Frequently Asked Questions
How often does my piano need tuning?
It is generally recommended that you have your piano tuned every 6 months to 1 year. However, there are many factors that will determine how often you should have your piano tuned. Like getting your car serviced, having your piano tuned regularly by a trained technician is one of the best ways to ensure your piano is playing and sounding its best. A piano technician will not only be able to tune your piano, but also identify and let you know of any issues the piano has and what the remedies might be. Catching problems early can help you avoid them becoming costly repairs.
Why does my piano go out of tune?
Pianos are made out of many different materials, such as wood, metal, leather and felt. These materials can expand, contract or shift depending on the temperature, humidity, how often the piano is played and whether the piano has been moved, all of which can also affect the tension on the piano strings and how they stay in tune. If a piano is moved or kept in a room which has large temperature and humidity fluctuations, it might be necessary to have the piano tuned more often.
What is a pitch raise?
When a piano has not been tuned in a long time, the pitch can drop so much that it requires more than one tuning to get it back to concert pitch, the default pitch of the piano. The first tuning will correct the piano's pitch and get it roughly in tune which will be followed by a fine tuning.
What is regulation?
A piano has around 10,000 moving parts, mostly made from wood, felt, metal and sometimes plastic. Over time, due to a range of factors such as heat, humidity, or amount of playing, these components can warp and wear down leading to the piano feeling clunky, uneven or spongy. Regulation is the process of realigning these parts so they work in harmony, creating a smooth, consistent and even piano to play.
What is voicing?
When a pianist presses a key on a piano, it causes a felt hammer to strike the strings of a piano. The hardness of this felt hammer plays an important role in creating the tone of the piano. With age, this felt will become worn resulting in a brighter, metallic and possibly uneven tone across the piano. Voicing is the process of adjusting the hardness of the hammer to create the desired tone in the piano.
When does my piano need tuning?
As a rule of thumb, a piano should be tuned every 6 months to a year. However, if a piano has been moved, is played a lot or is placed in a room with large fluctuations in temperature and humidity it might need to be tuned more often. Moving a piano can put stress on the instrument, which can result in it going out of tune.