How Often Should You Tune Your Piano? | JP Piano Tuning

It's one of the most common questions piano owners ask — and the honest answer is that it depends on several factors. Here's a straightforward guide.

The Standard Recommendation

The Royal College of Music, the Piano Technicians Guild and most professional technicians recommend tuning a piano **twice per year** as a minimum. This applies to most domestic pianos that are played regularly.

The reason is simple. Pianos go out of tune gradually due to:

- Seasonal changes in temperature and humidity

- The natural settling of strings under tension

- Regular playing, which causes string tension to shift over time

Waiting longer than six months between tunings allows the piano to drift further from concert pitch, which can eventually require a pitch raise — a more involved and slightly more expensive procedure — before the tuning itself can be completed.

When to Tune More Frequently

Some pianos and situations call for more regular tuning:

- New pianos: A brand new piano should be tuned three to four times in its first year. New strings stretch considerably and need time to settle.

- Recently moved pianos: Moving a piano — even across a room — can affect its tuning. Always tune after a move.

- Children preparing for exams: If your child is working towards grade exams, a tuning in the months before the exam is strongly advisable.

- Performance pianos: Pianos used for concerts or regular performances benefit from tuning before each significant event.

- Pianos in variable environments: Instruments near radiators, in conservatories or in rooms with significant seasonal temperature changes go out of tune faster.

What About Pianos That Are Rarely Played?

Even a piano that nobody plays should be tuned at least once a year. The strings are still under tension and still affected by environmental changes. A long neglected piano may require a pitch raise before it can be properly tuned, which adds to the cost.

Book Your Next Tuning

If you can't remember when your piano was last tuned, it's probably time. Contact JP Piano Tuning today — we serve Belfast, Newry, Banbridge, Armagh, Dundalk and surrounding areas.

Call or text 07955 637736 or book online.