Is your piano in tune?

Playing on a piano with a missing key or a piano with a distorted timing of the sound is nothing but uncomfortable. Playing on such a piano will hinder your growth as a pianist. If you continue to hear the sound of the missing key, you will not be able to develop your pitch. Also, if you continue to hear sounds that are off-time, you will not be able to develop a sense of rhythm.   As time passes or you practice on the piano multiple times, the piano strings will inevitably become loose. Not only the strings, but the hammer and keyboard may also be physically off. It is important to adjust and tune the piano when necessary.      

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 there is a problem with one of these three items, adjustments are required. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable with something different with your own ears, it may be time to adjust the piano.      

Adjustment/tuning expiration date

When was your piano last adjusted? In the first place, do you remember when you adjusted it last time? If your piano has been out of 1 year or more without adjustment, it is likely that it will need to be adjusted. The keys of the piano gradually unlock, so it may be difficult to notice with your own ears. Even if you think that it's okay to use it in a year and don't have to tune it because you're always using it, there will be a big difference if you tune it. Most pianos areAt least once a yearIt needs to be adjusted.      

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 humidityThat's it. Please also refer to this article.     You can also purchase equipment to adjust the humidity inside the piano. In humid areas, a dehumidifying rod, a low-heating metal rod, can be attached to the inside of the piano to maintain dryness. This is a piano-specific dehumidifier sold under the name "dump chaser." Not only will they help maintain the keys of the piano, they can also prevent the strings from rusting. On the other hand, if you live in very dry places or are dry, use a humidifier to adjust the room with your piano. This is a commercially available humidifier, and is fine. However, make sure you don't bring the humidifier too close to the piano. Excessive humidification can actually damage the piano. Even in the dry winter season, be careful not to humidify too much.      

Frequency of adjustment/tuning

  The piano needs regular careis. If your piano has not been tuned for 5 or 10 years, it is not enough to tune it once. This is because the keys may fall off again immediately after tuning. Don't let your guard down until you start tuning regularly. Don't forget to check it out from time to time between practice. If you are tuned regularly,Ideally once every few monthsIt would be the tuning. The main reason for this frequency is indeed due to the season. No matter how much you manage it, it is very difficult to create the same environment in an ordinary household all year round. Tuning at the time of the season is the best option. However, tuning takes time and money. If you don't have the time to tune once every few months, try to tune at least once a year. Don't forget, playing on a piano that plays the correct tones will improve the quality of your practice. To improve your own practice, try not to reduce the frequency of tuning as much as possible.      

How to tune a piano

When tuning the piano, alwaysContact a qualified tunerPlease. I'll definitely look at the internet and do my best to do it myself.Don't tune it in a DIY wayPlease. If an amateur does it, the tuning that is supposed to be done to extend the lifespan of a piano can actually shorten its lifespan. He is a national qualification called "Piano Tuning Technician" for piano tuning. There are three grades, but none of them are easy to get. Furthermore, the fact that it is positioned as a national qualification shows that tuning a piano is not easy. Leave the piano tuning to a professional. When you contact a nearby music store or an official piano school, they will usually refer you to a piano tuner. There is also a lot of information on the internet, so try searching for it. One thing to note is that anyone can call themselves the profession of "piano tuner" even if they do not have a qualification. It may be difficult to hear, but make sure you check if you are qualified. This article describes the process and points to note before tuning.      

tuning cost

The tuner will check the piano for at least an hour. I have been tuned my piano many times, and sometimes they will spot strange events that an amateur can't find. At least if it's just simple tuningOver 10,000 yenIt's best to assume that. However, there are many tuners who work on their own, so the prices vary. If the tuning alone costs more than 50,000 yen, it is better to ask for details to make sure you're not overwhelmed. If the piano strings are rusty, broken, or have not been tuned for a while, you will need to "change the strings." In this case, even if it's cheapAbout 200,000 yenYou will incur costs. It's a much higher price than tuning, but this is the market price. I understand the doubts, but the price is not wrong. Replacing the strings will make the sound more stable. However, like when inspecting a car, the tuner often encourages you to replace it, so you can look closely with your own eyes andMake your own judgmentLet's do it like that.    

Finally

Tuning and adjusting the piano will allow you to hear the correct tones during piano practice, improving the quality of your practice. Don't spare any time and money to manage your piano. By investing correctly, it will be very valuable not only for those who are practicing now, but also for the next generation.