Amstutz Piano Tuning and Repair

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Playing a piano that has been well looked after can be very satisfying. Here are some commonly asked questions with answers that will help you maintain your instrument and keep it performing at its peak:

Q: How often should my piano be tuned?
A: If your piano is new, it should be tuned more regularly. If you buy a new piano from a dealer, they will usually provide you with a complimentary tuning shortly after you receive your new piano. After that tuning, you should have your piano tuned every 6 months. The strings on a new piano need time to be stretched to the point where they will hold their pitch well. If this is done when your piano is new, it will maintain tunings for much longer periods of time as it gets older.
However - you should not let your piano go for longer than a year between tunings. 6 months remains the ideal schedule for a tuning. Your piano was built to hold the standard pitch of A-440, and maintaining its tuning so as to keep it on that pitch is best for it.

Q: Why does my piano go out of tune?
A: There are many different factors that can cause a piano to go out of tune. Here are a few:

Playing it. Although it is designed to maintain it's pitch while being played, daily playing, or hard pounding will cause enough strain on the strings that it will pull it out of tune. You may or may not notice it, which is why it's good to have it tuned every 6 months.
Not playing it. Even a piano that sits untouched for periods of time will go out of tune. The piano is built to hold 18 - 20 tons of pressure when all the strings are pulled up to pitch. Natural forces of gravity alone are enough to pull a piano out of tune.
Humidity. As the moisture content in the piano changes from season to season due to humidity, the strings are stretched tighter in a humid environment, or allowed to relax in a drier climate. Humidity control devices on your piano can help decrease this change to the tuning, but a piano will still need regular attention (6 months - 1 year) to maintain proper pitch.
Moving a piano. This is a double whammy for any piano. The moving alone will affect tuning, but also being in a new environment can affect your pianos sound. A store or home from where a piano is purchased can have different temperature or humidity conditions that will affect the tuning. A piano that is just moved should be allowed to "acclimatize" to the new surroundings for a period of time. Once the piano "rests" from these changes, it can be tuned with best results for a longer-lasting tuning.
Temperature. Just as humid and non-humid environments affect your pianos tuning, so do warmer and cooler conditions. It is best to situate your piano where it won't be affected by direct sunlight, heat from a fireplace, or vents that can blow cold or warm air. In a well built home, putting a piano on an "outside" wall should not be a problem.

Q: When is it best to have my piano tuned?
A: It's best to have your piano tuned when seasonal changes are established. In Calgary, this may be difficult to know ahead of time with our unpredictable weather patterns throughout the year. In this case, consistency in when your piano is tuned is also a good guide. For instance, if you have your piano tuned only once a year, make it during the same month each year. If you live in an area where the temperatures are more easily anticipated, schedule a tuning once winter has set in, and then again once summer arrives.

Q: What is a "pitch-raise"?
A: If a piano has gone flat to a point where it measures A-338 or less, (Standard is A-440), your piano should have a pitch raise. This is a "quick" tuning that is necessary for different reasons. First, the pressure across the piano from top to bottom must be consistent in order for the strings to hold their pitch. Because of the way that your piano is built, an even pressure must be established at the proper pitch so that one string will not pull another string out of tune. A pitch raise establishes an even "pull" on the piano and the individual strings so that a fine tuning will hold. Also, strings need to be "stretched" again once they have been allowed to go flat. A pitch raise pulls the strings up again or stretches them to a point where they will stay where they need to once a fine tuning is performed. A pitch raise is done quickly to accommodate both factors mentioned above and takes approximately 45 minutes to do. In some cases, a piano may need more than 1 pitch raise before it will hold a fine tune.

Q: What is involved in servicing my piano?
A: This may vary from one tuner/technician to another, but basic servicing should include checking factors that will affect the sound and feel of your piano. There are many moving parts for just 1 key, so thorough servicing can take time, but a piano that is maintained for both tone quality and touch will be the most satisfying instrument to play.

To set up an appointment please contact Lori Phone:�403-998-3607 or Email: tunergal@telus.net	Piano tuning and conditioning in Calgary, Alberta and surrounding area
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