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FAQs
How
often should my piano be tuned?
Piano
manufactures recommend that pianos should be tuned every six months to a year. Pianos go
out of tune whether they are played or not.
There are
three basic
reasons that your piano goes out of tune:
-
Pianos
are acoustic instruments like guitars, clarinets and trumpets. They are affected
by their environment. When the humidity and temperature changes, it causes the
piano to go out of tune. The strings are stretched over a wooden bridge and
soundboard. When the wood fluctuates with the humidity, it changes the tension of
the strings -- causing the piano to go out of tune.
-
You also
have approximately 220 strings pulling about 40,000 lbs. of tension. Because of
the elasticity of the strings, they are continually stretching.
-
How much
you play the piano affects how much the string vibrates, releasing tension.
Like your
car, your piano is a major investment which deserves regular servicing to keep
it working well and preserve its value. Most importantly, the well-maintained
piano sounds better, plays better, and gives you and your family a wealth of
musical pleasure.
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Should
my piano be tuned every time I move it?
Your piano should be tuned when it is moved
from one address to another, since it will be in a new environment with a
different atmosphere. Moving the piano on and off the truck will also affect
the tuning. If you are moving your piano within the same room or same house,
it probably does not need to be tuned.^back to top
 What does "pitch raising" mean and why is it
necessary?
A piano is
designed to sound its best when tuned to A440 (A above middle C vibrates at
exactly 440 cycles per second). It has been designed to perform at a specific
tension, and when strings stretch beyond, or drop below this tension, pitch
adjustments are required to bring it back to A440. Through neglect, pianos may
deviate from this standard, making them unsuitable to play with other
instruments and causing them to lose market value. So, first the tuner must raise all the strings to their proper average tension levels, and only
then can the piano be accurately tuned. This is called a "pitch raise."
A pitch raise requires more time and effort than a regular tuning, and as a
result, the piano technician's fee is a bit higher.
In
addition, lower pitched instruments can compromise the pianist’s ear training.
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Where can I place my piano?
You want to
place your piano where its environment is most stable.
You do not
want to place your piano:
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Over or
next to a heater vent
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Next to
a window or sliding glass door
-
Near the
laundry room or kitchen with a dishwasher
-
Near
doors that open to the outside
Placing
your piano on an outside wall applies to upright pianos. In the SF Bay Area this is
not a real problem if it’s a solid wall. Just allow about 3 inches of air space
between the piano and the wall.
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Is my piano good enough for my child to learn on?
There are
two basic criteria for the piano so your child can have a productive and
enjoyable experience:
-
The
piano must be tuned to concert pitch (A-440) and hold a tuning.
-
The
keys and action must respond properly (be properly regulated).
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 What is regulation and how does it affect my piano's
performance?
Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical
aspects of the piano to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and
settling of cloth, felt, and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wood
and wool parts due to changes in humidity.
The three systems involved in regulation are the action, trapwork and damper
system. The action is the mechanical part of the piano that transfers the motion
of the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings. It is
comprised of over 9,000 parts which require adjustment to critical tolerances to
be able to respond to a pianist's every command. The trapwork is the assemblage
of levers, dowels and springs that connects the pedals to the action affecting
sustain and dynamics. The damper system is the mechanical part of the piano that
stops the vibration of the string when you release the key and is controlled by
the key and pedal systems.
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What are the signs that my piano needs
regulation?
If your instrument displays a lack of
sensitivity or decreased dynamic ranges, it is a candidate for regulation. If
you notice that the keys are not level (some higher or lower than the rest), the
touch is uneven or that the keys are sticking, the need for regulation is
indicated. However, a sluggish action or deep grooves in the hammers indicate
the need for reconditioning or repair. Ask your technicians to show you what
needs adjustment on your piano.
No amount of practice can compensate for a poorly maintained action. Poor
legato touch, chord playing where all notes of the chord don't speak clearly, a
gradual loss of subtlety in phrasing and an inability to execute quick passages
or note repetitions evenly may be the fault of the piano -- not the player.
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Why is reconditioning or rebuilding of the
mechanical systems sometimes necessary prior to regulation?
Prior to regulation, your technician will
assess the condition of your instrument. If it has badly worn parts or if there
has been corrosion or moth damage, the piano may not be able to be properly
regulated without some repair or replacement of parts.
Reconditioning is the process of putting your piano back in good condition by
cleaning, repairing, and adjusting your instrument for maximum performance with
replacement parts only where specifically indicated. If you piano has
deteriorated beyond simple reconditioning, it may need to be rebuilt.
Rebuilding involves complete disassembly, inspection and repair as necessary
with replacement of all worn or deteriorated parts. The piano is then
reassembled, tested and adjusted to the same or similar tolerance and
performance as when it was new.
Your piano is a major investment which deserves to be protected through regular
servicing by a qualified technician. Properly maintained, your piano will sound
its best and give you and your family a lifetime of enjoyment
For more about piano regulation,
visit the
Piano Technicians Guild website.^back to top
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