All About Tuning
by Eric Ainsworth
Why does a piano go out of tune?
The piano possesses some 230 strings which are stretched at average tensions of 150 to 200 lbs. apiece. This means that the iron plate, together with the wooden framing, carries a stress totaling 18 to 20 tons.
This strain is not constant for several reasons. Steel wire is highly elastic and in bearing on the sounding board creates a structure resembling a complex spring. The more elastic this is, the more agreeable will be the tone emanating from the piano.
Unfortunately this construction is extremely sensitive to all changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. During humid seasons or rainy days, wood swells, thus affecting the strings. In dry months, the moisture in the sound board quickly dissipates; the board shrinks and the strings slacken, dropping the overall pitch.
These effects are noticeable even in relatively stable climates, for subtle atmospheric changes are enough to affect such a delicate, albeit heavy, mechanism. The sound board is always rising and falling through short distances and therefore suffering variations in its ability to hold the strings at constant pitch.
The truth about staying in tune
From a strictly scientific point of view, it is accurate to say that no piano ever made has stayed in tune without a rise or drop for more than 24 hours, unless it was maintained at constant temperature and constant barometric and hygroscopic conditions in a laboratory.
From a layman's standpoint, two tunings a year (minimum) should be sufficient. Tuners know, however, that if we had time to tune our own pianos as often as our ears tell us, it would be at least once a month.
Tuning is maintenance of your investment
A neglected piano will drop so much in pitch over time that to bring it up will require at least two concurrent tunings. The piano's sounding board can lose its crown (akin to a violin's curved body) and may not fully recover. There may be a danger of breaking strings during the pitch-raising process.
A piano sounds best in tune
Good tonal quality (timbre) is dependent upon the piano being at concert pitch, as there is more latent energy in a tightly strung instrument.
The human ear is so constructed that certain vibrations or combinations thereof, sound either pleasing or harsh, hence the development of a particular arrangement of available tones (the 12-tone scale). Mistuning of these tones leads to an inevitable cacophony, and the best of playing ability will not overcome this effect. Even the untrained ear, given a choice between an out-of-tune piano or a tuned piano, will pick the latter without hesitation, because sensations of tone are based on the ear's physiology.
A fine piano is a work of art, and the vibrant, clear, and beautiful sound is inspiring to all music lovers.
In order to not commit a crime against expensive craftsmanship and great music, won't you consider having your piano tuned often?
Call Eric at Classic Piano Services for a tuning appointment @ 541-292-1382
