Piano Care FAQs
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How often should
my piano be tuned?
The standard and typical manufacture warranty recommendation is
a minimum of two (2) times a year. More often is not uncommon with
regular vigorous use, also due to condition and age. New pianos
may need four (4) tunings in the first year, as per typical manufacture
warranty, because the strings stretch and the wood is adapting to
the pressure.
Do pianos need
tuning if they're not played much?
Yes. There's a tremendous amount of tension in a piano, which is
gradually released over time, making pianos go flat. Each string
has about 150 pounds of pressure on it. With 220 strings in a typical
piano, two or three strings on most notes, there's about sixteen
tons of tension. Pianos that are not maintained regularly may require
additional service to bring back to standard pitch and sound good.
Does it harm
a piano not to tune it?
No, if brought back to standard pitch by a qualified tuner. If a
piano has not been tuned regularly, it may need what is called a
"pitch raise" which is a procedure to properly and safely bring
a piano sound back to normal. If a piano has not been tuned for
some time, it may need two or more tunings over a period of months
for it to stabilize back to standard pitch.
Other than tuning,
what other maintenance may be needed?
A piano has over 9,000 parts, many in motion repeatedly while being
played. Minor repairs may be needed from time to time due to "sticking
keys", broken strings, or other malfunctioning part; this is not
uncommon regardless of manufacture or age. Action Regulation will
be in order after some years to adjust the myriad of parts back
to specifications which greatly affects the touch and responsiveness
of your piano. Voicing may be an option if the sound or tone of
your piano is not what it used to be; felt hammers that have experienced
years of use may need to be filed or replaced.
Does moving
a piano throw it out of tune?
Maybe. It's not so much the move but the change of environment;
humidity and temperature. A carefully moved piano across a room
or in a building may be fine however a distance move by truck will
most likely require the piano to be tuned. When the humidity changes,
the piano will gradually adapt to it, taking at least two to three
weeks to adjust to a new environment. You should wait that long
before having it tuned.
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