All About Piano Tuning

Piano tuning! What is it, why do pianos need it, and how does it happen?

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that I often get about piano tuning.

"What is piano tuning?"

Piano tuning is the process of adjusting the pitch of the piano through careful and thorough adjustments.

"How do you tune a piano?"

First of all, we have to understand how a piano works. When you play your piano, you press down on the keys. The keys interact with a series of parts that cause the hammer to hit the strings, playing that note. Every piano has over 200+ strings!

The tension on the strings of your piano is adjusted during a tuning. If you’ve ever tuned a guitar, you know that if you increase tension on the strings the pitch will go up (or go sharp). If you decrease tension on the strings the pitch will go down (or flat). When I tune your piano, I use a special tool called a tuning hammer to carefully adjust the tension on the strings. I tune the strings to each other, and then to themselves.

"How long does a tuning take?"

Every technician is different, and so is every piano. The length of the tuning depends on the condition of the instrument. When I was starting out, one tuning could take all day! Now, my tunings normally take about 1 to 2 hrs.

A tuning may take longer if:

• Your piano hasn’t been tuned in a long time

• Your piano has some things that need to be looked at or repaired

"How do I prepare for my piano to be tuned?"

The owner of this piano would have to remove the sheet music, pictures frames, and decor before the piano can be serviced.

Your piano must be opened in order to be serviced. Please prepare your piano to be tuned by removing any sheet music, metronomes, or decorations off the top of the piano and the bench. Make sure that the area surrounding the piano is clear and accessible. Move side tables out of the way and move anything that may be underneath the piano as well.

A quiet environment is necessary for a good piano tuning. Please eliminate excess noise by turning off the TV, turning off any music, and by saving vacuuming and the dishes until after your appointment. Check that your lawn maintenance crew isn’t scheduled at the same time as your tuning. The quieter the environment can be, the better the tuning can be!

"Why do pianos go out of tune?"

Pianos go out of tune primarily because of changes in temperature and humidity. Your piano is made of wood and felt. These materials are hygroscopic, meaning that they will react to changes in moisture. When the humidity increases, so does the moisture in the air. The wood that the strings directly contact will swell with the increase in moisture, increasing the tension on the strings and causing the pitch to go sharp (or higher). The opposite occurs when the humidity decreases, the air dries out, and the wood shrinks. The tension on the strings will decrease as well, and the pitch of the piano will go flat (or lower). Pianos will go out of tune after there is a change to their environment, such as: moving, switching your HVAC from heat to AC or AC to heat, installing a humidifier/dehumidifier, or opening windows in the home.

Pianos can also go out of tune because of significant amounts of use. If a piano is played a lot, you are putting energy into the strings. This can change the tension of the strings and will affect the tuning as a result.

Pianos can also go out of tune if there are structural issues within the piano. There are essential structural components that help the strings hold tension in your piano, like the pinblock or the plate. If you notice your piano going out of tune more often than normal, and there aren’t any environmental or use factors at play, it could be possible that a structural component is compromised. Call a local technician if you have concerns.

"How often should you tune a piano?"

How often you should tune your piano depends on where you live and the climate conditions of your home. In places with extreme climate shifts (very hot, humid summers and very dry, cold winters) you may have to tune your piano every 6 months. You may experience the opposite in a more stable climate. Your home may be older and draftier, resulting in your piano being exposed to climate shifts. When all else fails, a good rule of thumb is to tune your piano every 6 months or once a year. You can also ask a local technician what they recommend for pianos in your area.

"Is it better to tune by ear or to tune with an electronic tuning device?"

This can be a hot topic among musicians and technicians. Let’s define these terms a little more.

Tuning by ear, also called “aural” tuning, is when a technician will listen intensely to different intervals to determine how far apart those notes are, and adjust accordingly.

Tuning with an electronic tuning device, also known as an “ETD”, is when a technician will use an app on a mobile device or a tuning machine to tune the piano. This often means playing one note at a time. It is important to note that technicians who use ETDs still do have to tune by ear when tuning unisons (when the outside strings of an individual note are tuned to the inside strings).

So, which is better? That’s up to you to decide. I’ve met plenty of people who hate electronic tunings, and plenty who love them! ETDs have come a long way in their development, and they can produce excellent tunings. Just because a technician uses an ETD doesn’t mean that they are less skilled than an aural technician or that their tuning is “worse”. However, it is important for a technician to possess the aural skills needed to tune unisons and also to check the work that the machine produces.

Be open minded. If a technician is tuning your piano, ask what method they use while tuning. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re happy with how your piano sounds after servicing!