What is Piano Tuning?
Piano tuning is a method of adjusting the strings of a piano to release tension, thereby changing its vibration and pitch. This is done by slowly turning the pins where the strings are attached. Piano tuning is performed so that every string will play a pleasing sound that’s well in harmony with the other strings. The perfect harmony can be achieved by adjusting the piano according to the predefined acoustical laws of music.
Tuning may seem a simple procedure but it’s far from that. It’s actually a complicated process as there are a lot of strings attached to a piano. The piano tuner has to adjust those strings the right way as the perfect tune is only achieved by producing the correct tension on the strings.
The Complexity of Piano Tuning
Piano tuning is difficult because of the design of each piano. Every piano has a specific way of tuning and the modern ones follow the loop stringing design. The challenge is that sometimes, two adjacent strings may sound the same. Only an experienced piano tuner will know how to tune pianos of different makes and models.
For the piano to be tuned properly, it has to have the perfect octave with consideration to the harmonics that vibrating strings tend to give off. Usually, the piano tuner will perform listening tests in order to make sure that the piano is tuned correctly.
How Piano Tuning is Different from Piano Repair
Piano tuners are mostly concerned about the sound that the piano creates. They are not supposed to be called if the problems with the piano are broken parts, sticking keys, and hanging dampers. Tuning mostly involves placing the correct pitch of each string, and it doesn’t cover any adjustments, repairs, or cleaning of the piano’s cosmetic, structural, and mechanical parts.
It’s important for the client to know exactly what a piano tuner does to save himself of the frustration of hiring one but no work is done. If you do need a piano tuner to help you out, it’s also necessary for the two parties to discuss the scope of the work, its cost, and what other things may have to be done to achieve the desired results.
Factors that Affect Piano Tuning Prices
Even if a piano tuner doesn’t actually repair pianos, some of them are trained to do minor adjustments. So if something is dropped inside the piano, causing the notes to go awry, the tuner may remove it and charge it as special repair.
Additionally, since every model and brand of a piano follows a different construction, the pricing of adjusting them may be different. The frequency in which the piano is tuned may also be a factor, as it may take more time to tune a decades-old one that hasn’t been used in years compared to a new piano that is frequently used.
If you need to hire a piano tuner McLean VA, be sure that you’re qualifying the best people for the job. There are those who can do a great job at tuning your piano so you can use it to play your favorite songs in the sweetest melody.
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