Does anyone know how to tune a piano himself / herself???

I was thinking since we need so much money to maintain a piano, why not learn to tune ourselves... What do you all think???

I don't know about tuning a piano but I think it would be a really good idea to learn. But my dad is an electrical engineer and as soon as anything goes wrong with the electrics he comes up all the worst things that could happen which worries him. This couold probably be the same if you are a piano tuner.

sometimes i think about learning to tune a piano as well...it would b well worth the effort. i mean, considering that fact that u should get it tuned at least once every year, and each time it costs Singapore$90 (that's where u r right?) ...and if you keep the piano for several (say 4) years...u can do the maths.

the thing about tuning a piano by urself is that IF anything goes wrong (likely) then u won't really hav any other choice other than to either get it repaired (expensive), or buy a new one (yet more expensive). As well, if u don't tune it completely accurately and its a few notes off u might have a problem with some parts of aural, especially if ur perfect pitch (or very sensitive to pitch and able to pitch a note in ur head without referring to a piano). but u dunno if u r so that shouldn't b a problem yet.

just a few months ago i was faced with the problem of deciding whether to get a pro to tune it (we haven't gotten it tuned for three years!!!) and we decided against it...not the ideal solution, but considering the price, i just don't think it's necessary. i mean, for me, learning piano won't b a lifetime thing - its not like im gonna b a pro musician...its kind of just for fun. so tuning it doesn't seem as necessary. as long as the piano's not too off, its fine for me. (and i c if it's off by too many notes by sort of comparing it to a friend's piano, u noe, seeing if there is a difference when i play.) im not sure what u plan to do with what u learn in music but if its just for fun, u might not need to tune it. (i think i might get some objection to that....)

hope that helps, joychoi!

I've thought about it, but I'd want to know how to do it properly which would mean taking the courses etc, (which I think are fairly lengthy) and to be honest there are other things I'd rather be doing, playing, teaching and chatting to you lot on here

I don't have to tune mine, coz its digital..... but I should maybe learn how to stop the pedals switching and cancelling each other out if I use both at the same time

Dcomposer..
If you don't keep your piano tuned regularly it will get to a point where it is not possible to restore it to the correct pitch.
Painos are not cheap and not looking after it is just diminishing its value.. but if you are as happy about that as you are about playing on an instrument which is not quite in tune....

i understand what u mean but it's just that so far i don't see a need for it (not too out of tune yet) and as well i think we're selling/getting rid of (whichever one happens to make more sense) our piano soon anyways because the keys r getting sort of loose. and yes, im happy with playing an instrument that is out of tune for now anyways cos it doesn't really make a difference in my playing. some ppl might not agree with me...

i understand what u mean but it's just that so far i don't see a need for it (not too out of tune yet) and as well i think we're selling/getting rid of (whichever one happens to make more sense) our piano soon anyways because the keys r getting sort of loose. and yes, im happy with playing an instrument that is out of tune for now anyways cos it doesn't really make a difference in my playing. some ppl might not agree with me...

about the lengthy courses - yes, but if u had a friend that could show u how to do it it would b a lot shorter...but then again that would b pretty risky for ur piano.

I don't consider the cost of tuning my piano to be excessive. I pay £45 every 5 to 6 months and think it is money well spent. I think piano tuning is a very skilled job and I am happy to pay for someone's expertise to keep my piano in good condition.

QUOTE (Lucia @ Jun 16 2004, 12:44 PM)

I don't consider the cost of tuning my piano to be excessive. I pay £45 every 5 to 6 months and think it is money well spent. I think piano tuning is a very skilled job and I am happy to pay for someone's expertise to keep my piano in good condition.

I pay £28 every 6 months for tuning.

Suppose it depends what part of the country you are cost wise.

Fiona

Hi Fiona

How interesting that you pay a lot less than me maybe it does depend on where you are in the country as to the cost. The area where I come from has a lot of very wealthy people living here (I am not one of them. ) The local Waitrose is full of very posh people who no doubt own expensive grand pianos in their big country houses, to go with their ponies in the paddock. Unlike me who owns a small upright in my normal house. Maybe that's why I have to pay more?

I wonder how much you have to pay in London?

QUOTE (Lucia @ Jun 16 2004, 01:14 PM)

The area where I come from has a lot of very wealthy people living here (I am not one of them. ) The local Waitrose is full of very posh people who no doubt own expensive grand pianos in their big country houses, to go with their ponies in the paddock. Unlike me who owns a small upright in my normal house. Maybe that's why I have to pay more?

Hi Lucia,

That maybe the reason they charge so much.

Still, it's not fair. Like you say, it's not as if you are having a grand tuned.
I'm assuming it's more for Grand pianos ?

Wonder how much they do pay in London.

FIona

Mine costs around £35 because I get teacher discount... and Im not so far from you I think Fiona. Tameside.

Once I asked someone to tune my piano at home (4years after the last tuning) and found that it is 1 tone lower than actual and i didn't realize it after associate diploma! Really shocking and embarassing!

Has anyone's piano gone beyond that?

I assume it is very very serious to my piano already

So, if you are really taking care of your instrument, you really have to tune it frequently, but till now, it has been 5 years since the last time i had it tuned coz of the price that my parents find that it is not necessary to do so anyway, i'm not taking any more piano exams.

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Jun 16 2004, 02:34 PM)

Mine costs around £35 because I get teacher discount.

Hi Sbhoa,

Yes you are near me.

The tuner I use comes from Bolton. He was reccomended by my teacher.

He is very good and reliable.

I think he does quite a few of the pupils pianos in this area .

I can always PM the tel no if you are interested.

Fiona

By the way, did you go to band contest on 4th June?
We were there as usual. Great time had by all !

yes, we were there in Greenfield...
Amazing how the crowd thickened with the arrival of Brighouse

Thanks for offer of your tuner's number I have a local guy from Hyde who comes twice a year. Will stick with him I think.

No problem

Yes. It was really busy in Greenfield.

We ended up watching most of the bands on the playing field so that we could keep an eye on my 3 boys in the park.

Brilliant atmosphere as usual though.

Fiona

Oh isn't the diffierence in cost interesting, It is £30 average around here but I use a little blind man who is amazing and only charges £20 because I have to pick him up.

I think that the money spend in tuning is worth it, provided the job is done really well with no hiccups after that. That's why there's a saying that every cent spent is worth it. We are paying for the services, and not buying a product so it's really hard to compare.

I do want to consider getting a proper course to learn tuning. And one thing, if I'm able to find a freelance job on tuning then I can play tones on all kinds of upright pianos or even grands. How I wish.... (Me dreaming...)

I tune my own piano and I'd tuned it to Vallotti temperament. Bach and Mozart do sound better in an unequal temperament.

QUOTE (joychoi @ Jun 18 2004, 07:43 AM)

I do want to consider getting a proper course to learn tuning. And one thing, if I'm able to find a freelance job on tuning then I can play tones on all kinds of upright pianos or even grands. How I wish.... (Me dreaming...)

I think that some tuners will take you on as an apprentice.

QUOTE (joychoi @ Jun 18 2004, 07:43 AM)

I do want to consider getting a proper course to learn tuning. And one thing, if I'm able to find a freelance job on tuning then I can play tones on all kinds of upright pianos or even grands. How I wish.... (Me dreaming...)

Take a look at this PDF file.