Costs for Piano Tuning
In this article, you’ll learn when and how often you should have your piano tuned, what costs to expect, and what alternative to a piano exists that doesn’t need tuning.
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Gordon November
Gordon November
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A piano was my first great love.
Yes, I know, that sounds cheesy. But the fact is: if you’ve once let an instrument into your life, played it for months or even years, and expressed your feelings through it – then that’s a real love story. Almost like in Hollywood.
And yes, the love grows bigger the more time you spend with your piano. It simply becomes a part of your life.
Ideally, of course.
But when does this ideal scenario occur?
Always when you enjoy playing the piano. When you practice and play at intervals you like. And when you are able to express your mood at the piano.
You experience all of this with intuitive piano playing. Here, you are always completely with yourself and your piano. Probably the most beautiful way to express your love for the piano. But more on that later.
What I’m getting at is: what you love, you care for. Some love their garden and spend every free minute tending to plants and mowing the lawn. Others love fishing and find great joy in preparing their fishing equipment. And still others – like me – simply love their piano.
And what’s part of caring for it? Exactly, tuning. Because that ensures that note after note sounds clean and is perfectly in tune. And that, in turn, ensures that you experience pure enjoyment when playing.
How often should you have your piano tuned?
The piano tuner should visit you at least once a year. That’s a good rule of thumb, at least. But honestly: as so often in life, there’s no single correct answer to the question of the right frequency.
Numerous factors are responsible for your piano going out of tune. And they all determine how quickly that happens. So, if you live under optimal conditions for your piano, tuning might even be necessary less often than once a year.
The good thing is – pun intended – it eventually ‘settles in’. You’ll develop a feel for when your grand piano or upright piano needs to be tuned. This will lead to a regular cycle for when you call the piano tuner.
Tip: Ideally, the piano tuner should visit you at the end of the heating season. Why? You’ll find out in the next section.
What factors affect the sound of my piano?
Every piano’s archenemy: humidity.
I’m not kidding. I’m completely serious.
Fluctuating humidity changes the tension on your piano’s strings. How exactly does that happen? The moisture is absorbed and released by the soundboard – which is usually made of spruce wood. So, the wood is constantly in motion.
If you’ve ever looked inside your piano, you know: the strings run over a bridge and are stretched across the soundboard. The bridge therefore transmits the vibrations of the strings to the soundboard.
Meaning: If the soundboard expands or contracts due to humidity, this also affects the tension of the strings.
The good news: If you ensure a constant temperature and humidity in your piano room, your instrument won’t go out of tune as quickly. A hygrometer helps you monitor the humidity. They are available for around 7 euros.
Ideally, the room where your piano is located should be 20 to 23 degrees. The humidity should be around 50 percent.
What costs should I expect for piano tuning?
I have to be a spoilsport for a moment.
Fact is: You MUST have your piano tuned regularly. Otherwise, you risk losing the fundamental tuning of your instrument. And that can lead to no piano tuner in the world being able to produce a clean, correct sound from your instrument again.
So, investing in a piano tuner is worth it. And it’s not even that expensive. Typically, the service costs around 100 euros. The professional’s travel costs are added on top. But that’s it.
Can amateurs tune a piano?
Saving money. We Swabians are surprisingly good at that. Being thrifty is practically a national sport for us.
As thrifty as I am, I’m also keenly aware: there are things that simply have to be done and paid for. This includes piano tuning and grand piano tuning.
Why? Because anything else only causes harm. It harms your instrument because eventually, it can no longer be tuned as it should. And it harms you because your piano playing simply won’t sound as beautiful.
We can agree that a piano should be tuned regularly. But isn’t there still a way to save money? For example, by tuning the instrument yourself?
Good point. And a clear answer from me: I absolutely cannot advise you to tune your piano yourself. That’s far too delicate. In the worst case, you’ll cause more damage than you fix.
What is possible, however, is a slight retuning. For example, if a specific note has gone out of tune. But even here, sensitivity and know-how are required. There’s a reason why piano tuners undergo training.
So, what you can do: When the piano tuner is at your home, watch them work. It’s super exciting. And maybe the professional will reveal a trick or two on how you can retune a note on your own.
Do I have to tune every type of keyboard instrument?
For some people, the effort of having their piano tuned regularly is too great. Maybe for you too?
Then I have good news for you. There are quite a few keyboard instruments that don’t need to be tuned. Strictly speaking, never! And yet they can still make the piano musician in you happy.
By that, I mean any type of electronic piano. That could be an e-piano. A Clavinova. Or even a keyboard. All these instruments don’t need to be tuned. However, their sound cannot compete with that of a real piano or grand piano. Although modern digital pianos can have a considerable sound.
Playing a freshly tuned piano
It’s so wonderful! This feeling of playing a freshly tuned piano. And it gets even better when you are completely free while doing so. Free from sheet music. Free from the dictates of others. For me, it’s the most beautiful form of piano playing. And the only one that completely fulfills me.
“Gordon, how do I become so free at the piano?”, you ask me? I’d love to tell you.
By becoming an Intuinaut. These are people who play the piano intuitively. And who have learned this way of making music in my Masterclass Intuition.
We are a diverse group. Old and young. Experienced and novice. Returners and hobby musicians. Everyone is here. And that’s a good thing. Because they all have a great interest in learning intuitive piano playing.
Have I made you curious? If so, I cordially invite you to become a trial Intuinaut. And to sign up for my free workshop. Here you’ll get a first insight into intuitive piano playing. And it’s completely free. No obligations.
And who knows? If you enjoy it, you’ll soon be a permanent part of our Intuinaut world. And that, at a freshly tuned piano.
Play Piano by Intuition
Master Keys Without Sheet Music
With the new turbo training, you'll be proficient in every musical key within a few weeks.
(no sheet music knowledge required)
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Play Piano by Intuition
Master Keys Without Sheet Music
With the new turbo training, you'll be proficient in every key signature within just a few weeks.
(no knowledge of sheet music required)
