How Often Should You Tune Your Piano?

A Raleigh Piano Tuner's Guide

If you're a piano owner in Raleigh, you've probably wondered: how often does my piano actually need tuning? It's one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer might surprise you.

The Short Answer: At Least Once a Year

Most piano manufacturers and technicians recommend tuning your piano at least once per year. But here in North Carolina, we often recommend twice a year, and there's a good reason for that.

Why NC's Climate Makes a Difference

North Carolina has something most piano owners don't think about: dramatic humidity swings.

• Summer: Hot and humid, often 70-80% humidity
• Winter: Dry from heating systems, sometimes dropping to 20-30%

Your piano is made primarily of wood, and wood expands and contracts with humidity changes. When humidity rises, the soundboard swells, increasing string tension and making your piano go sharp. When it drops, the opposite happens and your piano goes flat.

This constant expansion and contraction is why Raleigh pianos often need more attention than pianos in more stable climates.

Signs Your Piano Needs Tuning

Even if it hasn't been a full year, watch for these signs:

1. Notes sound "off" or clash, especially when playing chords
2. The piano sounds dull or lifeless, even if individual notes seem okay
3. Certain keys sound worse than others, often in the middle octaves
4. It's been through a season change. Spring and fall are common problem times.
5. You just moved the piano. Even moving it across the room can affect tuning.
6. Your piano sits against an outside wall. If it's against a wall shared with the garage or exterior, temperature swings (especially cold winters) can significantly affect tuning stability.

How Often Based on Your Situation

• Casual home piano: Once per year minimum
• Serious student: Twice per year
• Piano teacher's instrument: 2-4 times per year
• Professional/performing: Before each performance
• New piano (first year): 3-4 times (it's still settling)
• Recently moved piano: 2-4 weeks after moving, then regular schedule

The Cost of Waiting Too Long

When a piano goes too long without tuning, several things happen:

1. Pitch drops significantly, requiring a "pitch raise" before fine tuning (extra cost)
2. Strings can develop "false beats" and lose their ability to hold tune well
3. Playing becomes frustrating, especially for students developing their ear
4. The piano loses its voice and the overall tone quality suffers

We've seen pianos that haven't been tuned in 20+ years. They can usually be brought back, but it takes multiple tuning sessions and costs significantly more than regular maintenance would have.

What to Expect During a Tuning

A standard piano tuning in the Raleigh area takes about 2-3 hours. During this time, your tuner will:

• Test the current pitch level
• Tune all 220+ strings
• Check the action and pedals for obvious issues
• Let you know if any repairs are recommended

Most tunings can be done while you're home going about your day. We just ask for a reasonably quiet environment.

Transparent Pricing

We charge $100 for a standard tuning and $150 if a pitch raise is needed. That's it. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no "nickel and diming." If anything additional is needed, we'll always ask you first. Many tuners charge extra without telling you upfront. We don't.

Raleigh Piano Tuning. Honest work, lasting relationships, and pianos that sing!