Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I tune my piano?
The answer to this question depends on your needs as a player, the condition of your instrument’s pinblock and how consistent the humidity is kept for your instrument. Due to Chicago’s climate, the general recommendation is to tune twice a year. If the piano is new, many manufacturers recommend tuning four times the very first year to stabilize its tuning. Recording studios and venues on the other hand, often tune before each performance.
Where should I place my piano?
Often, people like to place their piano in front of their windows. It’s an understandable choice, it’s a beautiful instrument, why not show it off? Unfortunately, this is not always the best place for the instrument. If the windows are often opened or left in direct sunlight, both of these things can have a negative impact on the stability of your piano’s tuning and action parts. Avoid placing them too close to any radiators and/or on top of any vents, as this can also impact stability. In terms of sound, pianos sound best when they’re placed against an inner wall. Grand pianos should be parallel to the wall, allowing the bass frequencies to bounce off and project into the room, while the treble sound radiates outwards. For upright pianos, placing them directly against a wall is usually best due to their design
How can I prepare the piano for a piano tuning?
Nothing is required, but it is helpful to the technician to have the piano cleared of any books or decorations before they arrive. Giving notes on any mechanical issues other than the piano’s tuning prior to a visit is also helpful, this way they can bring any extra parts or tools that might be needed for their visit. If possible, plan for an hour or two of silence so the technician can focus on the tuning.
How do I clean my piano?
Each piano is different, some are made with different finishes that require different products to make them shine. Harsh chemicals can be corrosive to your strings and tuning pins, so if you need a deep cleaning, you can schedule one with your technician. They’ll have the proper tools and solutions needed to make your piano look its best.
What is a Piano Life Saver System, and why should I purchase one?
A Piano Life Saver System maintains consistent humidity for your instrument and can be installed by your technician. But why get one and is it worth it? Pianos are largely made of wood, and wood is highly sensitive to changes in humidity. Even what might seem like small fluctuations in humidity to you, can have a major impact on the health of your piano. Over time, if these conditions are overlooked, cracks can begin to form in the soundboard, the pinblock, and other action parts. This is because when it is humid, the wood begins to swell and when it is dry the wood contracts. This can make keys sticky or sluggish. But how does this affect the tuning? Tuning pins will ideally sit tightly in the pinblock, but when the wood surrounding them swells and contracts, it pushes and pulls on those pins and the string’s tension is disrupted. This is why in the summer, pianos often go sharp and in the winter they go flat. With a Piano Life Saver System, you can ensure consistent humidity for your instrument as it has both a humidifier and dehumidifier attached to a smart bracket that turns on the appropriate system as soon as it’s needed. It is a worthwhile investment for the piano enthusiast and professional alike and provides a much more stable tuning for longer periods of time.
Why does it matter that my piano hasn’t been tuned in over two years, and why does it cost extra to tune?
Pianos go out of tune over time, but when neglected for longer periods of time, the pitch also drops. What this means is that the tension in the strings have dropped throughout the piano. Most modern pianos should be kept around concert pitch, which is considered to be A440. A440 reflects the pitch in Hz that the A note in the fourth octave should be at. The rest of tuning revolves around this pitch and what temperament you set the piano at. So if A440 drops even a few Hz, you can expect the rest of piano to have fallen significantly. Bringing these notes back to pitch often requires a couple tunings and carefully calculating overpull on the pins, so the technician can avoid breaking strings. Since it takes extra time to pull this off, we charge extra.