Piano Tuning Cost

Many people have a misconception that a piano does not need tuning. That is not true. It does require tuning, especially if it hasn't been played for a long period. However, unlike a guitar, a piano does not need frequent tuning. It is recommended that the piano be tuned two to three times in a year to maintain its standard tone, quality, and pitch.

When a piano is being tuned, it has to be tuned to a concert pitch, also known as A440 or standard pitch. Expert pianists recommend that a piano should only be tuned by a professional.
Now, we will go into details about the cost of tuning a piano and the kind of factors that affect the same.

Many factors have an adverse effect on the universal tuning of the piano. One of the main reasons is extreme atmospheric pressure that affects the tension on the strings, to begin with, and ultimately the piano music as well. In humid weather, the piano sound turns to a sharper note; in dry atmosphere, it turns flat. So, it is important to tune the piano.

The determinants of the final cost are:

► The kind of services that are provided
► The location where the services are being provided
► The level of expertise and experience of the professional
► The condition of the musical instrument

Location

The cost differs from location to location, so you need to meet several piano tuners in your neighborhood to get the best price.

Professional Reputation

The cost would also depend on the reputation of the tuning expert. If he has a good record of tuning professional pianos, it is certain that he will charge more than the standard rates.

Service Provided

The cost of piano tuning counts on the type of services that are provided. For less charges professionals will only tune the strings. Quality services will be provided for more charges, where professionals will make sure that the notes can be pressed smoothly, the pedals are not making noise, or if there is need for repair and maintenance.

Another important aspect that has a considerable impact on the price of tuning is the condition of the instrument. If the instrument has not been tuned for years, and there are many things that have to be taken care of, you will be charged accordingly.

A tuning professional may even quote the price based on the time that he thinks he would require for doing the job and to bring your piano to life. He might even charge you according to how flat or how sharp the standard tone is.

► The basic piano tuning cost falls in the bracket of $100 to $120. This is undertaken in order to tune a piano to concert pitch. This cost is applicable for most pianos that are well maintained and used regularly.

► For pianos that have not been tuned recently, the fee can go up to $150 and $200.

► In addition to this rate, it can cost up to $45 to $55 more for pianos that are up to ¼ tone flat/sharp.

► If your piano is between ¼ and ⅔ tone flat, then it will take 2 visits to tune your piano, and will drive the cost up by an additional $45 each.

► Considering all these factors, piano tuning prices can fall anywhere in between $150 to $200. Some professional piano technicians may even charge more than this.

Most people prefer to ask for referrals from piano dealers or music teachers in order to get the best services at a good price. Now that you have an idea of the kind of fee structure that you're looking into, you will be able to get your piano tuned without any problem.