Is It Necessary to Tune a Piano That Has NotBeen Played in a Year?

Is It Necessary to Tune a Piano That Has Not Been Played in a Year?

Even if a piano has not been played for a year, it may still require tuning. This is due to changes in humidity and temperature that can affect its tuning stability. Regular tuning ensures the piano is in proper condition and maintains its performance quality. If you're unsure about the condition of your piano, it's a good idea to get it checked, especially if you have several pianos and limited time to play them.

Maintaining Your Piano

Based on my personal experience, maintaining a piano that is not frequently played can be a balancing act. I have three acoustic pianos and no time to play them all, let alone tune them regularly. My playing time is limited, and my time to tune them is even more limited. I generally tune a piano when it starts to drift slightly, especially towards the top register.

The top notes can go out of tune more easily since they're subject to more wear and tear. The bottom notes tend to stay in tune longer, and the middle range, where most of my playing occurs, is usually the most stable. Unfortunately, even with stability in the middle range, the piano can still go flat, but rarely more than a half-tone or less than a quarter-tone in a few places.

Tuning Recommendations

To keep your piano in good playing condition, it's a good idea to invest in a decent piano tuner. I use a Korg CA-40, which works well for me, but some individuals prefer using their phone as a tuner. It's important to note that a cheap tuner may not accurately read extreme highs and lows, but you can still judge these by comparing them to higher notes.

Check your piano periodically. If any of the pitches are drifting more than a quarter-tone, you should consider tuning it or having it tuned professionally. Additionally, watch for any strings in the piano going "howly," where one string in a trio or pair goes out of tune with the others. This is harder to detect with a tuner since it looks for a single pitch, but you can spot it by listening carefully.

Cost Considerations

Tuning a piano is a time-consuming process, and it can be expensive, especially if you do it yourself. If you enjoy playing but don't have much time to do so, and you don't want to learn how to tune a piano yourself, it's worth considering selling the piano or passing it on to someone who plays it more frequently. An electronic piano can be a more cost-effective alternative, especially if you get a decent one with weighted velocity keys and sustain.

A good quality electronic piano can last for at least ten years at a cost of around $500.00, or even less, depending on the current market. Tuning a piano yearly would end up costing more than $500.00 just to maintain the acoustic piano in tune over ten years.

Stability and Environment

The above recommendations apply to pianos that are kept in relatively stable temperature and humidity conditions. If your home is not a stable environment, it's even more important to consider passing the piano on to a home with better stability.