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I am new to piano tuning and I am wondering if anyone could tell me why my Yamaha upright beats with a pause after around 7 beats? I hear this when playing F-A intervals. Is this a normal variation? The pause lasts around a couple of seconds and then it beats again. I confirmed this by using Audacity. Thanks!

Can you post a recording?

Yes, I am using Soundbeam and I notice this often; irregular beats. The partial is steady and then just drops out and back in for no apparent reason. It may have to do with the lining up of higher partials and their difference tones. For sure, beating is a lot more complex than I used to think.

Actually, all humans who are not deaf actually produce sound within their hearing mechanism, its called otoacoustic emissions. In fact, they test new born infants for deafness by using extremely sensative microphones in the ear and listening for this sound that is produced. The emmisions are a result of the cochlear amplifier having a return wave which is not uniform over the cochlea and once it reaches the ossicles and eardrum, it produces its own wave which in turn is picked up on by the cochlea. Numerous people have been tested and can actually hear their own otoacoustic emissions. Recent studies are now centering on a particular type situation with otoacoustic emissions where they are percieved as oscillations or beats. I would not doubt the possibility these perceptions could superimpose over top of externally heard beats....maybe we don't all hear the exact same thing when we listen to beats because of this.

http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.ca/2011/09/yours-ears-hear-but-can-you-hear-your.html

That's not it. As I said, I can measure with Soundbeam and see the aperiodicity. I will post a video.

Sorry Mark, I didn't mean to imply that your hearing something that is not there. It was meant as added information which some techs may not be aware of.

Yes, I realized that after posting. Thanks for clarifying. I apologize if my post appeared defensive.

BTW, see the videos I just posted on the DOA vs Sustaining Unisons thread. The Blooming unison shows an aperiodicity beat on the fundamental. Neat eh?

Thank you so much for your response! I was afraid there was something wrong with my piano. I am anxious to watch your video.