Piano Tuning
770-876-7340 To schedule Piano Tuning
Piano Tuning Atlanta serves the entire metro area / Call or text us anytime Except Sundays.
Pianos go out of tune primarily as a result of relative humidity changes in the air which often varies from 22% to 90% moisture content here in Atlanta, GA. Humid air, which we typically experience (more often in Atlanta during the spring, summer and autumn months), swells the piano soundboard causing more tension on the strings, thus forcing the strings (as a whole) to sound sharper. When we experience very dry weather here in Atlanta (typically in the winter months when homes are heated), the Piano soundboard shrinks, causing a relaxing of the string tension, and thus, a flatter pitch sound.
With the soundboard constantly alternating back and forth, from moist to dry, each individual string also gets further out of tune from the string right next to it, eventually rendering the sound musically unacceptable. Piano Tuning is most commonly scheduled by homeowners every six months or once per year. Piano Teachers, music performers, and church building pianos can be tuned every 3 months. Keeping a piano near 42% optimal relative humidity will reduce the need for larger pitch adjustments when the piano is tuned and maintain higher quality sound throughout the year.
When the piano strings get more than 7% sharp or flat from the standard A-440 pitch (middle A tuned to 440 beats per second), a piano tuning pitch adjustment is required first. This will position the strings close enough in tune, so the fine tuning can be performed, to set the pins solidly in place. The pitch adjustment tuning and fine piano tuning are completed on the same visit.
As pianos age, the immense string tension eventually can cause cracks in the bridges (where the speaking length of the piano string terminates at the bridge pin). These cracks can cause the piano to go out of tune easily since the speaking length of the string is no longer clearly defined. Also, at the other end of the piano string speaking length, the piano’s tuning pins (used by the Piano Tuner / Technician to adjust the tension of each string) over decades of time can become gradually loose in the pin block which will cause those particular strings (where the tuning pins are loose) to go more flat than the rest of the piano. Our Piano Tuner Technician can make the needed repairs at the time of Piano Tuning.
Placing your Piano against an inside wall in your home away from heating/AC vents, doors and windows can help to maintain a more consistent humidity environment for your instrument. This will keep the piano more closely in tune and help to protect the wood and felt parts from deterioration. Avoid placement of your piano in an underground humid basement. Covering or redirecting heating vents blowing on your piano’s soundboard is recommended when it is not workable to find a more suitable location for the piano in your home.
In cases where average or below average quality pianos are more than 6 decades old (as a general rule pianos built before 1950), it is often best to make an investment in a newer piano rather than repair the old one. A detailed inspection of your piano bridges, strings, pin block, and soundboard is performed to determine whether the piano is able to hold a tuning. An old piano with compromised bridges and/or pin block can sometimes as needed be put in tune with itself lower than the standard A440 pitch in order to preclude the strings from breaking. Call us about evaluating a used piano before you decide to make the purchase.
Call us at 770-876-7340 for specific answers to questions pertaining to your Piano Tuning needs in Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs. We are ready to serve you Monday through Saturday at a time convenient for you. Thank you! Bob & Charity Kopczeski