An Interview with Piano Tuner Toby Peecock

Q: What types of piano can be tuned?

Any piano that relies on strings held under tension and struck with felt headed hammers to produce notes. Purely electronic instruments don’t need tuning. Some early electric pianos like the Fender Rhodes do need tuning.

Q: How often should I tune my piano?

Ideally, a piano should be tuned twice a year. Many pianos are tuned only once a year, and although this is often enough to keep them up to pitch and sounding reasonable, it is often not adequate for anyone with a discerning ear. Pianos that are used professionally are tuned more frequently.

Q: I have recently bought a new piano, when should it have its first tuning?

A piano arriving at a new location may take some time to adapt to its new environment. Waiting a month or so before tuning can mean getting greater benefit from that initial tuning. However, if the piano arrives in a very poor state of tuning, it is better to tune straight away and be prepared to tune again when things settle down.

Q: Does it matter where in the house where my piano is placed?

It is best to keep your piano on an inside wall. This is more important in older buildings. Never keep a piano up against a radiator and avoid underfloor heating where at all possible. Prolonged, direct sunlight can cause the case to fade and contribute to tuning instability.

Q: Can you hear when a piano is out of tune?

The more you play, the more you will get used to hearing when the piano is out of tune. If you play several different pianos, it can help you to differentiate between those in good tune and those that aren’t. A piano that is out of tune is often characterised as sounding ‘tinny’ or ‘honky-tonk’. To check the overall pitch of the piano usually requires a reference point: a tuning fork, an electronic tuner or another instrument. However, there are a few people with Absolute Pitch who can tell without.

Q: Does the room temperature affect the piano?

The temperature has some bearing on the tuning, but it is the humidity that affects it more. It is best to keep the humidity between 45% and 60%. The more stable the humidity and temperature is, the more stable the tuning will be.

Q: One of the keys is sticking and no sound is made.  What could be the problem?

If the key goes down and no sound comes out, it usually means something is broken e.g. a hammer shank or flange or even a string. If a note plays but the key stays down, it could mean a tight bushing, there is something small jammed between two keys, the front rail of the piano is warped, or the hammers are poorly spaced. These are just a few of the most common causes.

If you need your piano tuned or you need Toby’s help please contact him via info@tobypeecock.co.uk or visit his website: www.tobypeecock.co.uk