Caleb Crockett

When you’re an avid piano player, you become entuned to the instrument’s individual quirks and the unique feeling of playing it. However, as familiar are you are with your home piano, it can still be a bit difficult to identify when exactly it falls out of tune. Contrary to popular belief, you can still play the piano if it’s out of tune—even if it doesn’t sound as clear as it did before. Each tone played will still sound close to the original pitch, so unless you’re listening carefully, it might be easy to miss the change. If you want to ensure this instrument is always in peak condition, make sure you’re aware of the signs your piano is out of tune.

Individual Pitches Are Noticeably Sour

One of the most noteworthy indicators that your piano needs tuning is when individual notes begin to sound buzzy or sour. When an acoustic piano is properly tuned, each pitch should sound clear when played by itself. If it begins to sound muddled in any way, this is a sign that the corresponding string has stretched, and the sound it produces has changed.

Tone Harmony Is Off

You should also notice something is off if the overall piano harmony sounds different than before. In a tuned piano, the strings all vibrate at the same rate and mold together to produce a single note. But when some of the strings stretch or expand, the sound they make no longer fits with the ones played around it. This distorts the harmony, which you’re sure to notice in songs you know very well.

It’s Been Several Months Since the Last Tuning

Another telltale sign that your piano is out of tune is that there’s been an extended period between tuning appointments. Pianos are very sensitive to weather changes that occur over the passing months. In fact, they tend to fall out of tune quite easily when exposed to drastic climate, temperature, and pressure fluctuations. Because of this, they should be tuned often to maintain their sound. For brand new pianos, it’s recommended that you tune them about four times in their first year. After that, it should only need tuning every six months, unless it isn’t producing the sound quality you’re after.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we dedicate ourselves to providing the highest quality maintenance and tuning services in the Chicagoland area. As a professional piano tuning company, we’ve serviced acoustic pianos for over 18 years. This experience has awarded us with a better understanding of this beautiful and complex instrument and how proper maintenance is key to preserving its lifespan.

Pianos are beautiful, strategically crafted instruments that leave us captivated by their harmonious sounds and enchanting musical capabilities. However, these wonderful devices can’t produce the sounds they do if they aren’t well-kept. In order for them to continue looking and performing well, their owners must practice the proper level of care and diligence. Therefore, if you wish to keep your own instrument sounding just as lovely as the day you bought it, make sure you know how to take care of your piano.

Store It In a Controlled Environment

Pianos are traditionally crafted from the finest maple or spruce wood fibers found in nature. These materials not only make the instrument look gorgeous in your home, but they also are partially responsible for quality sound production. As such, keeping these surfaces in good condition is key to your piano’s overall performance. Unfortunately, as strong and durable as wood is, it’s incredibly susceptible to the moisture in the air and the surrounding temperature. In fact, extreme fluctuations in either can cause the materials to expand, contract, and break as a result. Because of this, you should place this instrument in a room with low humidity levels and a regulated temperature.

Keep Up With Cleaning and Maintenance

Taking proper care of your piano also involves keeping up with its required cleaning and maintenance schedules. Cleaning should occur once a month if your instrument receives heavy use, and your piano should undergo standard maintenance every few months. When cleaning, gently dust the piano with a dry, soft cloth while giving extra attention to the strings and adjustment pins. To remove any grease stains or fingerprint smudges, a slightly dampened soft cloth works well on both the keys and body of the instrument. On the other hand, maintenance should consist of replacing any faulty parts or readjusting components that may have loosened with time. The need for piano maintenance may vary depending on the model you have and its age.

Get It Tuned Regularly

Finally, no piano can be at its best without getting properly tuned on a regular basis. As the strings stretch with use, they can change in tone and create entirely different sounds than what’s expected. This makes it impossible to play a piece to its fullest potential. For this reason, it’s recommended that you get your piano tuned by a quality piano tuning service at least twice a year. Doing so keeps the instrument’s sound from changing too drastically and hindering its presentation. You can also talk with your tuner about certain techniques for keeping your piano in tune and how they would best go about maintaining its condition.

