Frequently Asked Questions

The piano is a wonderful and rather complex instrument.  Invented around 1700 by an Italian by the name of Bartolomeo Christofori, it was the first instrument of its type that could play both soft and loud.  One name for the piano is the piano-forte, meaning soft-loud.

It has provided enjoyment, inspiration, and opportunity to billions since its origin. The maximum enjoyment can be realized when it performs and sounds at its peak level. Because a piano is a complex instrument with thousands of parts composed of wood and metal that are affected by temperature and humidity, it requires regular care and maintenance to function properly. meaning soft-loud.

Here are a few of the most common questions and answers regarding care and maintenance:

Why does a piano go out of tune?

Because strings are tightly stretched across the plate of a piano, and because pianos are affected by temperature and humidity, it will go out of tune just sitting.  However, the more it’s played and the louder it’s played the faster it will go out of tune.  Poor tunings where the pins are not set properly will cause a piano to go out of tune quickly.  Loose tuning pins sometimes make it impossible for a piano to stay in tune.

How often should a piano be tuned?

Generally a piano should be tuned at 6 month or one year intervals.  However, various factors, including how much it is played and how hard it is played can make more frequent tunings desirable.

Can I tune my own piano?

Generally, not a great idea.  I have known some very fine musicians that have been very frustrated trying to tune their own pianos.  Setting a proper temperament and arriving at a “rest” point with the tuning pins require skill and experience and are very important aspects of piano tuning.  As with many other professions, it may “look” easier  than it is.

What does tuning a piano to A=440 mean?

The A above Middle C is tuned to 440 Hz or 440 cycles per second.  This is the standard pitch for tuning and is usually the starting place for tuning a piano.