Tuning a piano: A "do it yourself" kinda job or should I get a professional?

Question

I can play the piano well and I play by ear. I'm not a novice by any means when it comes to sound, but I don't know if I should try tuning my piano myself or get someone who has experience with it.

It's an old up-right piano but still sounds really good, just out of tune. It's all evenly untune, but only noticeably off when played along with another instrument... horribly, though it's starting to get worse.

How hard would it be if I bought a pitch pipe to do it myself?

Answer 1

Tuning a piano involves something called a "Stretch" which can be different for different types of pianos. The electronic tuning device someone alluded to is not just a simple layman's tool (or gimmick) that is somehow less professional than a By-ear tuning method. Tuning forks or pitch pipes are not a viable solution as they ignore the importance of "stretch."



Many who play the piano are not aware that over the seven-octave range of the instrument, the upper and lower registers (octaves) must be slightly squeezed to make the far outside registers sound in tune with the middle octaves of the instrument...this is called a stretch. This is a formula computation, and a professional piano tuner will be well aware of this acoustic phenomenon and tune accordingly.



To ignore this scientific acoustic principle is to accept inferior intonation indefinitely. Get a professional. He will also be able to repair small hammer and felt problems as well.



Cliff E. (classic guitarist)

Answer 2

This is no joke. Ok. So I wanted to tune my mom'a cheap piano. So, I went to the music store and bought a cheap gooseneck hammer, then I fashioned some mutes out of pencil eraser. And then proceeded to tune the piano using a Korg chromatic tuner, I.e. No stretch.



I did feel a sense of pride after. My sister could play again and it sounded better. (She had Down's syndrome and had stopped playing because it sounded so bad)



What I didn't do, was break the piano.



So now, 14 years later, I am a registered piano technician with the piano technicians guild and I tune for the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. I have a list of over 4000 names,



It wasn't hard to do, but I wasn't always good at it.



If this is something that pulls you, you will find a way to make it work out.

Answer 3

something tells me that tuning a piano is not the same as tuning a guitar. and how can an evenly untuned piano be good for your ears, i mean in a "perfect pitch" sense? I would have a professional do it at least once (even though it's kinda expensive) and ask that person if you yourself could learn how.

Answer 4

Well tuning is quite expensive.



The problem with professionals is that some tuner's tune by ear and some use that digital machine . The only time you should pay a tuner is if they are doing it by ear because then your getting a legit sound. Anyone can use that silly machine and make $100 + per tuning.

Since you say you play by ear you might be able to, but you should do it only if you know you have a perfect pitch.

There is an iPhone app for tuning your piano i believe.



But yeah I dont think it would be hard if you used a pitch pipe .





Good Luck !

Answer 5

Not recommended without training and the proper tools. You are likely to do more damage than good to the intstrument.



If its a piano without value and you still want to have a go, make sure you buy a proper "tuning hammer" and "piano tuning mutes". Don't use a pitch pipe to tune ANYTHING. Don't use a guitar tuner either or you will come to grief. Search the internet for proper piano tuning software.



If you decide to tune the piano for yourself and you mess up, it is likely that you will be charged for repairs in addition to tuning.

Answer 6

You need to remember when this was written. There were no "professional" jobs back then. Everyone worked with their hands. Farming, carpentry, fishing, etc. The principle is to live a quiet, peaceful life, mind your business and stay busy doing constructive things.

Answer 7

It's not a do-it-yourself job.



... If you want to learn, though, pick up a "junker" piano to practice on along with a good set of tools: Tuning hammer, mutes, felt strip,



This guy was hilarious --- managed not even to tune one string before giving up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjZIwxrY3Ss#t=3m15s

Answer 8

Do you even have the right tools?



It's really not a do-it-yourself job. I don't know any professional pianists who tune their own pianos.

Answer 9

Extremely hard. You should definitely get a pro. If you insist of doing it yourself maybe follow this guide

http://www.wikihow.com/Tune-a-Piano



Also dont use a pitch pipe use tuning forks they work much better