Tuning mechanisms for stringed instruments: Difference between revisions

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Like tapered pins, threaded pins must be set in a pin block of fairly hard wood, such as [[cherry wood|cherry]] or [[white oak]], or they will not stay in tune well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sligoharps.com/8book.pdf |title=Chapter 8. Fabricating the Neck and Pillar|format=Book chapter|website=sligoharps.com|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> Some pin block woods come from endangered trees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/restricted-and-endangered-wood-species/ |title = Restricted and Endangered Wood Species {{!}} The Wood Database}}</ref> Some specialized plywoods can also be used (piano pin block stock or the die maker's ply used for [[rotary die]]s).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sligoharps.com/2book.pdf+|title=Chapter 2. Creating, Buying, Borrowing or Stealing a Design|format=Book Chapter|website=sligoharps.com|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

Threaded tuners are durable, will take very high string tensions. They do not push outwards on the hole and wedge the wood apart, which can reduce the risk of splitting it. They can be set in [[blind hole]]s, which allows the wood to retain more strength for a given weight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://folcharp.com/zitherpins.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724215944/http://www.folcharp.com/zitherpins.html |archive-date=2008-07-24 |title=FolcHarp - Zither pins}}</ref> They can, however, also be set in holes drilled right through the wood, to look like older pins. Threaded pins can be installed with an [[arbor press]], and do not need to be re-set, but should be backed off a few turns when changing a string to keep pin height even.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps/accessories-hardware/hardware/threaded-tuning-pins |title = Threaded Harp Tuning Pins {{!}} Dusty Strings}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170810021404/http://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/application/files/2014/7516/8049/Replacing_Harp_Strings.pdf Replacing harp strings] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

===Use===

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[[File:Kora-Player2.jpg|thumb|[[Griot|Jali]] Fily Sissokho playing a [[kora (instrument)|kora]] tuned with konso (braided leather ring) string terminations.]]

The konso system is traditionally used on [[kora (instrument)|koras]]. It consists of braided leather rings that wrap around the neck of the instrument. The rings are pulled along the neck of the instrument to change string tension. It can be quick to adjust but requires a fair degree of strength.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://dennishavlena.com/newneck.htm | title=Make an easier-to-tune replacement neck for a leather-ring (Konso) African Kora neck }}</ref>

==Rong Kou==

[[Image:Jade Tuning Pegs.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Tuning pegs of the guqin. The twisted Rong Kou cord goes through the bottom hole, through the side hole in the neck, around, under and through the hole in the neck again, and out the top hole. Pegs can be made from wood or jade]]

The 7-string Chinese [[Guqin]] uses braided cords or (''rongkou'' 『[[wiktionary:絨|絨]][[wiktionary:剅|剅]]/绒扣』) as a tuning mechanism. At one end, the zither's strings are looped around stationary pegs (''fengzu'' 『鳳足』 "phoenix feet" or ''yanzu'' 『雁足』 "geese feet") at the underside of the instrument, across the nut (''longyin'' 『龍齦』 ''dragon gums'') before they pass over the face of the instrument. On the tuning end of each string (near the right hand of the player, at the bridge), a butterfly fly knot (''shengtou jie'' 『[[wiktionary:蠅|蠅]][[wiktionary:頭|頭]][[wiktionary:結|結]]/蝇头结』) is tied, and inserted through the loop end of a braided cord (traditionally made of silk due to its inelasticity) which passes through holes behind the bridge to the underside of the instrument. The Rong Kou cord is inserted through the centre of, and then twisted around, tuning pegs. When the strings are at tension, these pegs are held flush to the underside of the instrument in the peg pool (''zhen chi'' 『[[wiktionary:軫|軫]][[wiktionary:池|池]]/轸池』). The pegs are then twisted individually by hand to achieve the desired tension for each string.

==See also==

{{Commons category|String instrument tuning}}

* [[Machine head]]

* [[Guqin tunings]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{Strings (music)}}

{{Violin family}}