Q & A about piano tuning

My piano has been ignored for a long time and is really bad...will it cost more to tune it?

Probably not, unless you really need it up to concert pitch, known as "A-440" pitch (the frequency in cycles per second of the A above middle C).

When a piano is really flat, most often I suggest at the beginning of the tuning that we raise a small amount and "even out" the pitch across the keyboard, and then continue to raise the pitch in subsequent tunings until it is up to concert pitch.

If you have an immediate need for A-440 pitch, there is a different methodology I use for rapid, drastic pitch-raising. That type of tuning takes longer and costs more, and most people opt for the gradual approach. But, if you are playing with another instrument (at a fixed pitch) or are a singer and don't want to live in a fool's paradise, this method is sometimes your best choice. It generally runs about $40 more than a standard tuning.
What makes a piano go out of tune?

Pianos mainly go out of tune due to climate changes. High relative humidy tends to increase the "bow" or "crown" on the sound board, causing pianos to go sharp; dryness tends to flatten out the board, causing pianos to go flat or drop in pitch. Frequent fluctuations put uneven tensions on strings and tuning pins causing further drifting.
Does playing it more make it go out of tune faster?

Minimally. Actually, climate changes have far more effect on tuning than playing it does. Unless you are banging pretty hard, normal playing has a relatively small effect on tuning. In fact, playing a piano is the best thing you can do for it! Keeps everything moving and vibrating! Makes for a happy, healthy piano!
Are some pianos un-tunable?

Occasionally I run into a piano that cannot be tuned. This happens when the tuning pins are no longer tight enough to hold the tension of the strings, so they slip, causing strings to go flat quickly. Tuning pins are about 2.5" long, and go into a block of laminated maple usually right behind the metal plate. When this wood dry-rots or wears over time, pins can become so loose that the piano can't be tuned.

This may not be the end of the world. Sometimes pins can be banged in a little further, gripping some fresh wood, allowing tuning. There are solutions that can be dripped into a pin block that can help restore the grip. Another solution is to replace slipping pins with over-sized pins. These are all temporary fixes but sometimes you can get several more years out of a piano this way.
How often should I have my piano tuned?

Twice per year is generally recommended; but honestly, pianos here in New Mexico tend to stay more stable than the more humid regions of the country. So, for some older, stable instruments, often once a year is enough for most clients. Really depends on the stability of the instrument, where it is placed in the home, and how sensitive you may be to slight changes in tuning. (Of course, there's nothing like a freshly tuned piano!)
Do you do repairs? (Sticky and broken keys? Broken strings? etc?)

I do fix keys and strings, although I appreciate knowing this at the time of making the appointment so I can allot extra time for this. There may be an extra charge for some repairs, but some just fall in the normal activity of tuning, like minor key-easing or alignments of hammers, etc. Broken strings sometimes have to be ordered custom. Things I do not do include working on archaic piano designs (square grands, butterfly actions, etc.), and I do not work on player pianos (just not my specialty), unless it is a piano that "used to" be a player and the player action has been subsequently removed. Regardless, I can certainly give you some pretty decent advice on how to handle just about any condition your piano finds itself in!
I have pets. Is this a problem?

No problem at all! Some folks think they need to put their dogs outside or locked in a back room somewhere. This is really not necessary. I love pets. In fact I probably love dogs more than people! Seriously don't worry about your pets. I have dogs and they usually smell this on my clothes and know immediately I'm a dog person. And I grew up with cats, and birds, and hamsters, and fish, so believe me it's all good! (It's always funny when I tune in a house with birds. They often get very vocal as I move to the upper end of a piano! lol)
What brought you to Albuquerque?

I came here for the climate, the mountains, the big sky, and the pace. I stayed for the people, and the green chile. :-D At this point I'm quite addicted!
Are you a member of the PTG?

Yes I am a member of the national and local chapters of the Piano Technician's Guild. In all honesty, for years in New York I was not a guild member, but the friendliness and helpfulness of the piano tuners I have met in Albuquerque have won me over! It is a small, but wonderful community of professionals which I am honored to be part of.

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