Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my piano get tuned?
If your piano isn't getting played regularly, one annual tuning is still recommended to keep the piano's string tension where it needs to be. When pianos have not been tuned in a long time, they likely will require a pitch raise before a fine tuning, and stability becomes more difficult to achieve. There is a higher risk of string breakage in performing a pitch raise, as well. Therefore, all pianos do best when serviced at least annually. If you play your piano regularly, having your piano tuned twice per year is recommended by most piano manufacturers. In Minnesota, our extreme climate throws pianos out of tune with the dramatic changes in humidity. If you want your piano to continue sounding beautiful throughout the seasonal changes of the year, then have it tuned twice annually. Finally, if your piano is brand new or has just been restrung, it will initially require even more frequent tunings during the first year as the piano strings stretch out.
Why does a piano go out of tune?
Changes in humidity are the number one factor, by far. When it is humid, the piano's wood swells, raising the overall pitch slightly. Low humidity has the opposite effect on the piano, and the piano's pitch falls. The pitch of each string in the piano changes unevenly, and the longer the time period since the last tuning, the more noticeable this becomes. Climate control, such as the Piano Life Saver System, can help with this, and in many cases, allow more time between tunings. I am a certified installer of the Piano Life Saver system and am willing to personally discuss your options with you,.
Can my piano be tuned to standard pitch if it hasn't been tuned in many years?
Yes, but more than one tuning will almost always be necessary before the fine tuning. Pianos hold thousands of pounds of tension divided up between each of the 220+ strings, and when that tension isn't maintained via regular tunings, the piano goes way flat. A piano that is "way flat" like this needs its pitch corrected before it is fine-tuned. To make the fine tuning as stable as possible, it is best for the initial tuning to occur about three weeks before the fine-tuning to allow the strings to stretch and get used to the new tension. If absolutely necessary, multiple tunings can be performed at the same appointment, but the tuning will be less stable. It is important to understand that the chance of string breakage also increases when old, brittle strings are raised to standard pitch.
If your piano isn't getting played regularly, one annual tuning is still recommended to keep the piano's string tension where it needs to be. When pianos have not been tuned in a long time, they likely will require a pitch raise before a fine tuning, and stability becomes more difficult to achieve. There is a higher risk of string breakage in performing a pitch raise, as well. Therefore, all pianos do best when serviced at least annually. If you play your piano regularly, having your piano tuned twice per year is recommended by most piano manufacturers. In Minnesota, our extreme climate throws pianos out of tune with the dramatic changes in humidity. If you want your piano to continue sounding beautiful throughout the seasonal changes of the year, then have it tuned twice annually. Finally, if your piano is brand new or has just been restrung, it will initially require even more frequent tunings during the first year as the piano strings stretch out.
Why does a piano go out of tune?
Changes in humidity are the number one factor, by far. When it is humid, the piano's wood swells, raising the overall pitch slightly. Low humidity has the opposite effect on the piano, and the piano's pitch falls. The pitch of each string in the piano changes unevenly, and the longer the time period since the last tuning, the more noticeable this becomes. Climate control, such as the Piano Life Saver System, can help with this, and in many cases, allow more time between tunings. I am a certified installer of the Piano Life Saver system and am willing to personally discuss your options with you,.
Can my piano be tuned to standard pitch if it hasn't been tuned in many years?
Yes, but more than one tuning will almost always be necessary before the fine tuning. Pianos hold thousands of pounds of tension divided up between each of the 220+ strings, and when that tension isn't maintained via regular tunings, the piano goes way flat. A piano that is "way flat" like this needs its pitch corrected before it is fine-tuned. To make the fine tuning as stable as possible, it is best for the initial tuning to occur about three weeks before the fine-tuning to allow the strings to stretch and get used to the new tension. If absolutely necessary, multiple tunings can be performed at the same appointment, but the tuning will be less stable. It is important to understand that the chance of string breakage also increases when old, brittle strings are raised to standard pitch.