Most car owners know the importance of staying on top of oil changes, but many piano owners don’t understand the necessity of staying on top of piano tunings. If you want your piano to last many years and want to minimize the likelihood of replacing parts or having to buy another piano, you need to get it tuned at least once a year.
What is an “out of tune” piano?
Take a look inside your piano. You’ll notice a lot of piano wires (called strings). Those strings have to be precisely adjusted in order for the piano to be in tune. If even one of those strings tightens or relaxes even slightly, you’ll have an out of tune key.
When the strings are precisely adjusted, your piano will sound amazing. Even an old piano can sound really beautiful when it’s in tune. An new or expensive piano can sound terrible if it’s out of tune.
How can I tell if my piano is out of tune?
If you’re not a musician, you probably can’t tell, unless the piano is very out of tune, and even then, some people don’t have the ear to distinguish between very out of tune and in tune.
Don’t worry about whether or not you can hear if your piano is out of tune. Get it tuned at least once a year in the greater Houston/Katy area regardless of how you think it sounds.
Hiring piano tuners vs. piano technicians
Piano tuners or technicians can tune your piano. The main difference between a piano technician is that they have had more training. They are more likely to be able to fix your piano if it needs a repair. Some are even able to do major overhauls or refurbishing of pianos. There will be cost differences most likely between tuners and technicians due to their professional capabilities. Check out Kris Hammond and Michael and Joshua Ello for highly recommended piano technicians.
I hire technicians when I need a piano tuning. Even though I tune my pianos regularly and they are in great shape, technicians often make “tweaks” and other adjustments as they go in addition to tuning to keep pianos in tip-top shape. If a key isn’t responding as it should, if there’s a click, squeak or vibration, etc., a technician will be able to diagnose the problem and fix it properly.
Tips to help keep your piano in tune longer
- Keep a consistent temperature in your home throughout the year, even if you’re not there
- Use the AC in this climate (it helps to maintain the humidity levels) and check the humidity level in the winter – the humidity levels can drop too low when the furnace runs
- Place your piano away from the kitchen, fireplace (if you use it), and exterior doors
- Minimize opening or don’t open the windows near the piano
- Get your piano tuned at least once per year
What happens to pianos if you rarely (or never) get them tuned?
It’s equivalent to waiting too long for oil changes in your car, or never getting oil changes. If you don’t regularly tune your piano, it might:
- Become so out of tune that you need a double tuning (and yes, this might mean double the cost of a regular tuning)
- Fail to stay in tune
- Have parts that break
- Develop issues that require expensive repairs
- Fall apart to the extent that your piano is no longer in working condition
Conclusion
Play it safe and get your piano tuned at least once per year. A piano can last decades if you take care of it but might only last a few years if you neglect it.
Students need to practice on pianos that are in tune. Keep in mind that their musical ear is being developed – for better or worse! – as they practice (I’ve heard some student pianos that are so out of tune, I can’t even tell if the right notes are being played, which means neither can your child.) Students will enjoy practicing and playing their piano more if it’s in tune, and you’ll enjoy hearing it more, too.
If your child says that the teacher’s piano “sounds really different than mine” it’s probably really out of tune, so schedule that tuning ASAP!
