Question 1

Why do pianos need to be tuned?

Accepted Answer

Pianos go out of tune as humidity changes. Piano tuning is the first step in good piano maintenance. Here in Maine (and New England in general), indoor humidity is highly unpredictable. Constant small fluctuations in humidity mean your piano can go out of tune even more quickly than in other parts of the country. For more information on humidity, see my guide on ideal piano humidity. Piano placement can also be a significant factor. These fluctuations can happen much faster if the piano is near a window, an air conditioner, a heat source, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an outside wall, or is in a drafty space. A piano placed in front of a baseboard heater can go out of tune in weeks, rather than months. Major seasonal changes are not the only reason a piano goes out of tune. Daily changes in humidity are just as important. Fortunately, tuning stability can be improved by controlling humidity. Humidity is always changing. Your piano will go flatter as the air dries, and sharper as it gets more humid. And every time your piano’s tuning changes, some parts change at different rates than others. Eventually, the piano is out of tune with itself—that’s when it needs a tuning!

Question 2

How often should I get my piano tuned?

Accepted Answer

I typically recommend tuning your piano once every six months. I recommend tuning once every three months if the piano is used for performances, is in a high-traffic and high-use environment like a church or a restaurant, or is very new. New pianos need more frequent tuning. This is because the structure is still settling. This process is gradual, and happens as the piano goes through seasonal cycles. I recommend tuning new instruments every three months for the first two or three years. An annual tuning can be adequate if you’re not playing your piano regularly, and if the environment is fairly stable—consult with your piano technician. Although it will still sound out of tune for part of the year, this keeps the piano close enough to proper tune that major pitch adjustments are less likely to be necessary in the future. Make sure the piano is in a stable space and isn’t experiencing excessive humidity swings. A humidity monitor or hygrometer is helpful. See my article on recommended hygrometers, and also on recommended humidifiers for the winter. Proper humidity management will prevent soundboard cracks and other issues.

Question 3

How do I find a piano tuner near me?

Accepted Answer

The first place to check is your local piano store or piano teacher. They might be able to assist you, and they’ll definitely know local, reputable and competent piano tuners. You can’t always rely on online reviews! Here in the United States, there’s an online directory of piano stores called PianoStoresUSA.com. This directory is a great place to start. You can also search the Piano Technicians Guild for a local technician. Not all excellent technicians are members of the guild. Nonetheless, it’s the single largest directory you can search for quick and easy answers.

Question 4

Why does my piano go out of tune so quickly?

Accepted Answer

The primary reason for a piano to go out of tune quickly is the environment. See “Where should the piano be positioned?” If in doubt, get a hygrometer and monitor your humidity. Sometimes, loose pins can cause a piano to quickly sound dreadful, like two keys are being played at once. This usually happens in dry weather. However, some pianos with soundboard or bridge cracks can go out of tune very quickly. These will require more serious repair than can generally be performed in a home, and in this case, you’ll need an experienced rebuilder. If your piano is already in an ideal space and is still going out of tune quickly, or if you’re unable to move your piano to a better space, consider a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System™. These control the humidity inside the piano itself, and can considerably improve tuning stability in challenging environments. They also protect the piano from dangerous humidity extremes. Remember that chart up above? That’s just what’s happening in the room. Here’s what’s happening inside a piano protected by a Dampp-Chaser system. Yes, the humidity still changes, but much less than the room!

Question 5

How much does piano tuning cost?

Accepted Answer

You can see a full breakdown of my piano tuning rates on my price list page. On average, around the country, most piano technicians charge around $150 to $250, with pitch adjustments adding a bit more. Prices vary considerably based on market—a tuning in Maine costs less than one in New York City! These rates are based on my conversations with other technicians, and posted prices online.

Question 6

My piano is in a very sunny room. Is that bad?

Accepted Answer

Yes, direct sunlight does adversely affect your piano. As sunlight warms the piano, it causes the piano to dry out, which causes the tuning to change. Direct sunlight makes your piano’s tuning quite unstable! This is particularly problematic when the piano is positioned to receive direct, hot sunlight on its soundboard during parts of the day. I see it most with upright pianos placed in front of windows. Worse, because the sunlight dries the instrument, it can make your piano considerably more likely to develop soundboard and other structural cracks. And finally, the ultraviolet light in sunlight is terrible for the finish, causing fading and other damage. Avoid windows! But if you have ivory keys, don’t avoid light entirely. Indirect light will keep ivories from yellowing. It’s a good idea, in most cases, to leave the fallboard open if you have ivory keys.

