You could be an ace pianist or planning to take lessons for becoming one. Regardless of whether you’re an acclaimed pianist or an unheralded amateur, the need to get the musical instrument tuned surely might have crossed your mind. Piano tuning from time to time is necessary for adjusting the pitch of the keys if you want the instrument to perform according to your expectations. Musical experts highly recommend the tuning process but there are individuals who believe that a quality piano doesn’t need to be tuned at all. So, what is the significance of piano tuning?
Piano Tuning Turned Inside Out
Basically two types of pianos are available in the market-acoustic and digital. Those who’re sincere about learning to play the musical instrument like a professional swear by the acoustic version. If you happen to own an acoustic type piano, you’ll be required to tune the instrument on a regular basis.
Periodical piano tuning helps in upholding the usefulness of the instrument and at the same time keeps the keys perfectly tuned. Routinely tuning the piano also lets you figure out almost instantly if any particular key or set of keys are out of tune. The tuning process also has other benefits as well but before delving into those advantages, it is important to have a clear about the same.
A standard acoustic piano has a total of 88 keys where every key comes with strings ranging from 1-3. That implies that an acoustic piano where each key has 3 strings has a total of 264 strings. The technician, during tuning, attempts to fine-tune each and every string’s tension by turning the tuning pins so that the keys reproduce notes accurately.
The strings coiled around the tuning pins tend to stretch with passage of time as these have to withstand excessive tension. So if piano tuning is not done occasionally, all the keys produce flat notes. In this context, it’d be relevant to mention that the black keys are for playing ‘sharp and flat notes’ while the white keys produce ‘natural’ notes.
In case you bought a piano recently, you’d need to tune the instrument at least 4 times in the first 12 months. Alternatively, if you’re a pro, participating in recitals and performances regularly, piano tuning once in a while is highly recommended. You’d also have to tune the instrument from time to time if you live in an area where summers and winters are typified by extreme changes in weather.
The Benefits of Piano Tuning
Piano tuning on a routine basis offers multiple benefits. The most significant and noticeable benefit of tuning is that the musical instrument keeps on reproducing accurate notes consistently. It is important to mention here that if you continue to play a piano that is out of tune, you’ll lose the sensitiveness to differentiate between flat notes, sharp notes, and natural notes!
Furthermore, tuning the piano time and again helps you save money. You may have to spend a handsome sum when you’re compelled to opt for a succession of tunings in a short period of time if you forego the prescribed tunings.
Image credit: Peter Mooij