Filed under: Uncategorized
Even the finest pianos in the world go out of tune.
From a spinet to a concert grand, all have one thing in common—they’re sensitive to changes in their environment. With more than 200 strings under 18-20 tons of tension, there are several factors which affect the tuning, but the most important is seasonal changes in humidity.
Humidity’s the culprit
Piano strings are stretched over a crowned, wooden soundboard. Like all wood, the soundboard swells in summer humidity, stretching the strings (especially the middle octaves) and causing the pitch to rise. In winter, the opposite occurs. Because of these climatic changes, even a piano that’s never played will still go out of tune.
Moving, too can cause a piano to go out of tune, though not usually for the reason that most people think. Generally, the bumpy ride in the piano mover’s van doesn’t jostle the strings out of tune. But the piano will have to adjust to the humidity of its new environment, and this often causes tuning changes.
What can you do?
•Humidity control. The ideal humidity level for pianos is 42%, though the piano can adjust to any reasonable level of humidity if it is kept stable. We can discuss ways to keep your piano’s environment as stable as possible.
•Location. Choose the piano’s location carefully—never put it near heating or air conditioning vents or an open window. Basements often cause problems because of dampness. Try to restrict the air flow near the piano, and avoid direct sunlight.
•Regular tunings. Don’t expect good music from any piano that isn’t tuned and serviced regularly. Most manufacturers suggest tunings twice a year for a piano in use in the home.
Maybe you can’t fool Mother Nature. But by following these tips you can help your piano stay in tune and do what it does best—bring you the satisfaction of making beautiful music.
–Evelyn Smith, RPT
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
