It’s not so much playing a piano that causes it to go out of tune but rather changes in temperature and humidity, and settling of the piano itself.  The amount of use a piano gets rarely has many effects on its tuning unless a pianist plays extraordinarily hard.

Piano tuning is adjusting the tension of the strings. The strings are wrapped around tuning pins that are set in the pin block. There is a special wrench to tune the pins.

Observing a piano technician tune a piano is akin to watching paint dry.  But what magic the tuner performs!

Years ago a technician told me a story about tuning a piano in a seniors residence. The piano was in the main room and he proceeded to do his work. At the end, like most tuners, he played a short piece of music just to confirm his overall work is complete. (they all do it, it’s like making the first snow angel after a fresh snowfall). As the technician is putting away his tools, a beautiful older lady with a conspiratorial look on her face enters the room and slowly approaches him, she leans down and whispers in his ear; “Thank God you took over,  the fellow who was playing for the last hour was horrible”

Do not try tuning your own piano yourself. Tuning is a very complicated process, it is an art practiced by skilled professionals. There are many tutorials on the Internet that might make it look easy, but please save your money it is not easy!

Have a qualified piano technician tune your piano, one who is a  Registered Piano Technician. (they have the letters RPT after their name.) Registered Piano Technicians are piano tuner-technicians who have passed three rigorous examinations that are held by the PianoTechnicians Guild Inc. The first examination is a written exam which is used to assess general knowledge of pianos. The second examination is a “hands-on” regulation and repair test to assess the general skills of craftsmanship on upright and grand pianos. The third examination is the tuning exam. In all of these examinations, a standard of 80 percent must be achieved to become a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild

We do offer piano tuning at Ottawa Pianos. If you live outside our city this website will help you find a qualified technician near you.  Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.