If you currently or have ever owned a piano, you’re probably aware that the tuning process is one of the most important components of maintaining it. Not only does tuning your instrument keep it playing well, but it also helps to preserve its value and charm. However, having your piano tuned can be a tedious and complicated process for those who are unfamiliar with it. As such, piano owners must understand how piano tuning works to best appreciate how beautifully this device plays.

Defining the Tuning Process

The first step to understanding how piano tuning works is knowing what the process entails and what it means for your performances. Piano tuning is the act of adjusting the amount of tension placed on each string—therefore, changing their frequency of vibration when struck by a key. This frequency of vibration, otherwise known as the string’s pitch, produces a sound that should fall into harmony with the other strings around it. This is, ultimately, how pianos produce their melodious music.

How a Piano Is Tuned

When tuning piano strings, the first essential step is to become familiar with the pitches you want it to produce. When you know what the chord should sound like, you can continuously adjust the strings until you find a sound that matches. The string tension is honed by carefully turning the piano pins attached to them—loosening or tightening the string with each turn. Once the reference notes are in tune on each fourth of the keyboard, the tuner then repeats the process with the rest of the strings in between. This procedure requires someone who’s very skilled at identifying sounds and knows the deep complexities of music theory.

While the initial steps may not sound too difficult, piano tuning is an incredibly complicated process that requires the hand a professional piano tuning technician. For those who are not as experienced in the art, it’s very easy to accidentally over or under tighten strings, leading to damages that could cost hundreds to fix. It’s also important to note that, while pianos hold their tune for a while, they can fall out of tune in certain temperatures or levels of humidity. Because of this, piano owners should consider getting their instruments tuned at least twice a year.

Making the decision to purchase a piano for your home does not happen overnight. It takes serious consideration and it’s a big commitment. Once you arrive at the decision, you find yourself with the task of choosing a piano that fits your needs and your home. If there’s one thing we know about at Chicago Piano Tuners, it is pianos and we want to help you make the best decision with these tips.

Understand the Options – Vertical or Grand?

There are four kinds of vertical pianos. Spinet pianos, are the lowest in price and height, standing at 35 to 39 inches. The console piano measures between 40 and 44 inches and a studio piano between 44 and 47 inches. The final vertical piano is the upright, the most traditional in appearance. The price and quality of sound vary for all vertical pianos, so do your research.

The grand piano is going to cost far more than a vertical. However, grand pianos come with those higher price tags for a reason. Grand pianos are not only beautiful to look at, they are incredible to listen to and play on. This is why concert pianists most often play on grand pianos.

In addition to the price tag, you will also want to consider the size of the grand piano. While many can span up to nine feet, these are most often used in concert halls. Grand pianos designed specifically for the home are just under five feet in width. Our friends have one in what would be their dining room and the melodic sounds of the piano echo through the house.

Evaluate Needs and Budget

When it comes to choosing a piano, it is important to understand why you’re purchasing one and how you, or your piano-playing family member or student, will use it. If the motivation is to enable a new learner, you may want to start smaller. If you are seriously interested in investing in a quality showpiece, and you have space, you may want to go grand!

In addition to defining your why is to consider the size of the space where the piano will be placed, the budget, and the reality of owning a piano. It’s a large instrument that takes practice to play and for too many owners, in our opinion, becomes a place to hang their coat or place their mail. Before making the commitment, evaluate your needs and budget. We wouldn’t want a good piano to go to waste!

Weigh the Pros and Cons When Choosing a Piano

Unless you have unlimited resources and space, you may not find a piano that meets all of your requirements, making it important to weigh the pros and cons.

Maybe the spinet fits into your price range, but you’d prefer something of higher quality sound. In this case, is it worth it to spend more to get what you want? Perhaps you want to invest in a beautiful grand piano, but you know it’s going to be a tight fit in the space you have in your home. Would you rather have the beautiful, timeless piano, or more room for living? That’s what you need to evaluate.

