Pitch-Related Settings; Fine-Tuning The Pitch Of The Entire Instrument; Scale Tuning - Yamaha 503 Reference Manual

Pitch-Related Settings

Fine-tuning the Pitch of the Entire Instrument

You can fine-tune the pitch of the entire instrument—useful when you play the Clavinova along with other
instruments or CD music. Please note that the Tune function does not affect the Drum Kit or SFX Kit Voices
and audio files.
1
Call up the operation display.
[FUNCTION] → [A] MASTER TUNE/SCALE TUNE → TAB [E][F] MASTER TUNE
2
Use the [4 ▲▼]/[5 ▲▼] buttons to set the tuning in 0.2 Hz steps, from 414.8–466.8 Hz.
Press the both 4 or 5's [ ▲ ] and [ ▼ ] buttons simultaneously to reset the value to the factory setting of 440.0 Hz.

Scale Tuning

You can select various scales for playing in custom tunings for specific historical periods or music genres.
1
Call up the operation display.
[FUNCTION] → [A] MASTER TUNE/SCALE TUNE → TAB [E][F] SCALE TUNE
2
Use the [A]/[B] buttons to select the desired scale.
■ Preset Scale types
EQUAL
PURE MAJOR, PURE
MINOR
PYTHAGOREAN
MEAN-TONE
WERCKMEISTER,
KIRNBERGER
ARABIC1, ARABIC2
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.
These tunings preserve the pure mathematical intervals of each scale, espe-
cially for triad chords (root, third, fifth). You can hear this best in actual vocal
harmonies—such as choirs and a cappella singing.
This scale was devised by the famous Greek philosopher and is created from a
series of perfect fifths, which are collapsed into a single octave. The 3rd in this
tuning are slightly unstable, but the 4th and 5th are beautiful and suitable for
some leads.
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.
This composite scale combines the Werckmeister and Kirnberger 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 char-
acter. 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 harpsi-
chord.
Use these tunings when playing Arabic music.
The tuning of each note for the cur-
rently selected scale is shown.
CVP-509/505/503/501 Reference Manual
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