Tuning Fork

Tuning fork is a device used for tuning musical instruments and for finding a standard pitch. It is made of metal and shaped like a U with a handle on the bottom.

A tuning fork produces a tone when struck. The tone is not affected by moisture and most other conditions that affect the pitch and tone of musical instruments. However, the tone is slightly affected by variations in temperature. The forks are made for any note of the scale, but those most often used are A, B flat, or the C above middle C. Most forks are stamped with the note name and frequency of vibration, indicating the tuning standard. John Shore, an English trumpeter, is said to have invented the tuning fork in 1711. Today, various electronic devices are also used to tune musical instruments.

Contributor: Thomas W. Tunks, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist Univ.

Tuning Fork

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