1.
What does it mean to "tune" a piano?
Pianos
have between 200 and 250 wires that have different amounts of tension
on them. When these wires are struck by a felt hammer, they produce
a sound that has a pitch. Some keys have 1 string; some have 2 strings;
some have 3 strings. All the strings of the same note have to have
the identical sound, otherwise it would sound like you are playing
more than one key when, in fact, you struck only one.
There
are 12 notes of different sounds in succession (A-G#); the following
key repeats the same sequence but at a higher pitch. All 12 notes
must be equally spaced apart in pitch in order for the chords
and melodies to sound right.
A piano tuner sets the relationship between these 12 keys, starting
with the standard A above middle C = 440 beats per second. This
ensures that the piano sounds like it's supposed to and that other
musical instruments or recordings can be played with the piano
and have the keys match up in a way pleasing to the ear.
2.
Why should I have my piano tuned?
You should have your piano tuned in order
to keep your neighbors happy! Actually there are several reasons:
You and your family will "learn" from playing your piano what
an A sounds like. This eventually becomes ingrained in you and
if the piano is out of tune you will have learned the wrong pitch
for all the keys.
A piano is designed at the factory to produce the best sound when
the piano is tuned at the proper pitch level (A-440 cps).
Postponing a piano tuning for very long makes it difficult to
bring the overall tension on the wires back to the proper pitch.
Problems that are needing attention will be noticed when the piano
is being tuned. These can be sticking keys, loose parts, squeaks,
animal damage, rusting, etc.
3.
How often should my piano be tuned?
It depends on several factors:
If your piano is new (less than 5-7 years old), the strings will
stretch rapidly and cause the piano to go out of tune very fast.
It is important to eliminate this youthful stretching by more
frequent tunings the first 5 years, 2 times a year, at least.
If your climate causes great swings of humidity and temperature
from season to season, you will need to tune your piano 2 times
a year, on average. In mild climates once a year is usually sufficient.
If someone in your household plays a very heavy style of piano,
such as gospel rock, this will put the piano out of tune very
rapidly. Probably you'll never keep it in great tune.
If your piano is 30+ years old and you live in a mild climate,
every 2 years will suffice for most people in order to maintain
the pitch properly.
4.
Why does a piano have to be tuned after
it is moved?
It isn't the jarring of the piano during the move that puts it
out of tune, normally. It's the change in environment, humidity,
and temperature that has an effect on the piano. It's usually
suggested that following a move you wait about 4 weeks before
tuning the piano. The lacquer or varnish on the soundboard acts
as a seal and takes about 4 weeks to penetrate and equalize the
different humidities. When the soundboard absorbs moisture from
the air it usually causes the pitch of the piano to rise.
5.
How long can a piano go without being tuned?
The longer a piano goes without tuning the harder it is to bring
it back into tune. A piano that has had frequent tunings for 10
years can survive years without another one, but there will be
a penalty to pay: unstable tuning.
6.
Why do some pianos stay in tune longer
than others?
New
pianos will not stay in tune very long because the strings are
stretching so much. A piano that has had numerous tuning over
a 10-year period frequently stabilizes the tension on the cast-iron
plate and remains in tune amazingly well. Some small pianos that
do not have much support in the back structure never stay in tune
well. If a piano is situated in a stable environment, no drafts,
no hot air vents, no open windows, no direct sun, it can remain
in tune for long periods of time.
7.
How can I make my piano softer in volume?
There are several ways:
Drape or tack a piece of heavy carpet over the back of the piano.
Soften the hammers by removing the hard external felt that has
become compacted.
Install an apartment muffler rail. It's a bar with a strip of
felt glued to it. When lowered it comes between the hammer and
strings and really quiets the volume without changing the touch.
It can be raised and lowered at will without affecting anything
but the volume.
8.
Can the heavy touch on my piano be changed?
Yes. The moving parts in the action may be too tight, causing
too much friction. This can be fixed fairly simply. Sometimes
just lubricating the moving parts will make it much easier to
play. If necessary lead weights can be installed in the keys to
assist the pianists tired fingers.
9.
Can the light touch on my piano be changed?
Sure. Sometimes this is caused by worn-out parts or felts; replacing
them will restore the proper resistance. Occasionally lead weights
can be installed to give more resistance to the keys.
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