The Piano Guide Review

Do you need a piano tuner? by Georgia Zoe Schohl

Do you need a piano tuner?

Q. Why should I tune my piano by a professional piano tuner? Isn’t it expensive? And do I really have to get my piano tuned anyway? My child and I are not serious artists, just people who play the piano as a hobby, more than anything else. I hate the idea of spending the money to get a piano tuned when we can't really tell the difference anyway.

Email, anon.

A. For the good of your piano, it is wise for you to find a professional tuner/technician to look over your instrument and find out the condition as well as how much tuning it needs. Most people who own an older piano (yes, even a costly rare or new piano) often procrastinate about getting their piano tuned. They don't want to spend the money on a tuning because they can't tell if the piano needs a tuning anyway. Frequently, if someone purchases a new piano from a store, a complimentary piano tuning is often included a couple of weeks after the piano is delivered. New owners of a piano commonly (and wrongly) expect that the tuning is the first and final one for the new piano. Or that it should be done every few years, at the owner's whim.

How often should you tune your piano? Try to get your piano tuned at least once a year, depending how often your piano is used. If you play your piano on a daily basis, it may need to be tuned more often, such as every three or four months. What does the piano sound like after a few months or weeks?. If you think that the sounds on your piano sound out of tune, or not quite right, then you should try to locate a good piano tuner to get the job done.

How much does tuning a piano cost? When you first call a tuner, ask them what the price is and how long the tuning takes. Each tuner has their own method: some will have a flat rate only, and others will give you several prices---which depend on how long it’s been since your last tuning and if there might be some additional work (such as an additional tuning later) that needs to be done. If a piano has been neglected or never been tuned, it may need some extra time and work by the tuner.

If you are not sure where to locate a good tuner, ask a piano teacher, musician, or friend for a good referral. Ideally, you may want a piano tuner/technician in case the piano needs repair and maintenance. You might want to try calling a music store that sells and rents pianos, your local place of worship, or music schools.

Find some estimates from tuners so you can get an idea of the cost involved. If your piano has never been tuned and needs even some minor work or correction, expect to pay a bit more. If you just want a "budget tuning" and no work done, be aware that the problem with your piano will still persist. If it bothers you or the pianist in your family, decide to get the full repairs done--if the fee is within reason. A good reputable tuner will spend up to two hours on your piano, and a budget or "quickie" tuning will be less than an hour.