Tuning instructions

(link to tuning instructions for 2 harpsichords and for the tempered version at the bottom of this page)
Here is instructions to tune one double manual harpsichord:

All the intervals you are going to tune shall be pure .
In the diagram you will find the pure fifths in a row.
The pure major thirds you will find in the row below the fifth (with the same color)
But  it is not necessary to understand the diagram before tuning.

Now we will tune our first setup on  the 1st manual, the tones to be tuned in red.

 called : C 0:

Calibrate  A-2

Tune pure fifths  D-2 - A

                       

                          A - E-2 

                       

                           E - B-2

Tune a pure major third  Bb0 - D-2

Tune pure fifths   Bb - F 0

                            F - C0

                           C - G0

                            G - D0 but on the Eb key !!

Check that these  major thirds  are pure : F-A , C-E , G-B

Tune a pure major third : D 0(lowest D !)  - F#-4

Tune pure fifths:    F# - C#-4

                   

                            C# - G#-4

Check that these  major thirds  are pure :  A-C# and E-G#

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Then we start to tune the 2nd manual with a setup called:

Bb+1

Tune  D-1 accurately in the middle of the 2  D`s in C 0 above !

Tune a pure major third :   Bb+1 - D

Tune pure fifths:            Eb+1 - Bb

                                    Ab+1 - Eb

                                    Bb - F+1

                                      F - C +1 on the C# key !!

Tune a pure major third : Ab - C -1

Tune pure fifths:            C-1(the lowest C!) - G-1

                                       D - A-1

Check that these   major thirds  are pure:   Eb-G and  F-A

Tune a pure major third :       C-1(the lowest C!) - E-3

Tune pure fifths :                    E- B-3

                                            B - F#-3

Check the pure  major thirds  : G-B og D-F#

You can or maybe ought to check if the distance (not the beat rates) between the same tones on different manuals are the samme all the way.

These tones :
C 0/C-1  = Bb+1/Bb0 = E-2/E-3 = F+1/F0  etc etc

That`s all.  Enjoy !
After playing a lot you can try to tune (by ear) a tempered version HERE !

If you are lucky to have 2 harpsichords then the last setup you tuned, Bb+1 ought to be tuned to the second harpsichord, 1st manual.

The instruction for  2 manuals in addition is HERE !
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