Frequently Asked Questions Blog: JP Piano Tuning

How Often Should You Tune Your Piano?

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How often should I have my piano tuned?”

The simple answer is that most pianos benefit from being tuned once a year. If your piano is used regularly, is in a school, church or music studio, or is used for exams or performances, I usually recommend tuning every six months.

Many people assume that if they haven’t played their piano much, it won’t need tuning. Unfortunately, that’s not how pianos work. A piano contains around 230 strings held under many tonnes of tension, and changes in temperature and humidity cause the wooden structure to expand and contract throughout the year. Even if the piano is never played, it will gradually drift out of tune.

If a piano is left for many years without tuning, the pitch can fall so far that a standard tuning is no longer enough. In these cases, the piano often requires what’s known as a pitch raise before it can be tuned accurately. This brings the piano back towards concert pitch before a fine tuning is carried out.

Regular tuning also helps the piano remain more stable over time. A piano that is maintained annually is generally easier to tune and tends to hold its tuning better than one that’s neglected for long periods.

Whether you own an upright or a grand piano, regular maintenance helps protect your instrument and makes it far more enjoyable to play.

If you’re based in Newry, Banbridge, Belfast or anywhere across Northern Ireland and your piano hasn’t been tuned in a while, I’d be happy to help bring it back to its best.

What Is a Piano Pitch Raise?

Sometimes I arrive to tune a piano only to find it’s much lower than concert pitch. This is especially common with older pianos that haven’t been tuned for many years.

In these situations, a normal tuning isn’t usually enough. Instead, the piano often needs what’s called a pitch raise.

A pitch raise is the process of bringing the overall tension of the piano back towards concert pitch (A440). Because every string on the piano affects the others, raising one note changes the tension across the whole instrument. This means the first pass is designed to restore the overall tension before a final fine tuning is carried out.

People are often surprised that an old piano can sometimes need two passes before it settles properly. This isn’t because anything has gone wrong—it’s simply the nature of how a piano behaves after years of sitting at a lower tension.

Not every piano is suitable for a full pitch raise in one visit. Very old instruments or pianos that haven’t been maintained for decades sometimes need a more cautious approach to reduce stress on ageing strings.

When I assess your piano, I’ll explain the best approach before any work begins. My aim is always to achieve the best possible result while treating the instrument with care.

If your piano seems noticeably flat or someone has told you it’s “in E-flat” or “below concert pitch”, it may simply be due for a professional pitch raise.