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Topic: Any one know what causes this? |
Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 11:57 am |
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I recently noticed only the A-440 note sounds a little flat in my right ear.Any other note sounds the same in both ears.Weird huh?As i always use a tuning fork to tune the second string on my fiddle.My left ear is still right on.
When i play steel i use a tuner to quickly re tune to a tuning i had decided on my on was an in tune sound.
Seems as if i read something about this happening to LLoyd Green.Does any one know what causes this and if it will at some time clear up?Tracy |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 12:14 pm
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Diplacusis of Pure Tones
For people with unilateral cochlear hearing losses or asymmetrical hearing losses, the same tone presented alternately to the two ears may be perceived as having different pitches in the two ears. This is the phenomenon of diplacusis. The magnitude of the shift can be measured by getting the subject to adjust the frequency of a tone in one ear until its pitch matches that of the tone in the other ear.
If a 1000 Hz pure tone is presented in both of a listener's ears, then they perceive one pitch. However, alternate the presentation between ears (i.e. 1000 Hz left, 1000 Hz right, 1000 Hz left, ...), and a given person will consistently mismatch these sinusoids the same amount between trials if doing a pitch-matching task
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Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 12:16 pm
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| The cilia in your cochlea stiffen with age. The natural vibration frequency (the freq at which it resonates with incoming audio) of a stiff rod is higher than that of a loose rod. So the cilium that used to resonate at 440Hz may now resonate at 450 Hz. If your brain had associated impulses from that cilium with an "A" note, then you will hear 450 as "A", and 440 as something below "A". |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 12:39 pm
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| Time for a tuner. |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 12:40 pm Reply.
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Thanks for the replies.It doesn't bother me playing steel which i seldom do now but on a fiddle (violin) it is critical as you are either on key or off as the notes are so close together especially the higher you play on the neck.
Maybe i can stuff cotton in my right ear.lol.Tracy
BTW.Seems as if i read where LLodds problem cleared up,but not sure.Any one know? |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2010 6:36 pm Reply:
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The server has been out of whack here.Bill,a tuner would be of no help trying to play on key,As i said B4 i also have a tuner but it is only to retune to a tuning i decided on my own was an in tune sound.It helped to re tune in a noisey place.If it was quite the bands and i tuned to each other.
And Rickey,thanks to you also for your input.I know what you are talking about because back in the early 70s as i recall i took a computer hearing test in Ca,I did it for fun.Had to match tones and that was the first time i realized i had perfect pitch which one is born with.
From starting lessons on piano when i was 9 or 10 years old thats where i learned no instrument is in perfect tune in every key as it is impossible.Took a few more years and study for that to soak in.
The violin can be played on key depending on the violinist and his or her ear.I will gab on while i am on the subject as another reason many players think they are out of tune.If the player has a good ear and say for instance the bass is a little out of tune it will make the lead player think he or her is out of tune.
Another.If a drummer stays too long on a ride cymble or plays it too far out on the edge it will begin to ring in a key and make you sound out of tune.I am not trying to be a know it all,only passing on more years of music experience than i care to remember in hopes it might be of help to some of the new comers to music.
IMO,put those electronic tuners away if you have any ear for music at all and learn to trust your ears.Tracy |
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Rick Campbell
From:
Sneedville, TN, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2010 12:13 am Re: Reply:
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| Tracy Sheehan wrote: |
If a drummer stays too long on a ride cymble or plays it too far out on the edge it will begin to ring in a key and make you sound out of tune.
IMO,put those electronic tuners away if you have any ear for music at all and learn to trust your ears.Tracy |
Tracy that's exactly right about the cymbal. I had that happen last weekend. I was playing steel and I kept hearing something and it made me think I was playing out of tune. I stopped playing for a few seconds, and still heard it so that eliminated me. I watched the lead player and eliminated him, and then I discovered that it was the cymbal. It was not just a noise it had a pitch to it like a bussing string note.
I'm not a big fan of electronic tuners, expecially for fiddle. I usually pull the fiddle out and touch up the tuning while the other guys are playing. I can tume it with getting a G C or what ever and make it work with out a tuner. I do use one for referene sometimes. I've got a Strop-A-Flip but I don't like. (I sell it if anyone is interested) it a all, it's too sesesitive. I use a little $25 Korg that works work pretty good. I think you'll agree that fiddle is dependent on the player playing to the other music he hears. Sometimes I'm play just fine and somecalls for a Paul Jones or Square Dance and I start the intro sawing on the E and A strings and it sounds like hell, just get into the tune ASAP and I can work around it most of the time. No telling how long I'd been playing out of tune because it don't tell on you if you playing in closed keys.
You should go see an ear nose and throat guy. You could have an infection or something going on. They can fix most of this stuff. I was working with Vassar and he went for about a week complaining about the same thing you have and the doc fixed him right up. I couldn't tell it in his playing, but he could.
if you'be been listening to a lot of new country it will do you that way, or it does me. it's the eqavilent of eating bad food and being sick at your stomach. 
Keep up posted on the status.Good luck with it.
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2010 9:48 am
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I'm glad you posted that Tracy. I have the same problem. I have nights that no matter what I do, nothing sounds in tune and it drives me nuts. I was in the Marine Corps in the early 60's and all the guns and stuff is probably what ruined my ears. I have a high frequency loss that can't be fixed but I also get that problem where both ears are out of tune with each other. I always set my amp to my right ear which is the best. I also play fiddle which is the most difficult instrument to play in perfect pitch. I notice when I do studio work, it'll sound great when I play but on play back, it'll sound out of tune. I only use the tuners to tune my E strings and do the rest by ear. I have a flip strobe also and only use it to tune if it's noisy and I think it needs touching up. I also learned that when backing up a vocalist that sings a little off pitch, to stay strickley between the lines or I'll be tuning all night. I'm going to the Doctor myself Febuary 3rd and hope that some of the problem can be fixed.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Jan 2010 3:28 pm Reply
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| Henry Matthews wrote: |
| I'm glad you posted that Tracy. I have the same problem. I have nights that no matter what I do, nothing sounds in tune and it drives me nuts. I was in the Marine Corps in the early 60's and all the guns and stuff is probably what ruined my ears. I have a high frequency loss that can't be fixed but I also get that problem where both ears are out of tune with each other. I always set my amp to my right ear which is the best. I also play fiddle which is the most difficult instrument to play in perfect pitch. I notice when I do studio work, it'll sound great when I play but on play back, it'll sound out of tune. I only use the tuners to tune my E strings and do the rest by ear. I have a flip strobe also and only use it to tune if it's noisy and I think it needs touching up. I also learned that when backing up a vocalist that sings a little off pitch, to stay strickley between the lines or I'll be tuning all night. I'm going to the Doctor myself Febuary 3rd and hope that some of the problem can be fixed. |
Hi Henrey.I was surprissed so many wre aware of this problem.
Years ago i was working with a monster guitar player wh had been playing in NYC and was offered a job on the Johney Carson show and turned it down as he hated NYC.
Any hoo later in another state he started his own band and hired me to play steel.We would tune to each other then sound out when we started.We retuned on break and still sounded out of tune wih each other.
On the second break he told the drummer not to touch a cymbal, the drummer said ok.The next set we were in so tune together.It was the cymbals being over played.
Bet there are many new comers having tuning problems and think that it is them.My self and many other steel players would not play under an over head fan as the hum made the steel sound out of tune and would also de tune the steel.
Good luck with your playing.When i play fiddle i set the amp back so the sound is equal in both ears and i can play on key,or so i am told.lol.Tracy |
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