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What Tuning Forks to Use

Although many people conjure up images of their childhood band days when they hear the words "tuning fork," there are actually several different types and uses for these devices. When considering what tuning fork to use, the first important thing to consider is whether you need it for medical, scientific or musical purposes.
  1. Medical Tuning Forks

    • Medical tuning forks are used primarily for general and specialist diagnostic purposes, like testing for hearing loss. They can be made from hardened, tempered steel, chrome plated steel or various alloys. Like other tuning forks, ones used for medical purposes are usually tuned to 200c to achieve an accurate note in one long duration.

    Scientific Tuning Forks

    • Scientific tuning forks are generally used for laboratory experiments and educational purposes. They are usually tuned electronically and mounted on wooden resonance boxes in order to ground the sound. Like medical tuning forks, they are often made of hardened, chrome plated steel and are tuned to 200c.

    Musical Tuning Forks

    • Musical tuning forks are most commonly used to find the correct pitch for an instrument. Again, they are generally made of tempered or chrome plated steel and are tuned to 200c to achieve pure and accurate notes. They can be designed to create any pitch individually, or they can be purchased in chromatic sets representing each musical note.

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