![]() In any case, we don’t see any compelling reason to choose a tuner based on whether or not he or she uses electronic tuning equipment. Most tuners will use electronic devices when tuning pianos, but some eschew them. For this reason, tuners usually make adjustments by ear as they work to ensure that the interaction between notes within each octave actually sounds correct, even if the notes are not perfectly in tune according to an electronic device. If keys are tuned simply to match their respective pitch levels, the piano may still sound out of tune. Every piano is acoustically unique, and every piano is placed in different acoustical settings, so every piano produces a slightly different sound, even if every key is tuned to match perfectly its assigned pitch. What Tuners DoĪlmost all piano tuners adjust pianos according to the “A=440 Hz” standard, which means that when A-above-middle-C is played, the tone produced equals 440 Hertz (a standard, universal benchmark for tuning pianos, violins, and other instruments).īut tuning a piano isn’t as straightforward as just making sure that all notes match fixed pitches on the musical scale. But if you have the tuning done rarely enough, the higher fees for the occasional tuning will be less than the cumulative costs of frequent tunings. ![]() Several piano tuners we spoke with warned that if a customer waits until a piano is noticeably out of tune, it may take at least twice as long-with at least double the cost-to correct it. But keep in mind that letting your piano become grossly out of tune will result in a higher bill when you finally have it corrected, since the piano tuner will have to adjust it at least two times: once to raise the overall pitch of the instrument, then another time to retune it. If you play irregularly-or if you just don’t mind if your piano is slightly out of tune-you may have it tuned less often. ![]() Most musicians who play regularly have their pianos tuned twice a year: once in the spring and again in the fall. #Electronic piano tuner softwareTuning equipment and software used by professionals cost much more (and many tuners we spoke with warned that cheaper, basic equipment isn’t accurate). Basic electronic tuners cost less than $50 and tuning software packages (used in conjunction with a computer equipped with a microphone) cost between $75 and $300. If you’re not confident that you can tell by ear whether your piano needs to be tuned, you can use an electronic tuner or software. Another way to tell by ear is to use a pitch fork (basic models cost between $20 and $60). One way to judge is to listen carefully for inaccurate notes while playing simple scales and chords: notes that are out of tune will more easily reveal themselves when played before or after other, in-tune notes, or as part of common chords. Since a piano becomes out of tune very slowly over time, you can actually become accustomed to the sound it creates-even if that sound is out of tune. It may be difficult for you to judge on your own whether or not your piano needs to be tuned. ![]() Ultimately, your own tolerance and usage will determine how often you’ll want to have your piano tuned. But some pianos will become out of tune faster than others because of their construction and the differences in humidity levels from region to region, home to home, and even room to room. Most experts recommend tuning once or twice per year. Unfortunately, there’s not a great deal of consensus among piano manufacturers and tuners about how frequently pianos used in homes should be tuned. That’s why pianos used in concert halls and recording studios are tuned before each session. Since humidity levels change almost constantly, technically speaking, it is virtually impossible to keep a piano perfectly in tune. That, in turn, tightens or loosens the string tension, causing the piano to become out of tune. As changing humidity levels make a soundboard expand or contract, the bridge is raised or lowered. Soundboards are very delicate, and attract and lose moisture easily. ![]() Similar to most stringed instruments, sound produced by a piano’s strings is amplified as a result of the vibrations being carried across a wooden “bridge” to a soundboard, which is a long, thin, wooden piece set into the piano. The sound produced by a vibrating piano wire alone is pretty weak. Why Do It? How Often?Ī piano creates sounds when its padded hammers, connected to its keys, strike metal wires of different gauges and lengths. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” Well, what you get out of a piano may also depend on how often you tune it. You may have heard the saying: “Life is like a piano. ![]()
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