Tuning is a crucial aspect of the performance of any musical instrument, and the piano is no exception. If tuned well, a piano can create incredible music that fills the air with joy and amazement as well as last for as long as possible. Thus, whether it is a personal piano or a home piano rental in Singapore, tuning is one of the key aspects of maintaining your instrument. Delve further into the specifics of piano tuning, what causes it to go out of tune, and how it works!
An overview of piano tuning
A piano’s sound quality is mainly determined by its strings – all 220 of each, on average – having a unique pitch and frequency that must be configured to the rest of the strings. These strings inevitably stretch over time due to tension and cause a piano to go out of tune. If tuned regularly, a piano retains a consistent sound quality, stays in better condition, becomes easier to tune, and maintains its value more easily. Moreover, it prevents potential damage from playing with overstretched strings.
Otherwise, a piano that has not gotten any tuning for some time will be more time-consuming and expensive to get back into tune. In such cases, a piano tuner may opt to raise its pitch to correct its sound, but doing so entails pulling the strings taut and making the pitch sharp. In time, this overcompensation will hopefully cause the instrument to be in tune as it naturally stretches over time and returns to a flat pitch. If you ever need to raise your piano’s pitch, getting follow-up tunings is vital due to the added tension to the strings.
To ensure the longevity of your piano’s strings, you should ideally have your instrument checked every 6 months.
What else can cause a piano to go out of tune?
There are several other reasons why a piano can fall out of tune, including:
- Environmental factors are the top reason why a piano goes out of tune. This is because most pianos are generally made from wood, a porous material that tends to contract and expand according to the surrounding humidity. If the humidity rises, the soundboard will expand in turn and stretch the strings, slightly raising its pitch; alternatively, it contracts and decreases the tension and pitch of the strings.
- Overplaying can also cause a piano to de-tune, but this is generally unnoticeable if you own a piano because you are the only one playing it. However, in places like music schools or conservatories, the pianos can be played for up to 14 hours or more per day for various activities. Constant (and especially loud) playing can also increase a piano’s sensitivity to humidity changes and, as mentioned in the previous section, cause several parts to slightly bend and twist. In short, playing the piano constantly accelerates this method of de-tuning.
- Moving the piano is another reason why it could bend or twist ever so slightly, as no piano stays completely solid when moved. Thus, the minute shifts can cause the parts inside to move even just a tiny bit yet have a noticeable impact on the strings’ tension. Keep in mind that pianos were made to settle in one place only, not move around constantly. Of course, there are times when relocating them is necessary, but their inherent design does not take well to being moved too much.
Conclusion
A regular piano tune-up is essential to keep your instrument in tune and ensure that it does not impede your playing. Whether you’re a beginner just starting with playing the piano or an experienced pianist, regular tuning is important as it allows you to master the correct pitches and develop good ears for a well-tuned piano. Moreover, it helps to boost your confidence and motivation to keep learning.
With our decades-long history of dealing with pianos, Mun Kai Piano Company is the most trusted piano dealer and servicer you can rely on for unparalleled expertise and savings when tuning, servicing, buying, or renting a piano in Singapore. Visit our piano showroom at Ang Mo Kio today to get a feel of the pianos we offer!