Piano Tuning

Though it was often the setup to a joke involving unqualified cartoon characters and the aftermath (such as their teeth becoming piano keys after the piano lands on their head), piano moving is serious stuff. Read on to learn some of the things you should consider when hiring a piano mover.

Are they insured?

Sounds simple enough, but wait until your precious piano falls over during transport and you’ll wish you would’ve asked. There’s a reason to choose professionals instead of your cousin Tyler who has a 20ft enclosed trailer. Proof of insurance is also required at virtually any high rise building in Chicago.

Do they know what they’re doing?

Check the prospective mover’s Google ratings. While there may be one or 2 unsatisfied clients (it’s nearly impossible for there not to be) try to find someone with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars or higher. In this day and age, having fewer than 10 reviews is potentially a red flag. Ask around to understand their reputation.

Who do the dealers use for piano moving?

Piano dealers aren’t messing around when it comes to their inventory and reputation. If the movers make a mistake, deliver a piano really late, or scratch your floors, it’s not just the moving company that suffers from the bad reputation strike, it’s also the dealer. Call piano dealers directly and ask who they use.

Wait, you used to move pianos?

Sometimes I let it slip to my clients that I used to move pianos. Usually it’s uttered in a semi-joking manner to discourage anyone asking if I can help move theirs. Occasionally I’m willing to move an upright a few inches, but anything beyond that is left to dedicated piano movers, especially if the piano is on carpet.

Please just tell me who to call for piano moving

Okay, I will give you the link to the movers I use here. Not only do they have hundreds (yes hundreds) of great reviews, they also work directly with multiple dealers. Win win! Even if you choose someone else, this guide will help you when you’re choosing your piano mover.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our homepage.

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.

I still don’t fully understand how search engines work, but when I type in “___ near me” I hope that I will magically get a curated list of local “___” in the search results. If you live in or nearby Chicago, typed in “Piano Tuner Near Me” and are now reading this blog, then something actually worked!

Our service area

To make it incredibly simple, Chicago Piano Tuners is based out of downtown Chicago, and we will go anywhere…I repeat…ANYWHERE within 60 miles of Wacker Drive.

But I’m looking for a Piano Tuner in Oak Park…

That’s okay! We have lots of clients in Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest and Berwyn. We like to group tunings together by location as much as possible, and love getting to spend the day admiring Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

My mother in law is looking for a Piano Tuner in Evanston

We love Evanston and are there at least a few times per month. And if your mother in law has a friend looking for a piano tuner in Glencoe or Highland Park, we will go there too!

Actually, I’m a little further out, I’m looking for a Piano Tuner in Naperville

Once again, no problem at all! We have lots of happy clients in Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Downers Grove. There is no additional charge to visit these areas.

Okay…I’m (technically) just outside your 60 mile service radius, I’m looking for a Piano Tuner in Sandwich IL

If you live just outside of our service area, we would still be happy to work with you if possible. We just ask that you text or email us first to let us know where you are, and we will work together to find a date that works for everyone!

We understand that not everyone has a piano tuner in their immediate neighborhood, and that’s why we are happy to travel to you. Even though Chicago is in our name, we love visiting other communities.

Go ahead, book your appointment now!

We make it very easy to book your appointment, just scroll to the scheduler below, enter your information, and you’re done! If you have any questions, you can always email caleb@chicagopianotuners.com or text us anytime at 312-785-9393. We always strive to respond as quickly as possible. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response, (although we usually get back within a few minutes). Now that you’ve found your Piano Tuner Near Me, it’s time to book!

If you’d like to understand more about the cost of piano tuning or read any of our other blog posts, click here for our list. If you’re interested to hear Caleb’s story, check out this podcast.

(Updated June 26th 2023) It’s common knowledge that no acoustic piano will be in proper playing condition unless you tune it first. However, for those new to the instrument, it can be difficult to gauge just how often this process needs to occur. For this reason, everyone who wishes to get into the art of piano playing should understand the intricate details of piano performance, maintenance, and general care. This is how often you should have your piano tuned and what it means for your instrument.

In the First Year

While it’s easy to assume that a newer piano would hold its tune longer than an old one, the opposite is actually true. Brand new strings are typically very stiff and are more likely to contract back into their original shape once stretched out. This is why it often takes several passes to tune these strings. Over the first year of its life, it’s not uncommon for your piano to need tuning about once every three months, if not more.

Long-Term Maintenance

Once you’ve owned your instrument for a year or so, how often you should have your piano tuned will change, depending on the frequency at which it falls out of tune. Since your piano’s strings should properly hold their tune by this point, you will only need to adjust the tuning if you notice a difference in the way the piano sounds. As a general rule, if you play your piano regularly, you will need to tune it about twice a year, though it could even be less often than this if you play sporadically and the climate is well controlled in your home. The more you play the piano, and / or the more unpredictable the humidity, the faster it will fall out of tune and require maintenance.

