What is piano tuning?

A modern piano is a feat of engineering. It has 88 notes, thousands of individual moving parts and 244 strings. These strings are strung across an iron frame under a huge amount of pressure. Tuning is the act of adjusting the tension of each of these strings to restore the piano to the preferred pitch so that it sounds nice and can be used to accompany other instruments. Not only does the pitch of each note have to be altered, but the strings of each note have to sound exactly the same - this is why it can sometimes take over an hour to properly tune a piano! 

How do I know when my piano is out of tune?

A piano starts to slip out of tune as the strings lose tension. This can be for a lot of reasons, but the most common culprit is time. The easiest way of telling if your piano needs tuning is when individual notes start to sound discordant, or you notice a touch of the ‘honky-tonk’ about the tone. 

How often should I have my piano tuned?

Your piano should be professionally tuned every six months. Not only will this stop the piano from slipping drastically out of tune, but it means any problems with the piano mechanism itself can be spotted and fixed before they start to affect the sound or play. 

What’s the difference between a repair and a service?

A repair is hopefully a ‘one-off’ fixing of a problem or broken part; this could be replacing a broken string or a key-top or sorting out a loud pedal. 

A service is a necessary part of regular piano maintenance. Much like servicing a car, servicing a piano involves removing the interior mechanism and going through the individual components of the piano itself to make sure everything is in good condition and working to the best of its ability.   

Why does my piano need servicing?

Wear and tear, time and use can slow a piano down: the felt hammers are worn down by contact with the strings; natural dust and dirt build up inside the piano mechanism, making it sluggish; individual components slide out of position. A service once every three to five years rectifies all these problems and nips any potential new ones in the bud, allowing you to enjoy your piano to the full. 

How do I find my piano’s serial number?

Every piano is issued with a serial number unique to its make and manufacturer. If you are getting your piano valued, or want to find out its date of manufacture, then you will need to know its serial number. This will be a string of numbers, usually between six and eight digits long for most modern pianos, and is almost always located on the frame. 

On upright pianos, the serial number can usually be found embossed or decalled onto the frame inside the piano, either in the top right or left hand corner.

 On grand pianos, the serial number is most commonly found near the tuning pins, under the music desk. 

Can you perform valuations?

I don’t perform valuations. However, I can recommend businesses that perform that service should you require them.