Piano Tuning
Book a piano tuning today. We are honored to have serviced over 800+ pianos in the greater Houston area. Let us help you enjoy your piano again. 6 monthly tuning: $200 Yearly tuning: $250 Left 1.5+ years $350
Each package includes basic unsticking of keys. For other services see the Full day servicing
Contact us to schedule a tuning
More information
Yearly tuning
$250 minimum
We recommend tuning your piano every six months. Tuning a piano is a complex task with c.236 strings to tune in harmony. Estimated time 1.5 - 2.5 hours.
With regular servicing we can make sure the piano is not dropping below concert pitch and get rid of any discoloration in the sound from unisons moving apart in pitch. In addition, regular piano tuning gives us the opportunity to assess the action, and make sure it is responding properly.
Pianos Left for more than one year
Add $50-150
Music has a standard pitch (A440). It allows a pianist to play along with a guitarist, or organist. From the day the piano is manufactured, the strings are pulling against the pin holding them in place. This causes a minute unravelling of the string. The soundboard and bridge also sway with humidity stretching the strings. This unravelling, and stretching changes the speaking length of a string.
A shift in the speaking length of a string creates a variation in pitch. At first this shift in pitch is mild, and creates what some describe as a chorus effect.
If the piano is left long enough the pitch difference between notes increases, and the tuning difference becomes more noticeable.
When you notice unfavorable waiving between notes, it is time to tune your piano! Or when the pitch starts to drop less than -5 cents from A440.
It may be that if the piano has been left a long time, it will probably require 2-3 tunings before it fully stabilizes.
If the piano has been left for a decade or more we recommend the Half day and full day packages.
Several tunings may be necessary to bring a piano from years or ‘decades’ of no maintenance, back to its standard pitch.
Regulation
Regulation is necessary after many years. Not only does it help avoid uneven wear in the piano action, but can also improve the feel of your piano, which in turn makes it more pleasurable to play. From loose keys that wobble, to hammers not traveling straight towards the string, or traveling too far. Many improvements can be made.
If you’ve just purchased a piano we recommend a full days work.
Piano tuning can only go part of the way. Once the piano is wearing or going out of aligment, only further adjustments can return it to its original playability.
Regulation is hard to describe, but once it has been carried out, you can normally and sometimes drastically feel the difference.
For information on how to look after your piano please see
Full Day Servicing
When you think the half day which is a priority based approach won't cut it, we are happy to provide a full days service. This is the best thing to do if the piano is 10+ years into its life, or you want the piano fully inspected.
Price $950 + tax
Includes
- Full tuning service: pitch-raising and tuning
- Basic regulation: hammer height, let-off, and back-check regulation
If major parts need replacing, or changing we will assess the instrument before starting to work on it, and provide alternative routes.
Our assessment fee is $350 which is deductible from any work carried out.
If you believe the pian has more work needed please see our
Other work
Casework/Cosmetic
Cosmetic work such as new keys, polishing brass can be carried out on site. Other work such as polishing a lid or stool can also be carried out but will require a wait time.
Cleaning
It’s good to get your piano cleaned every so often, a lot of dust can collect underneath the keys, sometimes moth and occasionally other unpleasant evidence of mice! Cleaning under the keys add $50. Cleaning grand pianos add $80. We would recommend going for the Half and Full day packages to get the most detailed work on your piano.
Some of our clients
Marmo restaurant, Charles Hausmann (UH conducting lecturer), Birdy (British alternative singer)