When choosing a piano, it comes down to what you want, what you can afford, and what fits the space you have. It’s not a quick decision. We’re here to help you and to tune that piano once it is properly moved to your Chicago home or school.

Moving is a time of mixed emotions. It can be exciting, and also stressful. Moving some items is as easy as putting them in a labeled box, taping it up, and carrying it to the truck. Moving your piano, won’t be quite as easy. Pianos are heavy and contain hundreds of moving parts that can be easily damaged if not moved properly. To make moving day as stress-free as possible, the best option for securely moving your piano is to hire professional piano movers.

Professional piano movers have experience.

Whether you’ve hired movers or have asked friends to help, know that pianos need to be moved with extreme care. Don’t rely on yourself or basic home movers to move the piano. Ask if they have experience and then verify it. Dropping a piano can result in damages costing up to and more than $1,000. Professional piano movers know what it takes to safely move a piano, and most likely have done it many times before.

They know what to assemble and disassemble.

In addition to knowing how to move the piano, professional piano movers will also know how to or if they should disassemble or remove any pieces before transport. Pianos are made of hundreds of pieces and parts. Professional piano movers will know if there are pieces they can or should remove for safety or ease of the move.

A basic mover will most likely just move the piano as is, with no regard for foot pedals or what is inside the piano. Once the piano makes it to your new home because professional piano movers have the experience and knowledge they will know how to properly reassemble the piano, or check to make sure nothing has shifted out of place.

Piano movers understand what it takes.

Piano movers know pianos. You can tell them what kind of piano you have, and they will know how much it weighs and how many movers to bring. They will know specifically how to lift or move your piano.

With the transport in the vehicle to the new home, more than likely strings will shift. When the big moving day comes, give us a call here at Chicago Piano Tuners, and we will get your piano back in melodic action.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we know that investing in piano is a big decision. When it comes to buying a piano, you can basically go in one of two directions, new or used. There are pros and cons of buying a new piano that we’re going to explore in this article.

Pro – Never Been Used

Similar to buying a car new, buying a piano new comes with the peace of mind that no one except you has used this piano. This means that it’s never been damaged or repaired. A piano that had been damaged or repaired, could bring more problems depending on the extent of the prior damage and the quality of the repair.

Pro – Warranty Included

A new piano likely comes with a warranty. It could even have two warranties, one from the manufacturer, and one from the store. Warranties from manufacturers commonly cover up to three years. Knowing that your piano will be covered for three years is reassuring when shelling out a hefty chunk of change for a new piano. If the piano is also covered by the store warranty, be sure to read the fine print and ask for the warranty in writing. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions for clarity purpose.

Pro – Safe start for a new pianist.

If you’re purchasing this piano for a new player, a new piano can ensure a positive new experience. If a student begins playing on a used piano, and the piano is out of tune, it can be discouraging and could result in a student blaming themselves for the unpleasant sounds or giving up due to frustration. Either way, we’d love to take a look at the piano and make sure it is properly tuned!

Con – The cost of a new piano.

We like to believe that most piano manufacturers are doing right by their customers and providing a quality product. In this case, you get what you pay for. New pianos can bring a hefty price tag, starting at around $3,000 for an upright. Grand pianos can range from $15,000 to $30,000. Don’t be dissuaded by this con of buying a new piano right away. Do your research and keep your eyes peeled.

Con – The character of a used piano.

There’s a certain charm and character that comes with a used piano that you won’t experience if you buy a new piano. There’s a reason we gravitate toward antiques and vintage style; pre-owned items hold history and stories that newer versions don’t have, and may never have. If you enjoy vintage, or the smell of old wood, an older piano is an option. However, be careful and know what you’re buying. Make sure the price tag matches the quality. If the character isn’t a big deal to you, this may not be a true con to buying a new piano.

