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[P328]Piano Tuning And Repair

by Eben Goresko, Ebe

Misconception #1

Most people think that if you play your piano hard, you will knock it out of tune. Conversely, many piano owners believe that if you don't play your piano, it does not need to be tuned.

Fact #1

All pianos should be tuned on a regular – periodic basis whether they are played hard or hardly at all. Why? The actual purpose of regular tuning is not simply to make your piano sound better. By having an experienced piano tuner – technician service your instrument on a regular basis, he/she can determine whether or not your piano needs additional preventative maintenance to safeguard the viability and integrity of the instrument. In turn, the piano owner gains the full benefits of ownership. Examples of such benefits are the piano holding its value for resale and its usability. A piano that sounds good and works enables the player to make music. Listeners are also more likely to enjoy the music.

How often should you tune your piano? You should tune your piano at least once a year, preferably twice to four times a year for a new instrument (the first year).

Even an “inexpensive, low end” piano can still cost three to five thousand dollars to replace. The average piano can have up to 20 tons or more tension on it. This tension is borne by “the tension resonant structure” – the cast metal plate, the rim and beamed under structure structure (in grand's) and the back beams (in uprights).

There are many factors that can compromise the structure of your piano.

Structural repairs can be very difficult, inconvenient and expensive to correct. Only an experienced piano tuner technician can directly determine and understand the nuances of what is going on with your piano and the only way that he/she can make such a determination is by tuning and inspecting your instrument on a regular basis.

Misconception #2

The “modern” tuning of Equal Temperament was established by Johann Sebastian Bach (in the late 1700's) when he wrote The Well Tempered Clavier and has been used in standard practice by piano tuners to this day.

Fact #2

I am constantly amazed how almost all professional musicians, teachers and lay people still believe this myth to be fact. The modern piano tuning is called Equal Temperament. Equal temperament has been recently scientifically used and practiced by modern technicians to tune modern pianos.

In general terms, the evolution and practice of tuning has roughly corresponded with the evolution of the piano. Bach did not have anything to do with the practice of the modern tuning of Equal Temperament. He and other composers, musicians and theorists may have referred to the idea of tuning pianos in equal temperament, but in actuality, they were not. The confusion of modern musicians about past piano tuning practices is largely due to the nomenclature, descriptions and actual use of these tuning of earlier times.

Misconception #3

To tune a piano you need a good ear. If you have a bad ear, your piano does not need to be tuned.

Fact #3

Some people have a greater aptitude or awareness of pitch. If you are musical or are a musician, it can help you as a beginner learn piano tuning to a very limited extent. The qualified piano tuner who also is musical can better appreciate how the piano sounds before or after he/she tunes it. But to be a good, qualified piano tuner it takes special training and practice to tune temperament, hear beats and to learn effective hammer technique. Just because you have a “good ear” does not mean that you can tune a piano. Conversely, just because you have a “bad ear” does not mean that you can't hear or appreciate your piano being in or out of tune.

There are a few things to consider when looking into this matter. These are:

* How often the piano should be tuned
* Cost
* The piano tuner's recommendations

How Often Should I Have A Tuning?
As often as possible silly! All joking aside this is the number one question on any piano owner's mind. Before asking this question there is something to keep in mind. A piano is an investment, think of it as a car.

Piano tuning is much like tuning up a car. For either of them to run at their best, they must be serviced properly by a licensed technician. Secondly, keeping up a maintenance schedule will help you keep your instrument sounding beautifully in tune.

As a general rule, though normal use, a piano should be tuned every six months to a year.

If you play your piano quite a bit, you will need to up the tunings to every few months. Remember that you paid a big chunk of change for that large instrument in your living room, keep it from depreciating too quickly with proper care.

Many people wonder how to tell if their piano is in need of tuning. A simple test is to just listen to the notes. If they start sounding "off" while playing your favorite tunes than its time to get an adjustment.

Newer pianos may need more tuning for the first few years. The strings in a newly purchased piano are tight and stretch quite a bit. Pianos that have been restrung will also need more frequent tunings until the strings have been "seasoned" again.

What Is This Gonna Cost Me?
Obviously the service isn't going to be free. Just like everybody else, tuners have to pay bills, and things like gas are going to affect their bottom lines. Prices are going to differ quite a bit form region to region and how much experience a tuner is bringing with them.

The type of piano is also going to play a role. A grand piano is going to run higher than a run-of-the-mill upright. The condition of the instrument will also be a factor in the final cost of the tuning as well.

If any repairs need to be done for such as broken strings or worn out hammers, the price of the tuning will reflect this. Some tuners offer a quote to help you gauge costs. On average the cost will be between $75 and $200.

The Piano Tuner Wants Me To Do What?
There are many things that tuning can uncover. At times there can be extra things that need to happen to your piano before it can be restored to its former glory. Aside from restringing and rehammering there are other things that most people write off as "the piano tuner hustle".

Understand that registered piano tuners are held up to stringent international standards set forth by the Piano Technician's Guild. These standards dictate what must be done to preserve the piano as an investment and musical instrument.

When a technician tells you that your piano needs regulating, he is not trying to sandbag you into an up-sell. This operation is a set of adjustments that are performed on each note. The adjustments affect the action of the keyboard giving you a more responsive experience.

After frequent use, the keys start to become "slow" or less responsive. Regulation restores the play of the piano and should be performed every five to ten years.

Article Source : Cod 4 Sniping Guide

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Both Eben Goresko & Brian Shelton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Eben Goresko has sinced written about articles on various topics from Entertainment Guide. . Eben Goresko's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.

Brian Shelton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Finance, Real Estate and Sell Home. Claim your eBook! Get ready to add a new dimensionto your life. Everything you need to learn piano is right here. And new articles are added. Brian Shelton's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.