Basics of Piano Service

Types of Service | How Often to Tune | Pianos Overdue for Tuning

Piano technicians generally perform periodic adjustments to three aspects of the piano: pitch (tuning), tone (voicing), and touch (regulation).

Types of Service

Tuning
Tuning is the adjustment of the pitch of the strings and of the musical intervals between the notes. Pianos are designed to be tuned to the international pitch standard of A-440 (the A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second).

Voicing
The adjustment of tone is called voicing. Over time, the tone changes as the felt hammers wear. The voicing process involves working with hammer felt to adjust the piano's dynamic range to its optimal level.

Regulation
The adjustment of the keyboard and action components is called regulation. This adjustment includes evening the weight and responsiveness of the keys throughout the piano.

Of these services, tuning is the most often required, as it is essential that the piano be maintained at pitch. I complete a standard tuning in 40 to 60 minutes.

How Often to Tune Your Piano

In the San Francisco Bay Area:

Most in-home pianos that receive light to medium use can hold a tuning adequately for about a year, once the piano is stable.
If the piano is exposed to frequent changes in climate, such as along the coast, or is exposed to direct heat or sunlight, such as an outside wall or a sunny window, the piano might need to be tuned more frequently.
New or restrung pianos need more frequent tunings before the piano's pitch is stable enough to tune only once a year.
Pianos that receive heavy use, such as teaching pianos and school pianos require more frequent tuning on a regular basis.

For more information, including some piano manufacturers' recommendations, see the Piano Technician's Guild article about how frequently to tune a piano.

Pianos Not Serviced in Over a Year

Many pianos that have not been tuned for a year or more have lost some of their 18 tons of structural tension and require what is known as a pitch raise. When a pitch raise is performed, the piano strings are retensioned and then tuned. I do this in one sitting and take slightly longer than a standard tuning. The cost for a pitch raise is moderately higher than for a standard tuning.

It is important for a piano to be tuned to standard pitch. When a piano is below pitch, its value as an ear-training tool in piano instruction is compromised. In addition, a piano that is below pitch or out of tune is undesirable when playing with other instruments or singers.

Tuning	Tuning is the adjustment of the pitch of the strings and of the musical intervals between the notes. Pianos are designed to be tuned to the international pitch standard of A-440 (the A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second).
Voicing	The adjustment of tone is called voicing. Over time, the tone changes as the felt hammers wear. The voicing process involves working with hammer felt to adjust the piano's dynamic range to its optimal level.
Regulation	The adjustment of the keyboard and action components is called regulation. This adjustment includes evening the weight and responsiveness of the keys throughout the piano.