Piano Tuning and Maintenance FAQs
Q: What is piano tuning?
A: Piano tuning is the process of altering the pitch of a piano by tightening or loosening the tuning pins. A well-tuned piano is more pleasing to the listener and creates more beautiful harmonies.
Q: How often should I have my piano tuned?
A: Manufacturers recommend tuning pianos every six to twelve months. A new piano should be tuned three times in its first year to maintain stability. Pianos respond to their environment and go out of tune even if they aren’t being used. For the health of the instrument, it’s best to have a piano technician service the piano at least once a year to maintain a beautiful tone.
Q: Why does a piano go out of tune?
A: A piano’s pitch is affected almost entirely by its environment. Temperature and humidity are the biggest influences on a piano’s pitch. Pianos are made mostly of wood. When there is moisture in the air, the wood expands, causing the piano to swell up, the strings get tighter, and the piano goes sharp. When the air is dry, the wood contracts, the piano contracts as well, the strings get looser, and the piano goes flat. In our North Carolina climate, we have humid summers and dry winters, which can cause big swings in pitch for many pianos, despite how much use they get. Because of these seasonal changes, we recommend you have your piano tuned twice a year.
Q: Where is the best place for a piano in the home?
A: Because pianos are so affected by temperature and humidity, the best place for a piano is away from areas where there are changes in the elements. Choose a place away from direct sunlight, preferably on an inside wall. If no inside walls are available, or if the piano must be near a window, we recommend closing the piano lid and keeping the shades or blinds drawn for extra protection against a draft, or heat from the sun. Also be very careful not to place a piano in front of a vent. The hot air blowing from your vents in the winter can cause cracks and other damage to the wood in your piano. If vents are unavoidable, close them off or redirect the air away from the piano.
Q: What is a pitch adjustment?
A: The piano is designed to sound its best when tuned to A-440 (that means the A above middle C is cycling at 440 hertz per second). When a piano strays far enough away from this standard pitch, a pitch adjustment is necessary. Pianos are under an incredible amount of tension. If a technician attempts to tune a piano that is very off of A-440 without a pitch raise, the piano is going to rebound right back to the pitch at which it was comfortable. A pitch adjustment means you are tuning the piano two or more times in a row so the piano will remain at the standard pitch and not rebound.
Q: What is action regulation?
A: The action is the term used for all the parts on the piano that make it make music. There are over 9,000 working parts on the inside of the piano. Over time these parts move around, become worn, or break. Regulating the action means adjusting all these parts to make sure every note does exactly what you want it to do, when you want it.
Q: How much is my piano worth?
A: It is impossible to estimate the value of a piano without giving in a full in-person evaluation. There are too many variables when it comes to a piano’s value; we wouldn’t be able to tell you over the phone or through email. Once a technician looks over your piano, checking the soundboard, pinblock, and all other working parts, they can estimate as to what the value is.
Q: My piano is dirty- Can I use household products to clean it?
A: Dust and dirt is abrasive-it can scratch the finish if wiped with a dry cloth. We recommend dusting the piano with a light feather duster. If a feather duster isn’t available, wipe the piano clean with a very soft damp cloth to pick up the dust, followed by a clean dry cloth. Always wipe in long strokes going with the grain of the wood, and be sure to wring out the damp cloth thoroughly so you can’t see any visible moisture on the piano’s case as you’re cleaning. If you can still see smudges on the finish, after you’ve used the method above, put a small amount of mild soap on your damp cloth.
Q: What is a Registered Piano Technician?
A: A Registered Piano Technician is a member of the Piano Technician's Guild who has passed a series of rigorous exams on the maintenance, repair, and tuning of pianos. The Piano Technician's Guild is a professional organization that works to uphold he highest standards of piano technology and educate technicians and piano owners on piano care and maintenance.