How is a piano tuned?
ANSWERED ON THIS PAGE:
How much does tuning cost?
Is my piano up to pitch?
Why does my piano go out of tune? - PART 1
How often does my piano need tuning?
How can I help keep my piano in tune?
Why does my piano go out of tune? - PART 2
How is a piano tuned?
Why aural tuning?
Why does my piano go out of tune?
- PART 2
HOW CAN I HELP KEEP MY PIANO IN TUNE?
Soundboard crown swelling and falling can be lessened with proper humidity control. I install the Humidity Control System that you can learn about at www.pianolifesaver.com [picture courtesy of same]. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
Tuning
WHY AURAL TUNING?
Many pianists prefer aural tuning over electronic tuning. With aural tuning, notes are set in comparison with other notes by listening to partials; that is hearing and setting the beat rates of 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, etc., instead of setting each individual string to a visual computer readout (electronic tuning). - Historical temperament tuning is also available. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
HOW MUCH DOES TUNING COST?
IS MY PIANO UP TO PITCH?
If your piano has received regular tunings and is up to pitch, then only one tuning should be needed. Current cost is $155 plus NY state sales tax. Compare the "A" on your piano to the tone "A 440 Hz".
If your piano is not up to pitch but needs to be, then an extra tuning may be necessary on this first visit. Cost would not exceed twice the standard fee this first time. This will make up for all the years of tunings that the piano has missed.
However, if your piano does not need to be brought up to pitch; (or cannot be, due to brittle strings), then it can be put in tune with itself with one tuning. This may be a good compromise unless the piano is being used for voice lessons or if it is being played with other instruments. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
HOW OFTEN DOES MY PIANO NEED TUNING?
Why are regular tunings needed? Regular tunings are a must: twice a year to keep up with these changes, although some manufacturers recommend tunings more often. [picture courtesy of www.pianolifesaver.com see below]
HIGH HUMIDY CONDITIONS: The Pitch becomes SHARP due to swelling of soundboard
VERY DRY CONDITIONS: The Pitch becomes FLAT due to lessening of crown [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
Why aural tuning?
Why does my piano go out of tune? - PART 1
How often does my piano need tuning?
Submit your Question
on the CONTACT page!
WHY DOES MY PIANO GO OUT OF TUNE? - PART 2
String tension is always trying to unwind your tuning pins. If a tuning pin unwinds even a small amount, the pitch of that string goes flat. What tries to hold the tuning pins from unwinding? The tuning pins are inserted into a hole in a laminated block of hardwood called the "pin block". Notice the 8 or 9 laminations comprising the pin block pictured. The hole that is drilled in the pin block is smaller than the diameter of the tuning pin. It is the pressure of the pin block around the sides of the tuning pin that keeps the pin from unwinding.
However, with the seasonal changes in humidity described above, the wooden fibers in the pin block also swell and contract ever so slightly across the surface of the round tuning pin, allowing the tuning pin to unwind a small amount with each seasonal change, causing the string to go flat. This is a one-way cumulative change: always unwinding. After years of neglect, the piano often ends up far below A-440. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
HOW IS A PIANO TUNED?
Tuning adjusts the tension of each string manually, with minute and precise tuning pin adjustments.
With 3 strings each for most notes, there are over 200 strings that need adjusting. The red strip felts are temporarily inserted so that only one string vibrates on each note. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
Submit your Question
on the CONTACT page!
WHY DOES MY PIANO GO OUT OF TUNE? - PART 1
Some reasons are: (1) new strings stretching, (2) tuning pins slipping, (3) but mostly because of the soundboard crown swelling and falling due to changes in humidity. Soundboard crown? Yes... your soundboard is slightly curved against the strings. The strings push against the soundboard, while the soundboard crown pushes against the strings via the bridge.
Imagine the curve on the top of a violin body swelling... upon which is mounted the bridge... over which the strings are stretched... Summer humidity causes the curved crown to swell, pushing the bridge up and stretching the strings sharp. The reverse happens during the winter dryness... In the northeast, with humidity ranging from 90% in the summer to 10% in the winter, the piano goes out of tune. [HOME] [TOP OF PAGE]
How can I help keep my piano in tune?
How much does tuning cost? Is my piano up to pitch?
Complete Piano Service
John S. Barford
Copyright John Barford. All rights reserved.