About Each Function; F1. Fine Tuning Of The Pitch; F2. Selecting A Scale - Yamaha P-155 Owner's Manual

Detailed Settings – [FUNCTION]

About Each Function

The explanations here apply when entering the Function in step 5 on page 39.

F1. Fine Tuning of the Pitch

You can fine tune the pitch of the entire instru-
ment. This function is useful when you play
the instrument along with other instruments
or CD music.
Use the [–/NO] and [+/YES] buttons to lower
or raise the pitch of the A3 key in approxi-
mately 0.2 Hz increments.
Tenths of a hertz are indicated on the display by the
appearance and position of a dot, as in the following
example:
Display
Hz (Hertz):
This unit of measurement refers to the frequency of a sound and
represents the number of times a sound wave vibrates in a second.
Using the keyboard to set the pitch
You can fine tune the pitch by pressing a key on the
keyboard, without having to call up the FUNCTION
display. See the "Panel Controls and Terminals"
(page 8) for the key (note) name.
To tune up (in roughly 0.2Hz steps): Hold the A-1,
B-1, and C0 keys simultaneously and press any key
between C3 and B3.
To tune down (in roughly 0.2Hz steps): Hold the A-
1, B-1, and C#0 keys simultaneously and press any
key between C3 and B3.
To restore standard pitch: Hold the A-1, B-1, C0,
and C#0 keys simultaneously and press any key
between C3 and B3.
To tune down or up, respectively, in approximately
1 Hz increments: Hold the A-1, B-1 and C0 keys or
the A-1, B-1 and C#0 keys simultaneously and press
the [–/NO] or [+/YES] button.
To restore standard pitch: Hold the A-1, B-1 and C0
keys or the A-1, B-1 and C#0 keys simultaneously
and press the [–/NO] [+/YES] buttons simulta-
neously.
40
P-155 Owner's Manual
Value
440.0
Setting range:
427.0–453.0 (Hz)
440.2
440.4
Default setting:
440.0 (Hz)
446.6
453.0
TERMINOLOGY

F2. Selecting a Scale

You can select various scales.
Equal Temperament is the most common con-
temporary piano tuning scale. However, his-
tory has known numerous other scales, many
of which serve as the basis for certain genres of
music. You can experience these tunings with
the instrument.
F2.1: Scale
Setting range: 1: Equal Temperament
2: Pure Major
3: Pure Minor
4: Pythagorean
5: Mean Tone
6: Werckmeister
7: Kirnberger
Default setting: 1: Equal Temperament
EQUAL TEMPERAMENT
The pitch range of each octave is divided equally into
twelve parts, with each half-step evenly spaced in pitch.
This is the most commonly used tuning in music today.
PURE MAJOR/PURE MINOR
These tunings preserve the pure mathematical intervals of
each scale, especially for triad chords (root, third, fifth).
You can hear this best in actual vocal harmonies - such as
choirs and a cappella singing.
PYTHAGOREAN
This scale was devised by the famous Greek philosopher
and is created from a series of perfect fifths, which are col-
lapsed into a single octave.
The 3rd in this tuning are slightly unstable, but the 4th and
5th are beautiful and suitable for some leads.
MEAN-TONE
This scale was created as an improvement on the
Pythagorean scale, by making the major third interval more
"in tune." It was especially popular from the 16th century
to the 18th century. Handel, among others, used this scale.
WERCKMEISTER/KIRNBERGER
This composite scale combines the Werckmeister and Kirn-
berger systems, which were themselves improvements on
the mean-tone and Pythagorean scales. The main feature of
this scale is that each key has its own unique character. The
scale was used extensively during the time of Bach and
Beethoven, and even now it is often used when performing
period music on the harpsichord.