Why Your Piano Needs Regular Service (Even If It Sounds Fine)
The old adage goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Have you ever asked, “my piano still sounds pretty good, why should I get it tuned?” If so, you’re not alone. Many piano owners put off having their piano serviced regularly because nothing seems to be “wrong” with it. But here’s the truth: your piano starts going out of tune the moment the technician walks out your door. That may sound surprising, but it’s absolutely normal; here’s why.
A Piano Is Always Under Pressure
Inside your piano, there are over 200 strings stretched tight across a cast iron plate. Each string holds about 150–200 pounds of tension. All together, that’s more than 20 tons of pressure pulling on your piano at all times.
This constant tension is part of what helps the piano produce its rich sound—but it also means that those strings are always trying to move. Even slight changes in tension can cause your piano to drift out of tune over time. This constant tension is why pianos that go decades without service end up flat in pitch. I’ve tuned pianos a full step flat - meaning when you play an A, it sounded like a G!
The Main Culprit: Humidity
The main reason your piano goes out of tune isn’t playing - it’s the weather.
Besides the aforementioned cast iron plate, pianos are made primarily of wood, which naturally expands and contracts as humidity changes. In the summer, when the air is more humid, the wooden soundboard inside your piano swells slightly. In the winter, it contracts as the air dries out. These changes shift the position of the strings and tuning pins—causing your piano to slowly, subtly go out of tune.
Even if you don’t notice it right away, the difference adds up over time. A piano that hasn’t been serviced in a year or more may still sound “fine” to the casual ear, but it’s likely off pitch and starting to lose its clarity and balance. Even someone experienced like myself can sometimes play a piano and think, “that’s not too bad,” only to measure the pitch and realize it’s drifted considerably.
Why “Just In Case” Servicing Matters
You wouldn’t wait for your car’s brakes to fail before having them replaced, and the same principle applies to your piano too. Regular maintenance helps:
Keep the pitch stable over time - the longer you go between tuning, the more unstable the pitch will be
Prevent bigger problems down the road
Maintain the instrument’s value and lifespan - two pianos the same age could be drastically different from each other based on whether the owner kept up with piano service over the years
Make each tuning more effective and less time-consuming - pianos I tune multiple times a year take about 40 minutes to tune, while pianos that go 2 to 3 years in between tunings take about an hour. Pianos that have sat for decades can sometimes take up to an hour and a half to tune.
Even if you don’t play your piano every day, it still needs consistent, regular service.
How Often Should I Have My Piano Tuned?
The big question. Generally, I recommend having your piano tuned at least once a year. I’ve noticed pianos that go any longer than that start to present some of the larger pitch drifts mentioned above. Some pianos, especially newer pianos or pianos that are played frequently, might benefit from more frequent tuning. Many churches have me tune their pianos twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall - to coincide with season changes.
Still unsure what your piano needs? I’d be happy to take a look at your piano and give you an honest, no-pressure recommendation. Feel free to schedule an appointment or contact me any time - I’m here to help you get the most out of your piano for years to come.