Question 7

How should I prepare for my piano tuning?

Accepted Answer

The piano needs to be clear, well-lit, and easy to get to. Please remove photos, plants, metronomes, and the stray Lego masterpiece from the lid and music rack. With uprights, it’s sometimes necessary to pull the piano away from the wall slightly, so leave extra room around the piano if you can. A quiet house helps—HVAC blowers, dishwashers, and exuberant dogs can mask the subtleties I’m listening for. And yes, I do periodically encounter dogs that sing along during tunings! If your piano locks, pop the key on the bench so we’re not hunting for it when the tuning hammer is in hand. If you use a humidity-control system, top it up the night before; if you don’t, just keep windows and doors closed during the appointment. Customers often turn on the heat or air conditioning so that I’ll be comfortable. Preferably, don’t change HVAC settings during or immediately before the appointment. If the environment shifts during the tuning, the piano’s tuning might shift, resulting in the need for additional passes or adjustments.

Question 8

How long does a piano tuning take?

Accepted Answer

The average time for a professional piano tuning is about 1.5–2 hours. A modern piano that’s been tuned regularly may take less time, while an instrument that’s very out of tune (or needs a pitch adjustment first) can take closer to two hours—or sometimes longer. Some piano technicians take very different amounts of time to tune a piano. And some do additional work during the tuning, addressing regulation and voicing issues simultaneously. A safe guess for a tuning is two hours at most, but ask your technician.

Question 9

Should I wait to tune the piano after I move it?

Accepted Answer

I now have a full article explaining how long you should wait to tune a piano after moving it, including how humidity and acclimation affect tuning stability. If you’re just moving a piano a short distance within your house, the majority of pianos will not require any time to settle. In most cases, the act of moving (across a room, for example) isn’t what changes the tuning—changes in temperature and humidity are. If you’re moving a piano between homes or towns, it’s often best to let the piano acclimate to its new environment before tuning. I typically recommend waiting a minimum of two weeks before tuning. This is not because of the move itself, but because of the change in climate and local humidity. The piano may be exposed to larger swings in temperature/humidity during long or complicated moves. Minimizing the time the piano spends in uncontrolled environments like warehouses of moving trucks can help. In these situations, I typically recommend scheduling tuning about 2–4 weeks after the move, once the piano is in its final location and conditions have stabilized. See my page answering common piano moving questions.

Question 10

Will my piano tuning cost more if it’s been a long time?

Accepted Answer

It depends. When a piano is dramatically out of tune, it will need a “pitch adjustment.” A pitch adjustment is a very quick tuning designed to get the piano close to concert pitch before the actual tuning. This pre-tuning is necessary, as otherwise the piano will go out of tune as it’s tuned. Pitch adjustments considerably change the tension within the piano. A piano that’s a half-step below concert pitch will undergo a change of almost one ton of tension during a tuning. This means the tuning does not last as long. The instrument will settle over several weeks. This also means the process of tuning it will take longer. You will want to consider getting it tuned a second time after about a month. Some technicians charge an additional amount at the first tuning to cover the additional time the pitch adjustment takes. Pitch adjustments can be done very quickly, but there are different techniques, and it’s possible your technician will distribute pricing differently. My approach is simple: I do not charge extra if I can still tune it in my expected time frame of two hours, and I almost always can. However, the tuning itself will not last as long, and a follow-up will likely be necessary.

Question 11

Do you tune pianos by ear?

Accepted Answer

I tune using a Sanderson AccuTuner. After tuning, I will aurally evaluate the piano and will retune individual keys or perhaps a small section by ear if I think, for some reason, the machine’s “perfect” doesn’t match a human ear’s “perfect.” The Sanderson AccuTuner. This is the gold standard in stand-alone piano tuning devices.

Question 12

What’s the difference between a fish and a piano?

Accepted Answer

You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish. The other kind of tuna.

Question 13

Do you service players?

