Tuning frequency

[Richard Brekne]

Its interesting to check out what the different factories have to say on
the issue of tuning frequency. Last time I checked (a couple years ago
anyways) I found no factory that recommended less then twice a year. A few
recommended 3 times yearly (I found that figure odd...grin) and many
recommended 4 times yearly.

These recommendations were for seasonal pitch changes, not for heavy use.
When I am asked, as I often am, how often a piano should be tuned I relate
this to the customer, and I attempt to explain why it is so. Doesnt help
much in getting folks to tune more then at best once a year but at least
they "know" what they should be doing. 

I generally tell them there are three basic factors involved. Time,
climate, and use. If a piano is heavily used then it will need very
frequent tunings as the strings will just plain get banged out of tune.
Otherwise, climate becomes the most dominate factor and they may experience
different degrees of variance in the tuning depending on the variance of
the climate and the basic tuning stability of the piano. Finnally time is a
factor. After a year or so many pianos will tend to drop pitch, especially
new pianos. So once a year should be the absolute minimum, rock bottom
minimum. Just having a tech giving the piano a cleaning and general
lookover once a year is important in itself. 

Clyde Hollinger wrote:
> 
> Friends,
> 
> If a client is really interested in keeping the piano reasonably in tune at all
> times, then even 6-month tunings aren't often enough for my area, given the wide
> humidity fluctuations we have here.  For them I would recommend oftener tunings
> (even every month or two wouldn't be out of the question) or a complete humidity
> control system coupled with either 6- or 12-month tunings.
> 
> 

-- 
Richard Brekne
Associate PTG, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway