Most of the notes on your piano have three strings each. For a piano to be in tune, all three strings must have the exact same amount of tension on them so that they sound in unison, as one.

If there is a slight discrepancy, then once the note is played, the three strings will vibrate at different frequencies, and so the sound is not as pleasing (and, in some cases, can be painful) to the ear. 

​The strings of your piano will change over time for a number of reasons: most commonly, they naturally lose their tension, but changes in temperature or humidity, in addition to how the piano is played, are additional factors.

This is why a piano needs regular tuning to be kept in its best condition, making its beautiful music. The longer a piano is left out of tune, the harder it is to bring it back into tune, and it will have damaging implications on the welfare and condition of your piano.

As a general rule your piano should be tuned every six to 12 months, to minimise the damage of changing temperature affecting the strings. If you have a piano at home for recreational use, we advise an annual tuning, which will overall be better value than having sporadic, dramatic tunings and pitch shifts which cost greater time, money and skill.

COST OF TUNING

A standard tuning costs £80.

If your piano is significantly out of tune, it will require a pitch raise, which will cost up to £160, depending on its condition. The cost is high because to bring such a piano into pitch requires more than double the work of a standard tuning.