Overall, either route to your piano acquisition will bring with pros and cons. Buying a new piano comes with some of the pros and cons listed here, and you should take these into consideration when determining where to begin your piano buying journey.

Purchasing a piano isn’t an impulse buy or a snap decision. It requires research and thorough consideration. When you’ve made the decision to invest, you want to know the quality of the piano you are taking home. In this blog post, we take a look at whether you need your Chicago piano inspected before purchasing. 

Small cost now eliminates larger repair costs later.

Investing a little extra in your piano initially can save you extravagant repair and upkeep costs down the road. A piano inspection could cost you $150 up front, but it could also save you upwards of $1000 down the road, should you find that the piano is not equal in value to the money you invested. A tech will be able to tell you if the cost is appropriate for the quality of the piano, and pinpoint any major or minor issues.

You aren’t the Chicago piano expert.

While you might be an expert pianist, you may not be able to properly assess the quality of a piano simply by looking at or playing it. Fortunately, there are experts trained just for this role ready to assist in this situation.

Enrolling a trained piano tech to conduct a proper piano inspection in addition to the assessment given to you by the salesperson, is a wise choice. No one holds all the information, so the more eyes and hands on your piano, the better.

Be picky about your piano dealer.

The best case scenario would be purchasing your piano from a pre-owned certified dealer who offers a piano warranty. There is no route safer than this, and it is the option that will leave you with the most peace of mind when making this large purchase.

Research in your area and ask any friends you may know with a piano where they made their purchases, and if they are happy with the outcome. There is a community of piano owners in the Chicago area they are always happy to provide valuable insight.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we want every piano experience you have to be a positive one.  Because of this, we hope you will consider investing in a piano inspection for your next piano purchase. As always, we will be here continually providing you with knowledge, know-how, and insight for your piano related ponderings.

Similar to buying a car or a home, buying a new piano should include research before making the investment. At Chicago Piano Tuners, we believe this is one of the best investments you can make and it’s worth exploring if you need a new piano warranty. Let’s discuss the benefits of a new piano warranty, what is covered, and why you might need one.

What Does a New Piano Warranty Cover?

A new piano warranty most often covers the cost of parts and repair for wear and tear that may occur naturally over time. Warranties differ in specifics depending on the distributor or manufacturer, which is why we recommend reviewing the warranty before purchasing the piano.

When reviewing, note anything that stands out to you as unclear, and ask questions. This is your new piano and you deserve to have all the details to make an informed and confident purchase.

Is the Warranty Backed by the Distributor or the Manufacturer?

This is an important detail to consider when deciding whether to invest in a new piano warranty. It is most desirable that your warranty be backed by the manufacturer. Most manufacturers have substantial history and capital ensuring that they will not come on hard times and have to close their doors in the time your piano is covered, which is typically between five to fifteen years.

If however, your warranty is covered by the distributor, you will want to be more cautious. Consider that this piano distributor is new to the business and may not have an established successful history. It is hard to determine if they will be financially secure or still in business, should the time come you need to cash in on the warranty.

Full versus Limited Piano Warranty

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act mandates that a new piano warranty be either full or limited. A limited warranty will only cover the original purchaser, as where a full warranty will cover the piano for its entire warranty term, no matter the owner. Should you choose to sell the piano before the warranty has expired, being able to inform potential buyers that the piano is covered by warranty, ideally backed by the manufacturer, this will ultimately increase the value of the piano.

At Chicago Piano Tuners want your piano-buying experience to be as stress free as possible, and hope this information equips you with the knowledge necessary to make a confident new piano purchase! Should you have questions, we are happy to assist the piano loving community in any way we can. Remember when you have brought that magnificent new piano home, we are here for all your piano tuning needs!

Nothing puts a damper on a beautiful piece of music quite like a note out of tune. You would think it would be audibly noticeable when you piano needs tuning, but that’s not always the case. How do you know when your piano is due for maintenance? Here are our tips for understanding if your Chicago piano needs tuning.

