A question that is frequently being asked today is ‘does a piano need to be tuned?’. The fastest answer to that question is YES, it would be best if you tuned your piano. Even though many people might think the question is just about having basic knowledge, it is actually a significant concern and worry for piano players.
Players who are new to playing the piano fall in the category of people who ask such questions because they have no idea tuning a piano, making it impossible for them to get the best out of their piano.
Worst case scenario is they could end up damaging the piano, so if you feel confused about if a piano needs tuning, you shouldn’t worry because you are not the only one with the concern. All questions you have about tuning a piano will b answered in this review, and you will also be able to tell if your piano needs tuning or not.
You will also learn how many times you will have to tune your piano and take the proper steps when tuning a piano.
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Does A Piano Need To Be Tuned
Just like we mentioned earlier, a piano and any other string instruments require to be tuned. Music instrument experts and manufacturers recommend tuning your piano and also ensuring your piano gets serviced at the right time.
It doesn’t matter if this piano is being played or not, but what you really must do is tune your piano still. It doesn’t matter how old your piano is, but what matters is as long as the strings are in good shape, the instrument needs to be tuned.
The next question you might have on your mind is ‘why is it necessary to tune a piano?’. Piano’s are made up of strings and woods, and these strings have lots of tension in them after they come out of the manufacturing process.
The first couple of years you use the piano, the strings tend to stretch, causing the string tension not to remain the way they were after manufacture.
This requires the piano to be tuned, but there are few other reasons why you need to tune your piano.
Humidity And Temperature
If you live in a place with high humidity and unstable temperature, your wardrobe isn’t the only thing you have to worry about.
If you have your piano positioned in an open space, close to a door, or close to a window, fluctuating temperature and high humidity can cause the piano wood to contract and expand.
You will also notice pressure in your piano strings because of the environmental changes, causing tension in the strings to decrease.
Limiting the amount of moist a piano receives and regulating temperature is the fastest way to deal with this problem, but altering air condition requirements and changing your piano position can also help salvage the situation.
Vibrations And Moving
Vibrations can cause a piano string to stretch if you move the piano around constantly or if the piano is being used consistently.
Pressing a piano key would cause the corresponding hammer to strike, and this strike produces a vibration that fluctuates string pressure, causing the vibration to run along the line.
Strings tend to lose tension faster if moving your piano, and vibrations happen frequently. As a result of this moving and vibrations, you will have to tune the piano very soon.
How Can You Tune Your Piano?
One of the most popular ways to tune your piano is getting an expert to do it for you. You also can do it manually but having a professional do it for you offers a first-class service.
Professionals have the required experience, skill, and expertise to tune pianos of different ages and types.
If you need to find an expert to tune a piano for you, go on the internet and search for the nearest piano expert tuners living close to you.
Being particular about geographic locations is essential because the closer you have a tuner to your, the lesser time it will take for your piano to get tuned.
Having a tuner close by also means the tuner will not charge much, and after finding a tuner, look up their reviews and profile to be sure they are what you want.
What Happens When You Don’t Tune Your Piano?
Ugly sounds are the first thing you will notice if your piano is out of tune. You will also detect pitch abnormality, differences in chord and notes, and uncomfortable sounds as well.
Furthermore, a piano that isn’t tuned will have overstretched strings, and you stand at risk of damaging your piano if you continue playing it in this bad state. This brings us to the question, ‘how often does one need to tune a piano?’.
Ideally, piano manufacturers and experts would recommend tuning your piano four times yearly. You can tune it twice the following year, but if you can’t regularly tune your piano, ensure it is tuned at least once every year.
Even though you have an idea of how often you should tune your piano, there are a couple of signs that suggest your piano needs to be tuned. The signs are
- Detecting an incorrect pitch
- Hearing wavering and uncomfortable sounds
- If the piano starts producing unblended octaves
- If the major chords do not sound harmonious
Detecting any of these signs listed above tells you your piano needs to be tuned and playing your piano while detecting any of these signs might lead to more damage being done to the piano.
Does Playing The Piano Make You Smarter?
How Much Will It Cost To Tune A Piano?
Just like we mentioned earlier, tuning a piano isn’t an expensive thing to do. The cost of tuning a piano will depend hugely on its last tuning and how old the piano is.
Suppose you have tuned your piano in a long time; it will be more complicated, time-consuming, and also expensive to tune it at that point. On average, tuning a piano costs between sixty-five dollars to two hundred dollars.
Summary
Tuning a piano is something that you must-do if you own a piano, and the same goes for every other stringed instrument. If you decide to tune your piano, remember it requires professional service and audience, and do not forget that there is a time frame for you to get your piano tuned.
You might have to make an exception in some cases, but once you realize it needs tuning, hire a professional to get it done for you. Failure to tune your piano will lead to significant consequences.
