The Piano Tuning Process: How to Tune a Piano

After months or years of playing an acoustic piano, you may notice that it doesn't sound as it used to. Fear not, your instrument isn't necessarily broken, but it needs a tuning! Tuning is essential for pianos, just like other acoustic instruments, to produce the best possible sound. However, unlike guitars or violins, piano tuning is a complex process that requires years of training and practice.

Some people mistakenly believe they can easily tune an acoustic or second-hand piano themselves, but that's not advisable. Let's explore why and delve into the extensive practices of our expert piano tuning technicians to achieve perfect tuning.

On average, an acoustic piano should be tuned at least twice a year to maintain optimum sound quality and tone. Although some pianos can go up to twelve months before significant sound differences arise, regular tuning every six months is recommended to prevent unnecessary tension on the piano.

It's worth noting that certain factors can cause a piano to go out of tune before six months, such as storing it in a room with fluctuating temperatures. Temperature variations can cause the piano's wood to expand and contract, affecting string tensions and throwing the instrument out of tune. To ensure longer-lasting tuning, keep your piano in a stable environment with minimal temperature changes.

Now, let's explore the essential tools needed for piano tuning:

Tuning Lever/Hammer: This tool is used to turn the tuning pins, adjusting the tension of the strings to achieve the correct note. Unlike guitar tuning pegs, piano tuning pins are harder to reach, tighter, and more challenging to turn by hand. The tuning lever provides the necessary leverage for precise tuning.

Mutes/Wedges: These mutes are crucial during piano tuning to prevent other strings from vibrating when adjusting a particular string. The forceful hammer strike on a string during regular piano play can cause neighboring strings to vibrate. Mutes/wedges eliminate these vibrations, ensuring accurate tuning without interference.

Tuning Fork or Electronic Tuning Device (ETD): A tuning fork or electronic tuning device helps the technician identify the current state of a string and its required reference pitch for tuning. Most tuning forks are calibrated to a C or A pitch.

Now, let's dive into the piano tuning process:

Piano tuning is a personalized process, with each technician employing their unique techniques to achieve the desired sound and feel for the client. However, most tunings are based on temperaments within the piano.

Temperament refers to the interval between each note in an octave. Western music commonly uses equal temperament, with equal spacing between the 12 notes in an octave.

To assess the piano's current state and determine the necessary adjustments, technicians use aural tuning, electronic tuning devices, or a combination of both. Aural tuning involves listening for beats produced when two notes are played together.

Beats occur when two notes of different frequencies interfere, resulting in a tremolo-style sound. As the two notes converge on a single frequency, the beating slows and eventually stops. Once the beating ceases, the notes are in unison.

Piano tuning services becomes more intricate due to the presence of multiple strings per note in the middle and treble keys. Achieving perfect unison among the three strings per note is crucial. This meticulous process is repeated for each key, ensuring the entire instrument is in tune.

Let's take a glimpse into the tuning approach used by our technician, Antony Croft:

Antony Croft assesses the existing tuning and overall condition of the piano, playing chords and individual notes to identify any issues.

He removes the front panel (top door) and the key cover (the fall) to access the action and tuning pins.

Using an electronic tuning device, Antony measures the harmonic content of specific notes and examines the resulting tuning curve.

Starting from the lowest note, Antony tunes the single thick bass strings, one per note.

Next, he tunes the bichords (two strings per note) by tuning the lowest one using the ETD and adjusting the second string by ear to match the first.

Antony proceeds to tune the trichords (three strings per note) by tuning the middle string using the ETD and adjusting the surrounding strings to align with the middle one.

Throughout the process, Antony continuously checks octaves, fifths, fourths, and pays particular attention to the breaks where the piano transitions from wound strings to plain strings.

In the mid-range of the piano, Antony evaluates the thirds to ensure they sound as intended. The beating should increase in speed as the pitch rises.

Finally, Antony tests the piano and repeats the process until he achieves complete tuning satisfaction for both himself and the customer.

This overview only scratches the surface of the tuning process and does not encompass the intricate repair work or servicing our technicians perform during a tuning. It provides a glimpse into the attention and expertise required to create the perfect sound.

As mentioned earlier, we strongly discourage attempting to tune your own piano without proper training and equipment. Without expertise, you risk causing unintended damage. Pianos consist of over 12,000 parts, from the tiniest components to the soundboard. Trust the experts for optimal results.

If you're interested in our piano tuning services or want to explore our acoustic piano ranges, don't hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts is here to assist you.

Also Read: 10 Common Piano Tuning Problems and Solutions