How does the piano sound?

If the piano sounds off, it probably is. As a piano player, you more than likely enjoy the instrument because of the clean and pure sounds of the notes. When a piano falls out of tune, the notes will sound, what many piano experts describe as tinny or twangy. If you find yourself playing all the notes right, and your ears aren’t pleased, it’s worth looking into a tuning.

In addition to the quality of the notes themselves, if you hear any out of place sounds such as squeaks, tuning may be in order. In order for us to properly diagnose, it’s a great benefit to be able to play or recreate the sound for us. Use your phone to record a video and make sure the suspicious sound is audible.

Has there been a change in environment?

Changes in environment, whether it be temperature or humidity level, are likely to cause your piano to go out of tune. There are 220 strings in a piano, and when you are moving a piano around a lot, there’s a good chance some of those strings will go slack, which is what leads to an out of tune piano. As with weather, temperature may cause strings to expand and retract leading to loose strings. And of course anytime you move a piano from one location to another, there is risk that the structure has changed and it’s a good idea to call us.

When was the last time the piano was tuned?

When all else fails, even if your piano sounds great, the weather’s been stable, and it hasn’t moved an inch, pianos should be tuned regularly. You will find that the average recommendation is at least once a year, if not twice, depending on the age and use.

While a tuning isn’t cheap, it’s a worthy investment and the cost of regular maintenance will ultimately be less than the cost of tuning a piano that has not been tuned in years.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we know and appreciate the joy of hearing a beautiful piece played on a newly tuned piano, and we want to share that joy with you. Reach out today and we will help as best we can, to determine if your Chicago piano needs tuning.

Composers are merely authors who use music to express feelings beyond words. We call it the language of music. Notes, like words, can be strung together in such a way to convey a feeling or message, to tell a story. Your words, a composer’s notes, tell a story.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we know the value of a well-tuned piano. We know as a pianist that you can hit all the right keys, but your message will only ring true, if the notes come out as planned, and that piano is perfectly in tune. We are here to help you tell your story, like many world renowned composers of yesteryear. Let’s revisit some now.

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin is among the best piano composers of all time. A French-Polish pianist born in 1810 during the romantic period, he truly was a romantic, at least when it came to his piano. Chopin’s relationship with his piano was intimate and sacred.

He is remembered for having said, “I tell my piano the things I used to tell you.”

For a composer, a piano is a trusted confidante. Chopin was no stranger to this and valued his companionship with his piano. 

Ludwig Van Beethoven

A German piano composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in 1770. He explored the styles during the transition between the classical and romantic period and was afforded the opportunity to write powerful pieces influenced by the political and stylistic changing of the times.

Composing through the French Revolution, Brittanica writers Julian Medforth Budden and Raymond L. Knapp put it so beautifully in saying that “He revealed more vividly than any of his predecessors the power of music to convey a philosophy of life without the aid of a spoken text; and in certain of his compositions is to be found the strongest assertion of the human will in all music, if not in all art.”

Beethoven had a lot of powerful feelings, and his piano was the way he would use music to express feelings beyond words.

Franz Liszt

Hungarian composer Franz Liszt was born in 1811. He began composing at eight years of age and was publicly performing as a concert pianist by age nine. Like many famous artists, Liszt endured his share of tragedy from illness to heartbreak. These common tortures led him to be a deep, and insightful man. Liszt channeled these feelings through his piano and said “music embodies feeling without forcing it to contend and combine with thought, as it is forced in most arts and especially the art of words.”

Music, the pieces we remember, the pieces that go down in history, are products of strong emotions that cannot be easily conveyed with simple words.

We know you have a story to tell or feelings to share as a musician. We know that music is more than sounds. Music is stories. Music is feelings. It is movements.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we are prepared to tune your piano, your most trusted confidante, so you can use music to express feelings beyond words.