Final answer:
Tuning fixed-pitched instruments involves using beats to fine-tune the frequencies of strings to match a reference frequency, such as that of a tuning fork. Instruments like pianos have multiple strings per note that are adjusted to add sonic richness. The size of an instrument, like the length of a tuba's coils, affects pitch production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tuning fixed-pitched instruments in court music or an orchestra can often be challenging due to the precise nature of the task. Tuners use the concept of beats to make fine adjustments. For example, if a piano tuner hears two beats per second when comparing a piano note with a 256 Hz tuning fork, the piano's frequency is either 254 Hz or 258 Hz. The tuner must adjust the piano string until the beats disappear, indicating that the note is accurately tuned.
Instruments such as pianos and twelve-string guitars have multiple strings for a single note, which must be tuned to match frequencies closely, thus creating a slow beat that adds richness to the sound. Smaller instruments produce higher pitches because they have shorter resonating air columns compared to larger instruments like tubas, which have longer tubes that are coiled into loops to accommodate their length. A tuning fork's specific frequency helps piano tuners achieve the right pitch without trial and error.