FAQs

How often do I need to have my piano tuned? Why does it go out of tune?

Pianos should be regularly tuned every 6 months, regardless of how often they are played. New pianos should be tuned 2-4 times during the first year depending on how much prep was put into them from manufacturer and dealer. Concert instruments will require an even higher frequency of tuning. Because your piano contains materials such as wood and felt, it is subject to change with climatic conditions. Extreme swings from hot to cold or dry to wet cause its materials to swell and contract, affecting tone, pitch, and action response or touch.

“What is a pitch raise?”

A pitch raise is simply a quick, rough tuning designed not for accuracy but rather to reset the piano back to an overall, proper pitch. Pianos are designed to sound their best when middle A is at 440 Hz. A pitch raise precedes a regular tuning so that stability can be achieved. Unless the piano is consistently tuned, a pitch raise is often necessary.

What is regulation?

Periodically your piano will require adjustment of its mechanical parts to compensate for the effects of wear, the compacting and settling of cloth, felt and buckskin, as well as dimensional changes in wooden and wool parts due to changes in relative humidity. This series of adjustments, known as regulation, involves three systems of your piano: the action, trapwork, and damper system. The action is the mechanical part of the piano that permits efficient transfer of power from the fingers on the keys to the hammers that strike the strings. Because the piano's action will go out of adjustment slowly over time, you may not notice accumulating sluggishness or unevenness as it occurs.

What is a Registered Piano Technician?

A Registered Piano Technician has passed a series of rigorous examinations on the maintenance, repair, and tuning of pianos. Only RPTs are authorized by The Piano Technicians Guild to display the logo containing the words “Registered Piano Technician”.