Art of Tap Tunining How to Build Great Sound into Instruments Book/DVD (Softcover) (Paperback)

by Simonoff Roger (Author)
Key Phrases: maple backboard, treble tone bar, string break angle, The Art of Tap Tuning, Hal Leonard Corporation, Lloyd Loar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book explains the secret ingredients needed to obtain the very best tonal qualities when building acoustic string instruments. It includes an exploration of the tools and equipment needed, the methods to excite tones in the instrument, how to make the necessary changes, and how to achieve consistency and repeatability. The text focuses on tap tuning as it relates to mandolins, guitars, banjos, violins, ukuleles, dulcimers, pianos, and more. The DVD includes demonstrations of the acoustic phenomena described in the text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corp; Pap/DVD edition (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423423275
• ISBN-13: 978-1423423270
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,358 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars black art?, September 27, 2007

By	J. A. Whiteside "luthier" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After much research and consultation with professional guitar and violin makers, I have concluded that the jury is still out on the benefits of tap tuning for guitar making. One issue is that, unlike the violin world (where there is an acknoweldged standard and good physics for excellent tone) no such standard exists in the guitar world. Indeed, different guitars are supposed to sound different and excellent tone is highly subjective. Some builders I know use tap tuning or other complex methods to try for tonal perfection, others simply tap the plates and listen for a "good" tone. I am not convinced the hair-raising complexity and expensive equipment needed to use Siminoff's method are worth while. Besides, whatever resonant frequencies the components have seperately change completely once the guitar is glued together.

World class guitarist Ed Gerhard made a CD (House of Guitars) on which he used a bunch of junky guitars bought at pawn shops and discount outlets. He didn't even change the strings. Yet the sounds are gorgeous. I think this proves that the skill of the perfomer (given a bascially sound guitar) totally overwhelms whatever contributions high tech plate tuning methods make.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "magic" explained., January 15, 2007

By	Stevan Rogers (Portland, OR.) - See all my reviews

This tutorial is a great resource for anyone who has ever had less than optimal results building a musical instrument. The "magic" of getting the best sound possible out of an instrument is explained in simple, easy to follow (and easy to repeat) steps. I wish I'd had this information many years ago. Even if you're not a builder, this book explains many things about how instruments "work". I would recommend this volume to anyone interested in understanding how the various parts of an instrument work together, to produce what we hear. This book will undoubtedly have a very positive impact on many instruments over the coming years. Well done Mr. Siminoff!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of "applying" science to building instruments, July 1, 2009

By	Wudwerk - See all my reviews

Tap tuning is a very interesting way to help you build a better sounding instrument. Explaining how different parts of the instrument vibrate as an individual part or as a whole of those parts assembled. Besides, it is incredibly fun to do this.