Q&A for How to Tune a Piano

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Question

How long should it take to tune a piano?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

It can take anywhere from an hour to 2 hours depending on how out of tune the piano is.

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Question

How much does it cost to get a piano tuned?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

Typically, tunings cost $100-200. The amount may vary based on where you live and who you hire for the job, however.

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Question

Can you tune a piano on your own?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

You can. However, it requires a high level of skill and knowledge. Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s preferable to higher a professional. To get an idea of how to tune your piano, you can check out this page on how to tune a piano by wikiHow: https://m.wikihow.com/Tune-a-Piano

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Question

Why do I have to tune a piano? What will happen if it isn't?

Community Answer

If a piano is not tuned, it will sound horrible and simply not right. Also, it makes the strings more prone to breaking.

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Question

B4 and C5 sound like B4. Need to raise C5 around 50 cents. Feels like the string will brake. What could I have done wrong?

Kai Schlegelmann

Community Answer

It may be an old string, so you might want to replace it. To check the pitch to see which is right, you can always use an electronic tuner or a tuning fork.

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Question

How often should you tune a piano?

Community Answer

Ideally you should tune your piano three to four times a year in it's first use, twice in it's second year, and at least once per year after. If you use your piano frequently, you will also need to tune it more frequently, and if you do not use your piano as often, you may get away with less frequent tunings.

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Question

Our piano is over one hundred years old, it's a "top tuning piano" that no-one knows how to tune. They don't have the tool, would love to know where we could track one down?

Community Answer

Try listening to a modern piano's notes and tuning it from there. Most likely, the modern piano will sound more in tune and you could tell if your piano is flat or sharp. If you want an old tuning tool, check eBay. And lastly, look for a professional tuner to come and check your piano, they'll know instantly how to tune it properly.

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Question

Is tuning a piano hard?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It definitely can be. It takes a lot of time and effort to tune over 200 individual strings and you've got to have the ear for hearing the correct pitch of each one. There are a few tools that can help make the job easier. Apart from a tuning lever with the right tip, you'll want to invest in a chromatic tuner, which is an electronic tuner that provides a reference tone for you so that you don't tune the note too sharp or too flat. You'll need one specifically made for pianos as well. With enough time and patience, you can tune your piano and have it sounding good as new.

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Question

Is it bad to not tune a piano?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It's not great for your piano, but it may not permanently damage it if you allow it to get really out of tune. To keep them playing their best, a piano needs to be tuned about once a year. A technician with the right tools can get the job done in an hour or two, and your piano will sound as crisp and sharp as ever. But if you wait years to have your piano tuned, it may take much longer and a lot more effort to have it tuned back into key.

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Question

Can a 100-year-old piano be tuned?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Almost any piano can be tuned, so chances are you can tune your 100-year-old piano. However, if the strings are really rusty, you need to be careful. Older pianos need to be tuned properly, so your best bet is to higher a licensed technician that specializes in tuning antique pianos. They'll have the right equipment and experience to do the job safely and without damaging your piano.

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