Does My Piano Need Tuning?

What You Don’t Know Can…

“We haven’t scheduled a piano tuning in years. I wonder if it needs it.”

That’s a pretty common question, unfortunately. We say that because a person asking it represents a vast percentage of piano owners who haven’t been properly informed as to the proper care of their instrument.

Have you asked that question? If so, the answer is “Yes, your piano needs to be tuned.”

Why do we say that with authority? You don’t have to take our word for it. Ask any experienced piano tuner or technician and you will get the rightful advice.

Why Schedule A Piano Tuning?

One of the biggest misunderstandings shared by uninformed piano owners is that the only reason a piano needs tuning is so that it will sound better. This explains why so many unplayed pianos collecting dust in living rooms across the globe remain neglected.

Time and time again, a piano owner will confirm this way of thinking with “We haven’t tuned it because no one plays it.”

That’s a huge mistake.

Imagine letting your automobile sit in the driveway for months (let alone years) because you have no reason to drive anywhere. What do you suppose you would be faced with once you decided to take a trip?

Out Of Sight Out Of…

Okay, your piano doesn’t have a battery, but it does consist of about 12,000 parts, approximately 10,000 of which are moveable parts. Yes, they need care. Most of them are not visible. An “out of sight, out of mind” approach isn’t conducive to them receiving it, regrettably.

Let’s go further by exposing one of the biggest reasons that piano needs regular tuning at least once a year. Your piano has about 230 strings. The amount of pressure maintained by the tension of those strings is in the vicinity of 19 tons!

All that pressure helps to maintain a slight “crown” (a curvature) to your piano’s soundboard. When that tension is not maintained for an extended amount of time, that crown suffers by “relaxing” out of it’s intended shape. Cracked soundboards often result from such neglect.

In addition, those strings also relax, causing the piano to go out of tune. The longer they go without being stretched with a tuning, the tougher it is to get it back in tune. If and when a piano tuner is called on, the possibility of string breakage is increased.

Ignorance Is Expensive

These issues, of course, can lead to greater expense. Ultimately, the cost of not having your piano regularly can far outweigh the cost of those recommended tunings.

Tune Your Piano Regularly

Your piano, at some point, involved a significant purchase. As with any worthy acquisition,  it makes good sense to protect that investment. Making arrangements for a local piano tuner/technician to pay a visit would likely be a good move.