Piano Tips – Helpful Answers to Common Piano Questions

Q: How often should I have my piano tuned?
A: In most climates, twice a year is advised - Tuning every six months keeps pressure on the plate, strings, sound board and bridges stabile. Thus, reducing the risk of breakage.

Tuning variables:

• If your piano is new - Manufactures suggest tuning every quarter for the first year and every six months thereafter.
• If your piano has been restored and restrung - It is advised to tune your piano every quarter the first year, and every six months thereafter.
• Climatic changes - Changes in climate always affect the tuning stability of your piano.
• Playing time - Extended amounts of piano play will affect its tune.

Q: My piano is played up to 4 hours a day, is tuning every six months enough?
A: Yes, in most cases twice a year will be sufficient - However, there are many variables to this rule. (see "tuning variables" above). Age, climate, amount of playing, discriminating ear, etc... All play a part in the amount of tuning needed for individual pianos.

If your piano is played more than 4 hours each day, quarterly tuning is probaby needed. Keep in mind that each piano has characteristics of its own and may require a unique tuning schedule. If you are unsure of the amount of tuning your piano requires, ask your professional tuner for advice.

Q: If I move my piano to another location, do I need to tune it again?
A: Yes, pianos are very sensitive to moves - when a piano is tuned to the industry standard pitch of A440hz each string holds 197.6 lbs of pressure. The A440hz pitch has been industry standard since 1932. Moving the piano will surely upset this tension. Below is a list of things to do after a piano has been relocated.

• Once moved, let the piano acclimate to its new location for about two weeks. The piano will need time to adjust after it has been moved. Tuning the piano before this acclimation time will result in an "out of tune" piano within a few days. Avoid a costly re-tune, by waiting the appropriate two weeks of rest.
• After the two week waiting period, have the piano expertly tuned and checked.

Q: If tuning my piano every six months is required, when is the best time to start my tuning schedule? Should it be with the heat on, or off?
A: Either - Within any 6 month period here in the northeast, there will be a drastic change in climatic conditions in and out of your home. It will not matter when this six month schedule starts or ends as long as you tune your piano every six months. This will ensure you experience good tuning stability from tuning to tuning.

Q: The last time my piano was tuned, the tuner said that he did a pitch raise, what does that mean?
A: A pitch raise means the piano hasn't been tuned in a long time and has lost A440hz stability. - To regain this stability, he had to pull it to over pitch, then let it settle for about a week or so. During this time it will go out of tune a bit. He will then tune it again, bringing it to a fine A440hz. This is a very common and normal issue.

Q: Where is the best location in my home to put my piano?
A: An inside wall is always the perfect placement for a piano - Keep it away from baseboard heat, direct air-conditioning ducts, and away from direct sunlight.

Q: I have a contemporary style home, and have only outside walls and skylights. Where can I place my piano so that it is protected from sun and drafts?
A: There are a few things you can do to address this issue -

• If you own a grand piano, you can purchase a piano cover for protection. I can provide you with a piano cover. They are available in all sizes.
• If you own a vertical piano, try tacking a blanket to the back side of the instrument. This will help to shield the piano from wall temperature changes.
• Direct sun from skylights can be extremely damaging. If this is a problem for you, try using a skylight sun shade or using a piano cover (see above).
• As the sun moves from season to season, monitor how the sun hits different areas in the room. The piano can then (if possible) be moved accordingly.

Q: My piano has been tuned every six months, but after my last tuning, my tuner said that my tuning pins are loose and he didn't know what to do. He was only here for a short time, but he charged me for a tuning and the tuning was worse than before he started! Did he do something wrong? What should I do?
A: It's always best to have a tuner/technician work on your piano - "Tuners" are usually good at their craft, but lack knowledge when it comes to technical problems. I advise the use of a tuner/technician to service your piano and complete repairs, if needed.

Q: Sometimes when I play my piano, a key won't play?
A: It could be a multitude of things - below are a few examples as to what could be causing this problem.

• The room has too much Humidity - Humidity can swell all friction points, making them sluggish. • The room is too dry - This can have the opposite effect causing friction points shrink. The results will be the same as having too much humidity.
  (If you think you are dealing with home humidity problems, my advice is to consult your professional piano technician. They can help you determine the situation and advise accordingly.)
• Broken jack springs
• Broken and/or weak spring rail springs that return the hammer to its idle position.
• Action (all the movement parts) - The action may need regulation and is a common ailment in all pianos. Think of it like this: Getting that major tune up on your car after 100,000 miles. A piano technician should view this for remedy.

Q: My Piano has a buzz in it when I play.
A: Again, it could be a few things -

• There could be a piece of paper, or paper clip, or some object sitting on the sound board.
• The sound board cracked under a rib or bridge. This would be a worse case scenario, but can be repaired by a professional piano technician. (For more information about cracked soundboards, please read the problem solution below.)

Q: My piano has been diagnosed as having a cracked sound board. Is this a problem? If so, what can I do?
A: More often than not, many old pianos already have cracked sound boards. This is due to dry conditions and/or older wood separating from the glued seams. As long as the sound board doesn't separate from the ribs that hold the crown of the sound board, the sound will still be good. If your piano sounds like a torn speaker, then repairs are in order. A call to your technician is advised to view and properly repair this condition. The cost of this type of repair will vary greatly, depending on what needs to be done and the severity of the damage.

Q: My Piano has a bad odor coming from it and it doesn't play really well, it's sluggish, is this a humidity problem?
A: By telling me there is an odor coming from your piano, there is CERTAINLY a problem -
It very well could be your piano has become a very nice home for molds, moths and yes, FIELD MICE ! Pianos are great homes for both field mice and moths. There is plenty of wood, wool hammers and wool damper felt to accommodate a pleasant "nest" for little creatures. It even provides fiber for their diets. If you notice an odor, don't hesitate to call your piano technician to discern the cause. I can't think of a worse invader for your piano than MICE! If mouse urine gets on your strings, it will cause rust that can ruin the strings and make tuning stability a moot point. Not to mention the mess of it all.

Prevention is best course of action I can advise to address this problem. Here are a couple of ways to keep unwanted pests from keeping house inside of your piano.

• Moth Balls - No piano should be without them.
• Regularly playing the piano - a "make sense" way to keep critters away. (no, I don't think BAD playing makes a difference. Then again...)

Q: I'm considering purchasing a used piano from a private owner. It looks nice, but how can I know if this is a good piano?
A: Have a professional check it out - I'm frequently asked this question about used pianos. Yes, of course you want a "Nice looking" piano to display in your home. But making sure the piano is technically sound is most important. A technician will be able to spot problems or potential problems and advise as to whether they can be fixed and what the cost will be. The cost of this service will be well worth it in the long run.

Q: I had a party and someone spilled a drink in my grand piano, what should I do?
A: Try to blot up the liquid as best you can, then immediately call your technician for assistance. - Only an expert can identify any problems it may have caused and what the remedy will be.

Q: How do I clean my piano?
A: I suggest the following:

• Wood cases should be cleaned with a soft rag with a touch of lemon oil.
• Polyester finishes are easily cleaned with a soft damp rag.
• To polish a Polyester finish piano, my best advise is to use a non silicone based paste car wax, in straight motions, not circular, and then buff if dry with a soft cloth, then a damp soft cloth to remove wax residue.