Accepted Answer

Players fall in two categories: Older pneumatic players, generally from the 1910s and 1920s, and newer electronic players from the 1970s onward. I can tune both, but the older pneumatic players can present some unique challenges when regulating or repairing them. The player stack is heavy, and typically difficult to remove, and it sits between me and the action. You should expect this to take some extra time. I can help you set up your Yamaha Disklavier or other electronic system (see my Yamaha Disklavier FAQ). However, I do not repair or rebuild older, pneumatic player piano systems. I do not currently have anyone to recommend for this work, and if you are such a person, please contact me. If you have one of these pianos, see John Tuttle’s Player Piano Repair website. He has a directory of player piano technicians, and a great wealth of information on player repair.

Question 14

My piano has a weird buzz. Can you fix that?

Accepted Answer

There are many possible reasons for a buzz. These range from debris on the soundboard, to poor string seating, to structural faults, to peeling glue on the edge of the soundboard. I will do my best to find the source of the problem in your piano and come up with a reasonable treatment.

Question 15

Where do I find a teacher?

Accepted Answer

Funny you should ask: I have a handy list on my piano teachers page!

Question 16

Are my ivories worth anything?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, selling African‑elephant ivory is generally prohibited in interstate or foreign commerce, with narrow exceptions. Some states add stricter bans. The key tops themselves have very little value, legality aside, according to my own experience and Great Lakes Piano Service. They are worthwhile to keep (or give to your technician) since they can be used to replace broken or missing ivories on other pianos. If you have missing or damaged ivories, and you’d like to replace them, I highly recommend reaching out to Great Lakes Piano Service. No matter where you are in the country, you can ship your keys to them in a box (they have instructions) and they’ll send you back a beautiful new set of plastic key tops. These do not have market value!

Question 17

Can you fix my broken music rack?

Accepted Answer

I do carry replacement hardware for music racks. If the music rack itself is broken, then the options depend on the piano. Upright pianos often have generic, easily replaceable music racks. If your music rack is hinged, I can almost certainly order a replacement readily. Grand piano repairs can be more complicated, but I do them. I might opt to work with a carpenter depending on the nature of the repair and the intricacy of the detail of your particular music rack.

Question 18

My piano is too loud! What can I do?

Accepted Answer

If it’s a grand, you can leave the lid down. Another easy fix is putting a rug underneath the piano, which does a lot—especially for grands. If you have an upright, you can also cut a rectangular piece of foam insulation to set behind the piano. In this application, exposed foam does best. It’s possible that your piano is too bright, and needs to be voiced down. Depending on the piano, this can be done by sanding the surface of the hammers, needling the hammers, or applying chemical hammer softener.

Question 19

Where should the piano be positioned?

Accepted Answer

You should position your piano along an inside wall away from doors and windows. Outside walls change temperature (and thus relative humidity) more quickly than inside walls. Make sure it is in a large enough room. Small rooms change temperature and humidity quicker than large rooms because of the volume of air. The exception would be a small space with very well-controlled humidity. Control the humidity in the room. Dehumidifiers or air conditioners prevent the air from getting too humid in the summer, and humidifiers keep the piano from drying out in the winter. If you cannot control the humidity in the room, then I can install a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System™.

Question 20

Our piano is in a building that isn’t heated in the winter. Do we need to do anything?

Accepted Answer

This is a pretty common situation here in Maine in churches and grange halls. Curiously, here in Maine, pianos in less heated spaces tend to hold a better tune overall. This is because it’s the heating of the air that causes dryness in the winter, and cooler spaces maintain better humidity levels. However, there is a tremendous risk of condensation forming on the strings and pins inside the piano and its action, which will initially cause rust and sluggishness and can eventually cause mold. Both rust and mold can become terminal conditions in a piano quickly, especially one that’s left unplayed and unattended to for months at a time. In these cases, my strategy is the installation of a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System™, or even just the Dampp-Chaser dehumidifier which is considerably less expensive than the complete system. See more about Dampp-Chasers.

Question 21

The movers broke my pedals! Can you fix them?

Accepted Answer

It’s quite common for home movers unfamiliar with pianos to struggle when putting together the pedal assembly. This is one good reason to hire professional piano movers. Usually in these cases nothing is actually broken, and I can put the pedals back together in the same visit. However, in the case of major breaks, I can supply replacements (often on a return visit) or can duplicate components (often with the help of a carpenter).

