How Often Should You Have Your Piano Tuned?

Why tune your piano?

A piano is a living instrument. It reacts to temperature, humidity, and of course, to the way it’s played. It’s a sensitive being that needs a bit of care to stay in shape. Over time, its strings gradually lose tension, and the tuning begins to drift. All pianos go out of tune eventually — it’s inevitable. The strings are under extreme tension and constantly pull on the tuning pins, which are simply set into wooden blocks. So even if you don’t play a single note, the tuning will still shift over time.

How often? A useful guideline — not a hard rule

It’s often said that a piano should be tuned once a year. That’s a good starting point, especially for a moderately played piano, used by the same person, in a stable environment. But it’s not a strict rule. Some pianos will need more frequent care, while others will stay in tune much longer. It really depends on the case.

What affects how often your piano needs tuning?

Not all pianos go out of tune at the same rate. Several factors play a role:

• Playing style and intensity: A concert pianist playing Rachmaninoff at full power will knock a piano out of tune far more quickly than a beginner gently working through Für Elise.

• Environmental conditions: A piano kept in a consistently warm room experiences fewer changes than one played outdoors. At a summer festival, for example, a piano tuned to 442 Hz in the morning might rise to 444 Hz by late afternoon.

• Quality and age of the instrument: Some older pianos start going out of tune before the tuning is even finished. Others — especially those with wooden frames or faulty pinblocks — may no longer be tunable at all. On the other hand, a well-maintained, recent instrument will hold its tuning much better.

The best time to call a piano tuner? Before it sounds out of tune!

Many people wait until their piano starts to sound off before calling a tuner. But by then, the tuning may have already drifted significantly — a bit like going to the dentist only when you’re in pain. Regular maintenance is better than waiting for problems. Preventive tuning helps extend the life of your piano and can avoid costly repairs.

Does the season matter?

Some hesitate to schedule a tuning during a seasonal change — especially in winter or summer. But in most modern homes, indoor temperature and humidity fluctuate far less than people think. This old belief may have made sense in the past, but nowadays, it doesn’t really hold up. The best time to tune your piano is when it needs it — whatever the season.

My personal advice

In my view, a piano should be tuned regularly. Once a year is a good average, and more often if the piano is played frequently or the environment demands it. If you're unsure, I can come and take a look. A quick check-up is better than a long-lasting tuning problem.

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