On a complicated instrument like a piano, the tuning process can be a bit arduous and difficult for many owners to understand. This is why, at Chicago Piano Tuners, we’ve dedicated ourselves to help musicians like you keep your acoustic pianos in perfect performing condition. Our piano tuning services in Chicago put forth the effort to come directly to you and will cater each session to the specific needs of your instrument. This way, you can rest assured that your piano receives the best possible care.

If you want to purchase or already own an acoustic piano, you should know how it works. Otherwise, it becomes a bit more difficult to perform specific maintenance tasks or diagnose a potential problem. As one of your piano’s dominant parts, the tuning pins are crucial to ensuring this instrument produces the proper sound and performs in a high-quality manner. Read on for Piano Tuning Pins: What Are They, and learn how they affect the piano’s overall playability.

Identifying a Piano’s Tuning Pins

You must be able to recognize which specific parts are the actual tuning pins. Also referred to as wrest pins, these small, cylindrical items are made from steel and have a hole at their top where a string is secured. The very head of the pin is often rounded or squared off so that the tuning technician can properly turn them. Tuning pins rest within the piano’s tuning block—which is a long piece of wood that extends the full length of the keyboard.

The Function of Tuning Pins

The next step to understanding what piano tuning pins are is to learn how they work. Acoustic pianos generate their sounds by striking tightly wound strings with a series of hammers. Each hammer corresponds to a specific key, and each string is being held in place by a tuning pin. These pins tighten strings until they produce the note, and they maintain that tension so that you can replicate the same sound.

When To Replace Tuning Pins

Tuning pins can last a long time—depending on how well you care for your piano. However, they do loosen in the tuning block as the wood contracts and expands with temperature and humidity changes. When the pins loosen, so do the strings attached to them. This leads to them needing repair or replacement.

To learn more about tuning pins or other crucial piano components, reach out to Chicago Piano Tuners. Our piano tuning experts in Chicago know everything about the inner workings of an acoustic piano and would love the opportunity to help you. Feel free to give us a call for any of your piano maintenance needs.

Moving into a new home is stressful enough, and the last thing you want to worry about is the condition of your piano once you’ve finally started unpacking. However, whether we realize it or not, the process of relocating your instrument can have a large impact on its ability to retain sound. Therefore, it’s important that you have an understanding of why your piano needs tuning after a move and the factors that affect its playability.

Changes in Temperature

When your piano changes locations, it’s also often put through a change in temperature. This causes its wooden components to expand or contract, which changes the amount of tension in its strings. Though this stretching is rarely severe enough to damage the piano as a whole, it does result in the strings losing their tune.

Fluctuations in Humidity

Humidity also plays a key role in a piano’s ability to maintain its tune. As with temperature, increased moisture in the air makes the wood expand, putting extra strain on the position of the strings. The strings will stretch, and their sound will suffer, meaning it’s always a good idea to get your piano tuned if you’re moving to an area with higher humidity.

Stressful Transportation Conditions

Another reason why your piano needs tuning after a move is the stress it experiences while being transported to your new home. Though we hope that our precious instruments are treated with care on the road, it’s very likely that the driver will hit one or two bumps along the way. This rustling of components can cause damage to the piano’s strings or even bend a few tuning pins, which will throw the soundboard into disarray. So, you’ll need a professional to help get everything back in playing order after your piano arrives at its new home.

Assurance of Proper Reassembly

Ultimately, you may want to get your piano tuned after moving just so you can rest easy knowing everything is in its proper condition. As we previously stated, the transportation process exposes acoustic pianos to a series of different hazards. Therefore, it’s often in your best interest to get it checked out anyway. Even if you don’t notice any issues on the surface, it’s still possible that your piano could’ve sustained internal damage that will need to be addressed.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we’re well-acquainted with the various conditions that cause acoustic pianos to fall out of tune. Because of this, we seek to not only provide affordable piano tuning services, but also the knowledge on how to keep them in peak performing condition. This way, you can rest assured that you will always have access to the resources to properly care for your instrument.

Your piano’s tuning pins are essential to keeping all its strings in proper alignment. As such, when some of them inevitably loosen over time, it can have a serious effect on the way your instrument plays. For this reason, it’s vital that you know how to identify when some of our pins are looser than others and can perform a few basic techniques to reattach them. These are a few tips for fixing loose tuning pins effectively.

Test the Resistance of Your Tuning Pins

Before you even begin the process of tightening your tuning pins, you must first pick out the ones that actually need maintenance. While the entire piano will experience the swelling and contracting that comes with exposure to certain weather changes, various parts of the instrument will do so differently. So, just because one or two pins are loose, it doesn’t mean that all the others are as well. To identify which pins you will need to fix, place the head of your tuning lever over the pin and note how much effort it takes to turn it. If it moves with very little force, it likely needs some additional attention.

Apply Only Thin Glue Products

Upon discovering which pins you will need to retighten, the next step is to pour a small amount of glue into the pin hole. This will return the opening to its proper size and create the right amount of seal against the pin. The important thing to remember about this step is to only use thin glue products. Using anything thicker can accidentally fill the hole entirely and dirty the surrounding pins.

