Harsh.—­This term, when it does not apply to the voice of the piano, generally reflects upon the work of the tuner (?).  Chords are harsh when they contain over-sharp thirds, bad fifths, octaves, etc.  Take care that your temperament contains no bad chords, and after you are all through, see that all tones have stood, and that you have left no bad unisons or octaves.  One or two carelessly tuned tones may disparage your otherwise creditable work.

Questions.—­Questions are often asked the tuner concerning the care of the piano.  Be prepared to answer any reasonable question that may come up, which your knowledge of the instrument should enable you to do.  In regard to temperature, moisture, etc., an extreme either way is the thing to avoid.  A very dry or hot atmosphere will crack the varnish, warp the wooden parts, crack the sound-board, cause parts to come unglued, etc.  On the other hand, too much moisture will rust the steel parts, strings, etc.; so the “happy medium” is the condition to be desired.  As to keeping pianos closed, a question you will often be asked, we think it is better to keep them open at all times than to keep them closed at all times; because, if they are kept open they are subjected to the changes of the atmosphere, which will rarely permit the piano to become either very damp or too dry.  In a word, a room that is healthy for human beings is all right for the piano.

Seasons for Tuning.—­The prevalent idea in regard to this matter is that pianos should be tuned either at the beginning of cold or of warm weather.  In our experience, we have found that it makes no difference when the piano is tuned if it is kept in the living room.  If, however, a piano were tuned upon a warm day in the fall and then allowed to remain in a room in which the temperature suddenly fell to zero, we could not expect it to stand in tune; and much less, if the room is heated up occasionally and then left for an interval at the mercy of the weather.  Persons who treat their pianos in this way should have them tuned about four times a year.

INDEX.

Action, 17 brackets, 24 of grand piano, 37, 38, 62 of square piano, 32, 34 removing, square and grand, 38 replacing, square and grand, 39 requisites of, 17, 18 top, of square piano, 34 trap, of square piano, 19, 34

Advantages of two-octave temperament, 171

Ancient instruments, 13

Back check, adjustment of, 49
  and back catch, 18, 27, 28, 33, 37
  wire, 27

Balance pin, 21
  rail, 21

Bearing bar, 17

Beats, waves, and pulsations, 73, 150
  of unison, octave, and major third, 154
  cause of, 77, 150

Black lead, use of, 64

Block rail, 27, 51

Bottom or capstan, adjustment of, 48, 99
  or key rocker, 23, 33, 48, 56, 57