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Piano Tuning
Tuning is a foundational component of routine piano maintenance. An out-of-tune piano can hinder the learning process, make playing alongside other instruments or recordings unpleasant, and cause students to experience unnecessary frustration. An in-tune piano, on the other hand, facilitates a smooth learning process and allows for a positive, enjoyable musical experience.
Beyond a pleasant listening and learning experience, regular tuning ensures that your piano performs as designed, and is crucial for the long-term tuning stability of the instrument. Investing in regular piano tunings is the easiest way to support your piano’s well-being and make the most of your instrument.
Why Pianos Go Out of Tune
The piano's main structure and soundboard are both made of wood, which expand and contract with temperature and humidity variation. During more humid periods, wood expansion imposes additional pressure and tension on piano strings, causing their pitch to go sharp. In dryer spells, the wood in the piano contracts, releasing string tension and causing the piano’s pitch to go flat. These ever-moving fluctuations in climate are the main reason pianos go out of tune.
What's Included in the Tuning Service:
Tuning
Whether it’s been 6 months or 20 years since your piano has been tuned, your piano will be in tune at the end of the appointment!
Diagnostic Evaluation
To ensure your piano’s action components and pedals are functioning properly, a complimentary diagnostic evaluation is included with each piano tuning service.
Minor Repairs
Sticking keys or squeaky pedal? Small repairs or quick adjustments can often be performed at the tuning service call for no extra charge. If larger repairs or replacement parts are required, we are happy to prepare an estimate for additional services.
Preliminary Cleaning
Your piano’s key tops are cleaned and case parts wiped down. Should your piano require a more extensive internal deep cleaning, please find additional information here.
Ready to proceed?
Contact Brad Fant Piano Service to schedule your piano tuning.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which areas do you service?We service the area denoted in green on the map below. This includes, but is not limited to: Ballantyne, Carmel, Dilworth, Matthews, Myers Park, Quail Hollow, South End, and SouthPark. Please contact us by phone at 704-593-6741 or by email at bradfantpianos@gmail.com to inquire about special accommodations.
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How often do I need to have my piano tuned? Why does it go out of tune?Generally, pianos should be tuned every 6 months or every year, even if they are not being played regularly. Pianos on the concert stage, in recording studios, or in schools may require more frequent tuning and attention. The piano's main structure and soundboard are both made of wood, which expand and contract with climate change and humidity variation. Fluctuations in the wood net an out of tune piano. It is especially important to tune new pianos several times during their first few years to ensure that the string tension and piano structure reach a stable equilibrium. For more information about tuning, please see here.
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What is a "pitch raise?"All modern pianos are designed to be tuned and sound their best at "standard pitch," where A4=440 Hz (A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second). If a piano has not been tuned for an extended period of time (over ~12 months), has been through extreme climate fluctuations, or has been moved, the overall pitch of the piano may be significantly higher or lower than standard pitch. In this situation, the piano will require a pitch adjustment or "pitch raise" to bring the piano’s combined string tension back into a normal range before a standard fine tuning can be performed. A pitch raise and fine tuning are typically performed in the same service appointment, but in very extreme cases, where multiple pitch raises are necessary, a second appointment may be necessary. The need for a pitch raise cannot be determined without assessing the piano in person. For more information about pitch raises, please see here.
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I'm moving. How can I move my piano safely and when should I have it tuned?Moving your piano shouldn't be stressful and you most definitely should not attempt to move it yourself. Hire an insured piano mover, not just any mover! The piano is a fragile instrument and permanent damage can easily be done by an inexperienced mover. Please feel free to reach out if you would like a referral. It's generally recommended to wait about one month after your move to tune the piano, allowing it to acclimate to the new location. This will net a more stable tuning than had it been tuned immediately.
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Do you repair digital pianos and keyboards?We do not service or repair digital pianos/keyboards, and recommend contacting your instrument's manufacturer for a referral to a certified service center: Casio Kawai Korg Roland Yamaha
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What is a RPT (Registered Piano Technician)?The Piano Technicians Guild is a nonprofit organization that regulates the trade of piano technology. A RPT is a piano technician who has undergone and passed tuning, technical, and written exams according the the Piano Technicians Guild standards. The Registered Piano Technician certification is the only official guild certification for piano technicians in the United States. For more information about Registered Piano Technicians, please see here.
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What type of payments do you accept?Accepted forms of payment include: paper check, cash, Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, and all major credit and debit cards. For more information about payments, please see here.
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