Question 22

Something fell into my piano! Can you get it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If a pen or pencil rolled in behind the fallboard or music rack, it is unlikely to do any damage other than making noise when you play a key—many times, my clients have no idea anything even fell in! However, if you notice a key no longer plays or feels stuck, or if the object fell into the action of your grand piano, give me a call, and I’ll be by to remove it as soon as possible! If it’s especially unreachable, I can hunt in hard-to-reach places using an endoscope.

Question 23

My last tuner said the pins were too loose. Is this a problem?

Accepted Answer

A lot of tuners are not technicians—that is, they tune pianos but do not perform repairs. Many technicians are rebuilders, and would rather completely rebuild an old, troubled instrument than try to “make it work.” In some cases, piano technicians can size up tuning pins, or even just set the existing pins deeper into the pinblock. Technicians usually regard these as last-resort treatments. If your technician finds that many tuning pins are loose, or that the pinblock itself is damaged, the piano may require a rebuild. This involves extensive shop work. Alternative Chemical Solutions However, not everybody is looking to rebuild their piano. You might be looking for a solution that will work for the next few years, and is a lot cheaper. If the piano has dreadfully loose tuning pins, and another technician has already given up on it, there is one remaining (and interesting) solution: An extremely viscous cyanoacrylate (sold by the brand name Hot Stuff Original Instant Glue) that can be dripped around the tuning pins. It will wick into the pinblock and crystallize, swelling the wood. It takes approximately one bottle to treat a single piano. Furthermore, it does not bond the tuning pins to the pinblock, but rather swells the pinblock and consequently increases its grip on the pins. This chemical treatment can stabilize pianos that would otherwise appear beyond practical repair, although it cannot succeed if the pinblock is severely cracked or damaged. I’ve seen multiple cases where it proved remarkably effective and allowed customers to postpone rebuilding for many years. Your technician should wear eye and face protection when applying Hot Stuff Original Instant Glue. It produces fumes, and should be applied only in a well-ventilated area. How Chemical Solutions are Applied If the piano is an upright, it’s necessary to lay the piano on its back before treating. (This typically requires a piano dolly unless you’re singularly gargantuan, and I’ve heard stories of such technicians.) Vacuum the area around the tuning pins so you don’t glue too much dog hair and other debris permanently in place. Leave the piano in this position until Hot Stuff has had adequate time to cure—you don’t want it to drip on the strings when you stand the piano back up. After an hour or so, the tuning pins should be set much more firmly, and tuning stability will likely be much improved. In short, a piano with some loose pins is generally worth a second look by a technician, and about two-thirds of the time I find I can correct the problem in-home.

Question 24

Why does a note beat, go “wah‑wah,” or sound wobbly?

Accepted Answer

That “wah‑wah” sound is usually string beating. Most piano notes (especially in the middle and upper range) have 2–3 strings tuned to the same pitch (a unison). If one string is even slightly sharper or flatter than the others, the sound waves interact and create a pulsing effect—what many people describe as “wobble,” “honky-tonk,” “vibrating” or just “out of tune.” One of the jobs of a piano tuner is to settle these unisons as best as possible. If one note never seems to settle (even right after tuning), it may be false beats—a quirk of the string (or string/bridge condition) that can make the tone pulse even when the pitch is correct. These can be very frustrating for piano tuners, because they make individual strings sound perpetually out of tune. Read the complete article on string beating, and try my interactive tool to demonstrate it.

Question 25

Do you tune Mason & Hamlin Screw Stringers? Wegman uprights? Square Grands? Birdcage Uprights? This unique thing I found in my basement I can’t find anywhere on the internet?

Accepted Answer

If your peculiar piano is in good condition, I’ll do my very best to tune it. And if I can’t, I’ll at least photograph it and look at it in wonder. I can tune Mason & Hamlin screw stringers and birdcage uprights, if they’re otherwise in good condition. I’m always willing to take a look at something truly novel. Piano technicians typically do not tune square grand pianos to anything resembling a modern tuning, and much of the time not even to themselves. This is because they are, by definition, very old. They also simply weren’t built as ruggedly as pianos of even a few decades later, and mechanical issues typically abound. You’re better off completely rebuilding it if you’re passionate about the design. Wegman uprights are real oddities, with their peculiar tuning pins. I can’t even find a picture of one on the internet to share here, so I’ll definitely come look at yours. When I first encountered one, I couldn’t find anyone else who had even seen such a thing. For the uninitiated, this is a design of piano that doesn’t use a pinblock: Metal tuning pins are placed through the cast iron plate, and then have a notch with a wedge driven in from the other side to hold them in place. They typically can be tuned, although replacing tuning pins is, essentially, machine work.