Drive the Pin Further Into the Pin Block

If this still doesn’t reestablish the proper tension, another tip for fixing loose tuning pins is to push the pin further into its wooden base. Since you’ll be driving it down into new wood, this process will naturally create the seal you’re after and keep the pin and its string taut when struck. However, make sure you only hammer after placing the tuning lever head over the pin to protect it. Otherwise, you could risk damaging that pin to the point that you will need to replace it.

For more information on how to properly fix and maintain your piano’s tuning pins, reach out to our team at Chicago Piano Tuners. Our piano tuning company has over 18 years of experience restoring, tuning, and fixing pianos. This makes us confident that we can assess your specific issue and resolve it in a timely manner.

Piano tuning is an intricate process that requires not just an experienced ear, but a capable hand as well. From adjusting hundreds of small screws and hammers to isolating sounds and pinpointing the source of a sour note, there’s no shortage of things to twist, turn, and move. However, what we don’t often think about are the tools that allow us to perform these tasks in the first place. After all, many of these components are far too small to adjust with your bare hands. These are some of the different types of piano tuning tools and what function each of them brings to the piano tuning process.

Tuning Lever

The piano tuning lever, otherwise known as a tuning hammer, is integral to the success of the tuning process. This is the tool that makes it possible for a professional to turn a piano’s tuning pins and either tighten or loosen the strings wrapped around them. It often consists of a long steel shaft and a sturdy handle that provides the right amount of torque. Tuning levers are also manufactured in a T-shape to assist in removing faulty pins when needed.

Mutes

Mutes are also incredibly important to piano tuning, as they allow the technician to freeze specific strings so they don’t produce any sound. This helps by allowing them to isolate certain tones and clarify how much that string needs to be adjusted. Mutes come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate several adjacent strings. Having a few different models on hand will ensure success.

Lever Tip Wrench

Another type of piano tuning tool to be aware of is the lever tip wrench. Since pianos use several different types of screws and pins, professionals need to switch out the heads of their tuning levers. Lever tip wrenches allow them to do just that. By inserting the wrench into the head and cranking it either clockwise or counterclockwise, they can loosen or tighten the tip.

Tuning Fork or Electric Tuner

Piano tuning professionals also often use either a manual tuning fork or an electrical tuner to test whether the pitch of the strings is correct. These devices are set to specific keys and designed to produce sounds mimicking the one the technician is trying to recreate. This lets them know whether the string is properly tuned or whether it needs further adjustment.

For more information about the piano tuning process, reach out to Chicago Piano Tuners. As experienced piano tuning technicians, we understand the inner workings of acoustic pianos and what’s required to keep them performing properly. We’re always equipped with the tools listed above and more in order to service the instrument you love.

Upon first purchasing or restoring a piano, there’s a lot to do to ensure that it can both create and sustain the sounds you want. This process often includes extensive tuning to best stretch the internal strings and produce the necessary tunes. However, there’s actually a service that should be performed before tuning that can help your piano maintain its sound for much longer. So, for you to properly start up and care for your instrument in the future, it’s important that you have an understanding of pitch raise in piano tuning.

Defining a Pitch Raise

Every piano has what is known as its proper pitch. This is the ideal tension that the model’s internal components should rest at for it to produce the highest quality sound possible. As a piano sits idle or untouched after manufacturing, it can fall away from this ideal pitch and make it more difficult for the tuner to bring it back to the ideal placement. As such, pitch raising is a piano tuning session performed before the actual tuning process can begin. Its purpose is to change the overall tension in the instrument itself so that it can retain that tension for much longer.

What Happens During a Pitch Raise

It isn’t enough to know what pitch raising is. To truly understand pitch raise in piano tuning, you also need to know a bit of what the process entails. When beginning a pitch raising session, the technician will increase the overall tension on all 200 piano strings rather than the select few they typically would adjust during tuning. All strings need to be adjusted to distribute the newly applied tension and put less stress on the instrument as a whole. The amount of adjustment needed for each string will also depend on the model of the piano being worked on and its sound range. From here, the piano can be tuned with minor tweaks to a select few strings.

How Often Should a Piano Undergo a Pitch Raise

While pitch raising can be incredibly helpful in getting a piano back into peak performing condition, this process can be very harsh on its internal parts. The amount of strain that must be put on the strings to stretch them back into shape can also create more tension than the device can handle. This can result in more damage over the course of its life. Fortunately, you can maintain the results of pitch raise by practicing routine cleanings and overall upkeep. So, you should only need to put it through this process once every several years.

At Chicago Piano Tuners, we know that there’s more to a piano’s quality performance than the tuning process. Because of this, along with our quality piano tuning service, we also offer specialized pitch raising for newly manufactured or refurbished acoustic pianos. This way, we can ensure that not only are you getting the best possible sounds from your instrument but also that it lasts with routine maintenance.

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.