Tuning of Xylophones

Tuning of Xylophones

Maintenance / Fine tuning adjustments of the Auris Xylophones 

The Auris Xylophone tones are made of Acacia wood.   

Wood is a natural material which still will always change a little depending on the humidity and temperature of the room / space it is in. As a result, the tuning might change a little, these variations are also related to the annual changes of the humidity which again depends on your domestic type of climate. As a general rule you can say that dry air makes the tones go up and high humidity causes the tones to go down.

When kids play with these instruments it will not disturb even if some of the tones are a little to high or low but if you really require a perfect pitch for some reason i.e. you are making music together with other well tuned instruments or you have several xylophones together then it is important to have your instrument precisely tuned.  

If any of the tones should get out of tune in relation to the other ones or to other instruments and you find it necessary to adjust, here is how it goes: 

1.  Tune down:  Sand on the bottom side in the middle of the bar, where the bar is at it’s very      thinnest. Please do this very carefully step by step in order to avoid you go to far down.

2.  Tune up: Make the tone bar a little shorter (the same in both ends) with a piece of sandpaper.  Please do this very carefully step by step in order to avoid you go to far up.

The most common change is that the tone is going up and therefore needs to be tuned down.

 

There are various digital applications on the market to achieve the exact tuning of each tone.

 

For Windows and Android:

Tune!it which you can download from the following website:  http://www.tune-it.com.au/

and gStrings Tuner:   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.cohortor.gstrings&hl=en

 

For iPad and iPhone:  (find in the Apple Store or iTunes)

Tuner by plusadd:     https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tuner-by-plusadd-chromatic/id635644097?mt=8

insTuner                   https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instuner-chromatic-tuner-tone/id528923171?mt=8

 

Tune down:

IMG_2773-25-yellow

 This will make the pitch down

 

 

IMG_2779b-yellow

Tune up:

 This will make the pitch of the tone go up.