Piano Services

Almost all piano manufacturers suggest tuning a new piano four times in the first year and then twice a year thereafter.  At a minimum, a piano should be tuned at least once a year.

An average piano tuning appointment lasts sixty to ninety minutes.

It’s not so much playing a piano that causes it to go out of tune but rather changes in temperature and humidity, and settling of the piano itself. The amount of use a piano gets rarely has much effect on its tuning unless a pianist plays extraordinarily hard.

Letting a piano get very far out of tune isn’t good for it, but the harm is rarely irreparable. A piano adjusts to the tension of its strings (typically 17,500 kg of pressure). When a piano is allowed to go out of tune, the string tension is reduced and the piano settles to the new lower tension. When the strings are pulled up to proper pitch again, the piano typically requires days or weeks to settle again. As it adjusts the string tension is changed slightly and the piano needs tuning again. As a result, pianos that are neglected for a year or more often require two or more tunings to reach stability, while a piano that is kept reasonably in tune holds its tuning better.

When a piano is more than a little out of tune, tuning causes a significant change in the pressure on the piano. If the tuner simply begins tuning each string one at a time, by the time he gets to the last string the total tension on the piano will have changed so much that the first strings are out of tune again. To avoid the problem, the technician has to tighten each of the strings individually (raise their pitch) close to their eventual tension. Once the total pressure on the piano is close to its proper level, he can go back and tune each string more precisely.

There are several problems that your piano could have. Most commonly the tuning pin block isn’t holding the tuning pins tightly enough. The tuning pin block is made of several layers of wood laminate, typically hard rock maple. Holes are drilled into it that are slightly smaller than the tuning pins that are inserted. The friction of the pin on the wood should hold the tuning pin in place against the tension of the string (usually about 180 lbs per string). If the pin has become loose in the tuning pin block, the pin will slip and release the pressure on the string. Sometimes the piano technician can apply a simple remedy, but often the tuning pin block is just worn out.

Other tuning problems are caused more by the environment than something inside the piano itself. If the piano is next to a door or window or the temperature or humidity in the room fluctuates substantially, the piano’s wood and other parts will expand and contract causing the pressure on the strings to change. The remedy is stabilizing the temperature and humidity around the piano. Often installing a Damp-Chaser — a device to stabilize the humidity — will help.

In the short term, leather and felt compact, affecting the adjustment (regulation) of the parts. The action becomes uneven and less responsive and the piano’s tone loses dynamic range. Squeaks and rattles may develop. Routine maintenance, such as hammer filing, regulation, voicing and tuning will help correct these problems and keep the piano in top condition.

• Locate your piano to avoid direct sunlight, as well as excessive temperature and humidity changes.

• To avoid scratching, always remove dust first with a damp cloth or feather duster before wiping with a dry cloth.

• Never place drinks, plants, etc., on the finish. Make sure lamps have a felt padded base.

• Avoid placing vinyl or rubber in direct contact with the piano.

• Avoid touching piano strings with fingers or damp cloths.

• Delicate parts inside your piano should be cleaned only by a qualified technician.

• Use polish sparingly, if at all. Avoid aerosol products and any product containing silicone.

• Before playing, wash your hands to prevent staining of the sides and tops of keys.

A piano tuner typically just tunes pianos. A piano technician can do complex repairs like action regulation, voicing, repairing broken parts, and even completely rebuilding a piano. But most piano technicians don’t object to being called a piano tuner because it’s a name the public recognizes.