:44:
In Reply to: 440 and 443 BBb Tubas...why? posted by James S on November 13, 2000 at 04:01:10:
Just wondering how you would know that a particular tuba is tuned to 440.
The pitch of a horn is affected quite a bit by temperature. If it is tuned for A = 440 at 20 deg C, then it will play at 443 about 4 deg C (7 deg F) higher.
If it is playing at 440 and you would like it to sound at 443, just push the tuning slide in about 21 millimeters (less than an inch). Do it quickly, before the horn cools down, or it won't be exact.
For all your efforts, you will only get the A in tune, and only at one dynamic level. How are you going to get to within 3 Hz on all the other notes, and at all the different dynamic levels??
Put your tuner away and spend more time listening.
Avogadro