Tuning the piano means adjusting the pitches of the strings so that all notes sound well when played, whether individually or together in various intervals and chords. To tune, one turns a tuning pin to alter the tension of the string and thus adjust the pitch.
Why does my piano go out of tune?
Every tuning degrades over time, due to changes in string tension, largely caused by increases and decreases in the wooden soundboard’s crown. Fluctuations in the relative humidity and temperature of the piano’s environment cause the soundboard to absorb and release moisture. The soundboard swells when it absorbs moisture, causing the crown to increase. This increases the down bearing and therefore also the string tension. The opposite happens when the soundboard releases moisture. This fluctuation is unavoidable, but its severity can be managed.
Changes in temperature can also affect the overall pitch of a piano. Substantial temperature changes over a fairly short period of time are bad. Probably the thing that changes the most is the piano wire, because it is far and away the smallest thermal mass. The soundboard would respond to the temperature more slowly, and the rim more slowly still. All are moving, but not at the same rate. All contribute to string tension changes, but the wire contributes the most.
In newer pianos the strings gradually stretch, the soundboard and rim reach a sort of equilibrium with the room’s micro-climate, causing the piano to go flat, while in older pianos the tuning pins can become loose and don’t hold the piano in tune as well. Frequent and hard playing can also cause a piano to go out of tune.
How often should I tune my piano?
If your piano is new it will take a few months for its tuning to stabilise. This is because the strings are still stretching and the soundboard is still adjusting to the micro-climate in which it is sitting. New pianos are often bundled with 3 free tunings. The first one should be done immediately after delivery. We strongly recommend that the second tuning be done one month after the first tuning. The third tuning should then follow within 3 months.
After that, the tuning frequency depends on how much the piano drifts after being tuned. At the very least the piano should be tuned every six months even if it is never played. If the piano is played regularly, then more frequent tunings are recommended. Tuning drift is less in a piano that is tuned regularly.
Tuning is the minimum that should be done. It is like the basic servicing you do for your car. Beyond that, having a piano technician tune the piano regularly (even if it is only twice a year) means that the tech can help you monitor the condition of the piano and advise you about on-going maintenance and repairs.