3 of the most commonly asked questions about
Piano Tuning are:
1) How often should I have my piano tuned?
The two main factors that drive a piano out of tune are weather
change and how much the piano is played, but the age of the
piano has an effect also. Pianos newer than 5 years go out of
tune much faster than older pianos and may need to be tuned as
much as 4 times a year for the first few years. Pianos older
than 30 years may not have such great action or tone, but often
hold their tune very well. If you practice more than an hour a
day, you'll probably need to have it tuned at least twice a year
to keep it sounding good.
Unless your piano is just another piece of furniture, you should
have it tuned at least once a year. If it's used every day,
twice a year will keep your piano sounding good anytime you or a
guest sits down to play it. If you are a vocalist, string
player, or that rare pianist with a very sensitive ear, 3-4
times a year will keep it at concert pitch at all times.
2) My piano isn't being used. Do I still need to have it tuned?
Although it might seem unnecessary, it's important to keep a
piano at least close to concert pitch, even if it's not being
used. When your piano is in tune, a combined string tension of
about 20 tons is exerted on the piano's structure. As the piano
goes out of tune, the tension of the strings changes to varying
degrees in different parts of the piano. If the tension becomes
too uneven from one section to another, undue stress is exerted
on the piano's frame. Also, a piano is much more difficult, and
sometimes impossible to tune well after a period of neglect. For
these reasons every piano should be tuned at least annually.
3) How much is it going to cost me to tune my piano?
Cost depends on condition of the piano and time involved.
Basic tune-ups start at $80. Jimmy is a piano expert; he will
check the year it was created and assess the condition of the
piano.
Call (508) 429-7772 to get your piano back into concert
condition.
- Bill Calhoun, piano tuner at the Newport Jazz Festival
