Ever wonder what goes into rebuilding a piano? Check out this video!
https://www.cunninghampiano.com/how-its-made/
Tonal equal temperament explained.
https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/3518817/tonal-equal-temperament-tuning.html#Post3518817
Quiet helps the tuning process. I've worked in schools, so am adept at working around noise, but there are certain sounds that make tuning difficult. Anything that you can hum along with - a fan, a drill, a blender or vacuum will make it harder to hear your piano. Music or a TV in the same room will also present a challenge that may hamper the tuning.
Light! While I can work with a flashlight or headlamp, it is best if there is a bright overhead, or floor lamp available next to the piano so I can see into the interior of the piano while I work - if your piano room doesn't have much natural light.
How far will I travel? Check with google maps for directions and enter my address and yours. If the travel time is under 40 minutes, I'll be happy to drive there! Longer than 40 minutes? Contact me and I'll see if I already have a client close to you and can combine trips.
I record the humidity level measured while tuning. Changing humidity over time causes the wood in the piano to change size, which makes the pitch go sharp and flat. In the Chicago area, we have lots of humidity swings all year long! Pianos don't react evenly across the scale, the middle moves much more than the ends which causes that out of tune sound when playing octaves. Manufacturers recommend keeping the indoor environment within 10% (like 35-45%, or 40-50%) all year. If your piano is going more out of tune than you like, please check out the humidifier/dehumidifier that can be installed from Dampp-Chaser.
Why should I be the one to tune your piano? Here's my 3 "C"s - calm, clean and courteous. That is in addition to being able to tune the most musical tunings consistently on a wide variety of pianos.
Link to a animated video series on how a grand piano works:
youtu.be/NDvS2V7HbnY
Interested in having your piano tuned more often? I do offer an affordable yearly unlimited tuning contracts for local pianos. Contact me for details!
Looking for help and support from other piano owners/players? Here are a couple of online communities that you might find interesting:
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/category/2.html
http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/ubb.x
The Piano Technicians Guild has a lot of information here:
www.ptg.org
Interested in that tuning software that I use? Another tech has a good website for those interested in the "nuts and bolts" of tuning http://daffy.uah.edu/piano/index.html
David Boyce has a very informative website - check out the technical articles: http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/technical-info-1.php
http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/technical-info-2.php
He also has an intro to electronic tuning devices http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/electronic-tuning.php
Why does my piano keep going out of tune? There are many possibilities, but usually at the top of the list of things to check:
1. Does sun directly hit the piano during the day? The expansion/contraction from the heat can quickly shift any tuning.
2. Is the indoor humidity/temperature shifting a lot? Temperature shifts have a quick effect on the pitch while humidity shifts are slow to change the tuning. If your piano is having a difficult time staying in tune, there is a humidity control device that is recommended: http://www.pianolifesaver.com/
3. Is the piano being played beyond the limits for which it was designed? There is a reason concert instruments are replaced or rebuilt so often... Like race cars, taking the piano up to and beyond certain volume levels not only shifts the tuning, but wears it out quicker!
4. I can let you know of structural issues with your instrument that may effect the tuning stability.
https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/3518817/tonal-equal-temperament-tuning.html#Post3518817
Quiet helps the tuning process. I've worked in schools, so am adept at working around noise, but there are certain sounds that make tuning difficult. Anything that you can hum along with - a fan, a drill, a blender or vacuum will make it harder to hear your piano. Music or a TV in the same room will also present a challenge that may hamper the tuning.
Light! While I can work with a flashlight or headlamp, it is best if there is a bright overhead, or floor lamp available next to the piano so I can see into the interior of the piano while I work - if your piano room doesn't have much natural light.
How far will I travel? Check with google maps for directions and enter my address and yours. If the travel time is under 40 minutes, I'll be happy to drive there! Longer than 40 minutes? Contact me and I'll see if I already have a client close to you and can combine trips.
I record the humidity level measured while tuning. Changing humidity over time causes the wood in the piano to change size, which makes the pitch go sharp and flat. In the Chicago area, we have lots of humidity swings all year long! Pianos don't react evenly across the scale, the middle moves much more than the ends which causes that out of tune sound when playing octaves. Manufacturers recommend keeping the indoor environment within 10% (like 35-45%, or 40-50%) all year. If your piano is going more out of tune than you like, please check out the humidifier/dehumidifier that can be installed from Dampp-Chaser.
Why should I be the one to tune your piano? Here's my 3 "C"s - calm, clean and courteous. That is in addition to being able to tune the most musical tunings consistently on a wide variety of pianos.
Link to a animated video series on how a grand piano works:
youtu.be/NDvS2V7HbnY
Interested in having your piano tuned more often? I do offer an affordable yearly unlimited tuning contracts for local pianos. Contact me for details!
Looking for help and support from other piano owners/players? Here are a couple of online communities that you might find interesting:
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/category/2.html
http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/ubb.x
The Piano Technicians Guild has a lot of information here:
www.ptg.org
Interested in that tuning software that I use? Another tech has a good website for those interested in the "nuts and bolts" of tuning http://daffy.uah.edu/piano/index.html
David Boyce has a very informative website - check out the technical articles: http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/technical-info-1.php
http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/technical-info-2.php
He also has an intro to electronic tuning devices http://www.davidboyce.co.uk/electronic-tuning.php
Why does my piano keep going out of tune? There are many possibilities, but usually at the top of the list of things to check:
1. Does sun directly hit the piano during the day? The expansion/contraction from the heat can quickly shift any tuning.
2. Is the indoor humidity/temperature shifting a lot? Temperature shifts have a quick effect on the pitch while humidity shifts are slow to change the tuning. If your piano is having a difficult time staying in tune, there is a humidity control device that is recommended: http://www.pianolifesaver.com/
3. Is the piano being played beyond the limits for which it was designed? There is a reason concert instruments are replaced or rebuilt so often... Like race cars, taking the piano up to and beyond certain volume levels not only shifts the tuning, but wears it out quicker!
4. I can let you know of structural issues with your instrument that may effect the tuning stability.