Question 26

Citations

Accepted Answer

Piano Technicians Guild. “Servicing & Maintenance.” Piano Technicians Guild, https://www.ptg.org/ptgmain/piano/care/servicing. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Piano Technicians Guild. “Pitch Raising.” Piano Technicians Guild, https://www.ptg.org/teacher-resources/caring-for-a-piano/pitch-raising. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Piano Technicians Guild (Denver Chapter). “Piano Care.” my.ptg.org, https://my.ptg.org/denverchapter/pianocare1. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Steinway & Sons. “Caring for Your Steinway.” Steinway & Sons, https://www.steinwaypianos.com/service/caring-for-your-steinway. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. “How often should I tune my piano?” Kawai Global, https://www.kawai-global.com/support/faq/how-often-should-i-tune-my-piano/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Kovarsky, Jerry. “Five Simple Steps for Maintaining Your Piano.” Yamaha Music (Hub), 12 Sept. 2023, https://hub.yamaha.com/pianos/p-how-to/five-simple-steps-for-maintaining-your-piano/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Piano Life Saver: Home.” Piano Life Saver System (Dampp-Chaser), https://www.pianolifesaver.com/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Nippon Steel SG Wire Co., Ltd. “Music Wire: Two revolutions in piano development.” Wire World, https://www.sgw.nipponsteel.com/en/story/music/06.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. “ST-1.” Kawai Global, https://www.kawai-global.com/product/st-1/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Elephant Ivory FAQs.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/frequently-asked-questions-about-elephant-ivory. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “2025 Piano Tuning Cost | Get Estimates.” Thumbtack, 20 Oct. 2025, https://www.thumbtack.com/p/piano-tuner-cost. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “2025 Piano Tuning Costs | How Much To Tune a Piano?” HomeGuide, 5 Apr. 2023, https://homeguide.com/costs/piano-tuning-cost. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “The Ultimate Guide to Returning the White of Your Piano’s Keys.” Merriam Music, 27 May 2015, https://www.merriammusic.com/blog/pianos-blog/unstain-yellowing-piano-keys/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “How to Clean Piano Keys Made of Ivory or Plastic.” Greene Music, 9 June 2022, https://greenemusic.com/blog/how-clean-piano-keys-made-ivory-or-plastic/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Player piano.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_piano. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “History of the Pianola – Player Pianos.” The Pianola Institute, https://www.pianola.org/history/history_playerpianos.cfm. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Pianos need to be tuned every time they are moved.” Steinway Piano Gallery of Naples, https://www.steinwaynaples.com/finding-a-piano/mythbusting/moving/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Howard Piano Industries. “Fixing a Loose Tuning Pin with CA Glue.” Howard Piano Industries, 11 Dec. 2023, https://www.howardpianoindustries.com/blog/fixing-a-loose-tuning-pin-with-ca-glue/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Cooper Piano. “Piano Repair Focus On: Treatment Of A Loose Pinblock.” Cooper Piano, 9 May 2012, https://cooperpiano.com/piano-repair-focus-on-treatment-of-a-loose-pinblock/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “How Long After a Move Should You Tune Your Piano?” Modern Piano, https://www.modernpiano.com/How-Long-After-a-Move-Should-You-Tune-Your-Piano–1-12332.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Post-Move Piano Care & Maintenance Tips.” Gentle Giant, https://www.gentlegiant.com/blog/post-move-piano-care/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Climate Impact on Pianos: How to Protect Your Instrument.” Texas Piano Restoration, https://www.texaspianorestoration.com/climate-impact-on-pianos-how-to-protect-your-instrument/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. “Best Practices for Preparing Your Piano for Storage.” Piano Movers of Texas, https://pianomoversoftexas.com/blog/preparing-piano-for-short-term-or-long-term-storage/. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025. Temperley, Nicholas. “Tuning and Temperament.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8 Jan. 2025,https://www.britannica.com/art/tuning-and-temperament. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.