Playing on a piano that is out of key or whose timing is off is nothing but unpleasant.
Playing on such a piano will hinder your growth as a pianist.
If you keep hearing the sound of the key being off, you won't be able to develop your sense of pitch.
Also, if you keep listening to sounds whose timing is off, you will not be able to develop a sense of rhythm.
Over time, or if you practice on the piano many times, the piano strings will inevitably become loose.
Not only the strings, but also the hammers and keys may be physically misaligned.
It is important to adjust and tune the piano when necessary.
table of contents
Check first
To ensure that you can play and practice with your piano at a high quality, here's how to check if there are any problems with your piano.
- Press the keys while watching the piano strings, and check whether the hammers are moving in a timely and correct manner.
- Are all three strings on the keyboard (normally three strings per key sound) vibrating?
- When using a commercially available tuner, check if the pitch is different.
If you have a problem with any of these three items, adjustments are required.
Of course, if something doesn't sound right to your own ears, it might be time to tune the piano.
Adjustment/tuning expiration date
When was your piano last tuned?
Do you remember the last time you adjusted it?
If your piano hasn't been adjusted or tuned for more than a year, it probably needs an adjustment.
The piano gradually goes out of key, so it may be difficult for your ears to notice.
Even if after a year you think you can do without tuning because you use it all the time, you'll probably notice a big difference if you tune it.
Most pianos need to be tuned at least once a year
Piano dehumidification and humidification
If your piano experiences changes in temperature, humidity, or location, you may need to tune it more frequently.
Pianos are sensitive to temperature and humidity.
Please also refer to this article.
You can also purchase equipment to regulate humidity inside the piano. In humid areas, you can install a dehumidifier rod, a metal rod with a low heat value, inside the piano to keep it dry.
This is a dehumidifier exclusively for pianos sold under the name "Dump Chaser."
These not only help maintain the piano keys, but also prevent the strings from rusting.
On the other hand, if you live in a very dry area or during dry seasons, try using a humidifier in the room where your piano is kept. This is not a problem with common humidifiers available on the market.
However, do not place the humidifier too close to the piano. Excessive humidification can actually damage the piano. Even in the dry winter season, be careful not to use too much humidification.
Frequency of adjustment/tuning
Pianos require regular care .
If your piano hasn't been tuned in five or ten years, tuning it once is not enough. This is because the key may come out again immediately after tuning.
Don't let your guard down until you can repeat the tuning regularly.
Don't forget to check it from time to time between practices.
If you are tuning it fairly regularly, would be once every few months
The main reason for this frequency is, of course, seasonal.
No matter how well you manage it, it is extremely difficult to create the same environment all year round in a typical household.
The best choice would be to tune it when the seasons change.
However, tuning takes money and time.
If you can't afford to have your car tuned once every few months, try getting it tuned at least once a year.
Don't forget that playing on a piano that produces the correct tone will improve the quality of your practice.
In order to step up your practice, try not to reduce the frequency of tuning as much as possible.
How to tune a piano
When tuning your piano, always contact a qualified tuner yourself by looking at the internet etc. as a DIY method .
If done by an amateur, tuning, which is supposed to extend the life of the piano, may actually shorten its life.
There is a national qualification for piano tuning called ``Piano Tuning Technician''. There are three grades, none of which are easy to obtain.
Also, the fact that it is recognized as a national qualification shows that tuning a piano is not an easy task.
Leave the piano tuning to a professional.
If you contact a nearby music store or official piano school, they will usually be able to introduce you to a piano tuner. There is also a lot of information on the internet, so do a search.
Please note that anyone can call themselves a ``piano tuner'' even if they are not qualified. It may be difficult to ask, but be sure to check whether the person is qualified.
This article describes the process and precautions for tuning.
tuning cost
The tuner will check the piano for at least an hour. I have had my piano tuned many times, and they sometimes find abnormalities that an amateur would not be able to find.
If it's just a simple tuning, you should expect to pay 10,000 yen or more
However, there are many individual tuners who do this work, so the prices vary.
If the tuning alone costs more than 50,000 yen, it is better to ask for details to see if they are being scammed.
If your piano's strings are rusted, broken, or haven't been tuned in a while, you'll need string replacement.
the cost will be around 200,000 yen at the least
The price is quite high compared to tuning, but this is the average price. I understand your doubts, but the price is right.
Replacing the strings will help stabilize the sound. However, just like during a car inspection, the tuner may frequently ask you to replace the brake, so be sure to check it out with your own eyes and make your own judgment
Finally
If you tune and adjust your piano, you will be able to hear the correct tone when practicing the piano, which will improve the quality of your practice.
Invest your time and money to take care of your piano. If invested correctly, it can be of great value not only to those just starting out, but also to future generations.
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