When you purchase a piano, one of the first things you should know is the piano tuning cost. Tuning and maintenance costs should be included in your overall budget. Much in the same way you wouldn’t buy a car with the expectation that you’ll never have to install new brake pads or change the oil, you shouldn’t buy a piano unless you are willing to have it serviced every year.
What does a piano tuning cost?
Gone are the days of $95 tunings. In 2023 you can expect a tuning to cost anywhere from $200-$500 depending on factors such as the last time the piano was tuned, and other issues such as lots of sticking keys, squeaky pedals, double hitting and so on. If you call a Steinway store, tunings start around $250 and go up from there.
Why is the price higher than it used to be?
There are a few reasons why the piano tuning cost is more than what was advertised in the past. Here are some differences in the way piano tuning and service is handled now vs the past (and unfortunately some tuners in the present):
1. Piano tuners often left many issues unresolved
They would come in, tune the piano, and leave. Pedal noise / regulation, action problems, voicing issues, and even simple things like removing pencils that have fallen into a grand piano or upright piano bottom boards that aren’t attached properly are commonly found in my experience when working with a new client.
2. You are getting more value (more than the old piano tuning cost)
When you book an appointment with us, we don’t just simply tune the piano and leave. We are checking and correcting multiple things before, during and after the tuning. We go thru a checklist which include things like: Is there any double hitting? Is the hammer hitting all 3 strings evenly? Was that F# a little too bright compared to it’s neighbors? Are the dampers effectively dampening all the strings evenly? Is the sustain of the string a little too short? Is this key returning as quickly as the other keys? Someday I may post the entire list as it could take up an entire blog all by itself.
3. Focus on the high end
Back in the 1970’s, it seemed like almost everyone had a real acoustic piano in their home. If you go back a little further, the piano was often the primary form of entertainment for a large percentage of the population. But the prominence of the piano has been chipped away by radio, TV, keyboards, computers, and a loss of focus on the importance of music education in general.
What does this mean?
It means that if you own and play a real acoustic piano in 2023, you’re special, and the people who help keep the instrument working are extremely specialized. The trend has been for the cheaper budget pianos to drop off, and higher quality instruments are taking their place. Chances are, if you go to the trouble of owning a real piano over a keyboard, you’re not going to consider a lackluster piano. What’s the point? A great keyboard can be had for around $2500, and they don’t even need to be tuned!
We are focused on the high end and everything we do is geared toward that mission. Keeping your piano not just in tune, but in good working order all the way around is our goal. Now that you’re ready to book a tuning with us, simply scroll to our scheduler below. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email caleb@chicagopianotuners.com or text me at 312-785-9393 anytime.
