Piano Technicians Guild Mamber since 1998
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas do you service?
Keith services all areas in the north and east suburbs of Atlanta.
General Areas of Service:
Alpharetta (east if 400), Auburn, Braselton, Briarcliff, Brookhaven, Buford, Chamblee, Cumming (east of 400), Dacula, Decatur, Doraville, Duluth, Dunwoody, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hamilton Mill, Hoschton, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Monroe, Norcross, North Druid Hills, Oakwood, Snellville, Stone Mountain, Suwanee, Tucker, Winder
Where should I put my piano?
If your goal is to keep your piano in the best condition possible for the longest period of time (requiring fewer service calls), choose a location that will provide the most constant environment (temperature and humidity). The more constant the humidity and temperature, the better the piano will stay in tune.
Avoid locations which may be subject to drafts and temperature swings. An inside wall is usually your best choice. But with modern home construction and insulation, that's not as important as it once was.
When can I have my piano tuned?
Keith is a full time piano technician and schedules most of his tunings Monday thru Friday. Saturdays are by appointment only. Depending on the time of year, the wait time may be from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Call now for earliest appointment availability -- (770) 883-3108.
How often should I have my piano tuned?
There are many factors that contribute to how long a piano will stay in tune. Just to name a few:
- age of the piano
- condition of the piano
- how long since it was last tuned
- overall tuning history
- how often the piano is played
- where it "lives" (environment)
Virtually all piano manufacturers recommend tuning your piano twice a year. If your piano has not been tuned for a few years it may be off pitch requiring more than a standard tuning.
Keith will evaluate your piano's condition and discuss tuning options with you explaining exactly what to expect from your customize tuning.
Why does my piano go out of tune?
When you first bring your piano home, the tuning must be stabilized. Depending on the condition of the piano, this may require one or more tunings.
After the piano is stabilized, the primary reason a piano goes out of tune is environmental changes -- specifically temperature changes and, most importantly, humidity changes. The wooden soundboard expands and contracts as the humidity changes. When this happens the string tension is effected causing the pitch to fluctuate.
The second reason is that over time the strings, which are under constant tension, will fatigue and stretch causing the piano to become "flat". This is why if you wait too long to have your piano serviced, the piano may be off pitch and need some extra work in order for the piano to hold a tune at proper pitch.
Does my piano need to be tuned after it is moved?
If it has been moved from one house or building to another, then yes. From one room to another inside the same building, maybe not (if you are careful during the moving process).
How soon after moving the piano should it be tuned?
About 3 weeks in most cases should be enough time for the piano to become acclimated to its new home.
Is tuning about every 6 months the only service required to maintain my piano? - NO! -
The 3 main areas of piano maintenance are what we call "The Three T's":
- Tuning
- Tone
- Touch
There is also Cleaning, but that doesn't begin with a "T".
We have already spent some time discussing Tuning, so let's move on to Tone and Touch.
What is Tone?
Tone refers to the quality of the sound which is produced when the hammers strike the strings, causing them to vibrate against the bridge. Then the bridge transfers the vibrations to the sound board which then amplifies and "colors" the sound emitted from the piano.
The tone can be manipulated by a qualified and skilled technician to produce a sound which may be more pleasing to your ear. Some musicians prefer a tone that is more bright or brilliant, while others may enjoy a softer, more mellow sound. There is really no right or wrong, just what is more pleasing to you.
This manipulation of tone is referred to as "voicing" the piano. Just like your tuning will change over time so too will the voicing. Keith will usually do minor voicing while tuning the piano at no extra charge. But some cases may require additional time spent manipulating the tone for one reason or another and could incur extra cost.
What is Touch?
Touch refers to how the keyboard feels in your hands and fingers when you press down on the keys. The keys could be very quick and responsive, "heavy" and slow or somewhere in between. In most cases, the responsiveness is adjustable. This process is called Regulation (or Regulating the Action).
The Action refers to all the moving parts -- from the pedals to the keys to the hammers, and everything in between. If you have a piano which is difficult to play softly with control, then you have a piano which needs either voicing, or regulating, or both. If you have sticky keys or if you hear a double strike when you press a key down, you have a regulation issue.
Keith is very sensitive to Touch issues and, if he notices anything during the tuning process, he will discuss his findings with you and give recommendations to correct.