FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET MY PIANO TUNED?

For the typical home piano, it's best to schedule a tuning every six months. Rehearsal spaces, venues, churches, schools, and recording studios often have their pianos tuned more frequently.  Making sure to schedule a tuning at least twice a year will keep your piano from needing a pitch raise and improve your piano's long term stability. 

WHAT IS A PITCH RAISE?

a pitch raise is a preliminary rough tuning that helps to better prepare a piano for the follow up fine tuning. Your piano will need a pitch raise if it has recently been moved and not yet tuned or if it is 10 cents above or below in pitch (if it has been over a year since your piano's last tuning, then you'll most likely need a pitch raise in addition to the fine tuning).

How long should i wait to schedule a tuning after my piano has been moved?

After moving, a piano should be allowed to acclimate to its new environment for at least two weeks prior to tuning. Otherwise, the piano will likely go out of tune very quickly and you will have to spend more money.

WHAT CAUSES MY PIANO TO GO OUT OF TUNE?

There are a number of factors that contribute to a piano going out of tune, the main ones being atmospheric changes, location, and time.

Pianos can be very susceptible to swings in humidity which cause the wood to expand and contract. Constant swelling and shrinking combined with the thousands of pounds of tension created by the strings, causes the piano to quickly slip out of tune.

The location of your piano in your home is also critical to maintaining proper tuning stability. Keeping your piano away from windows, ac units, radiators, or fireplaces is a good way to maintain the piano's pitch, preventing drastic fluctuations in humidity. Direct sunlight should always be avoided. 

Some believe that if a piano has been tuned years ago but has rarely been played, it will remain relatively in tune. Unfortunately this isn't the case. Cyclical weather patterns will still cause your piano to fall in pitch over time. By scheduling regular tunings and caring properly for your piano, you can avoid putting unnecessary stress on the bridges and soundboard and enjoy an in-tune piano year-round.