Piano Tuning Questions Answered

Sherrie Boone is the tuner for The Piano School

Many parents have no idea how often their pianos should be tuned, and if they didn't grow up in a home where an acoustic piano lived and was cared for, they may be clueless about what is involved in maintaining a piano.

So my piano tuner, Sherrie Boone, was kind enough to answer a list of common questions for me, and she gave me permission to share her responses with you.

Q: How often should most pianos be tuned?
A: Usually once per year.

Q: What time of year should pianos be tuned?
A: Consistency is key. A piano should be tuned at about the same time each year for overall stability. The season really doesn't matter much.

Q: If a piano hasn't been tuned in a long time, will it cost more to tune it?
A: It depends on whether your piano is tuned to A440, the relative pitch of most instruments, and whether you will be using CDs with your piano. If pitch has to be raised to accommodate CDs, then that may take extra time. It cannot be done instantly. However, for many students, it is okay if the piano is simply in tune. Pitch relative to A440 might not matter.

Q: How long does it take to tune a piano?
A: Generally about an hour, unless extra attention is needed.

Q: How much does a typical tuning cost?
A: You get what you pay for. I try to keep my rates reasonable. [Note from me: somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 - $100 is common.]

Q: Should I have a piano humidifier/dehumidifier put into my piano?
A: Absolutely not. These can cause so much damage. In a grand, they are worthless considering the piano is basically an open structure. The only way a piano humidifier/dehumidifier is effective is in an upright that is closed most of the time, for example, in some churches where heating and air conditioning are inconsistent. Otherwise folks forget to unplug in the winter, and the piano gets too dry. I've seen many pianos loose tuning pins and suffer cracked bridges because of installed piano humidifier/dehumidifiers.
[I have no personal experience with piano humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and my piano tuner's opinion is offered here in response to many questions I have received. I am sure opinions vary.]

Q: What's wrong with leaving a piano untuned if you're used to it that way?
A: Well, to be honest, there are many who don't keep their pianos tuned. They get used to the gradual pitch drop which happens over time. Unfortunately, they aren't taking care of their investment, and that becomes apparent if a sale is needed. The other more important factor is that the piano student will not recognize the music played at home as the same as what is played on the teacher's tuned piano.

Q: What are some common mistakes people make with their pianos at home?
A: Most of the people I work with take very good care of their pianos.

Q: Can piano tuners fix keys that are stuck or that won't play?
A: Yes, of course. Although there are some instances where the fix is not worth the effort. For example, if the student is equipped with a totally worthless piano, then it is pointless to pour money into the unfixable. It is worthwhile to have a piano checked before you buy it.

Q: Are there any misconceptions of piano tuning about which people should know?
A: One misconception is that a piano absolutely has to be at A440 pitch. Pianos built before 1920 were scaled to A435. It is okay for a piano to be a little low. However, when a piano is very sharp (above A440), there is more stress on its structure.

Q: Do you have any funny or strange stories about piano tuning that you can share?
A: Years ago at Roanoke College I had a strange floating vibration within a B Steinway grand. Every time the piano was shifted, the vibration changed frequency. It was a mystery. So armed with a flashlight and a flexible inspection mirror, I looked at the soundboard, which is covered by a cast iron plate on a grand except for a few holes here and there. There, on the curved soundboard, was a shiny marble, yellow with stripes, lodged under the plate. I called my mentor Bill Victorine in for help. [Mr. Victorine was my tuner until he passed away a few years ago.] We laughed and poked, and it took three hours to position that marble for pickup. I would have to say that fishing a marble from under a grand plate is the most amazing game of pool imaginable. Think reversed pockets. I still have that marble. Also, please do not let your kids put coins in between the keys and expect a piano to play. :)

One of the most tragic was the story of a piano from Hurricane Katrina in a student's house. I'd only seen one Katrina piano in a warehouse before. It carried a water mark and evidence that the entire piano had been underwater. This is a potentially deadly scenario, if some structure separations occur as a result of water damage. Unbelievably, some dealers sell those to unsuspecting and trusting parents.

Thank you, Sherrie, for taking time to answer these questions for us!