Sep 23, 20234 min
The “Do No Harm” concept is a fundamental principle of piano technology. Adopting practices that set you up for safe piano maintenance will go a long way toward a productive and successful career. Whether you’re gearing up to tune for your first client, or practicing on a piano at home, it’s extremely important to approach tuning with a “Do No Harm” attitude. Here is a basic list of practical tuning dos and don’ts for the average beginner:
Before even putting your tuning hammer on the tuning pins, evaluate the piano's condition. Is there corrosion around the string coils? Are there already signs of string breakage indicating that the piano won’t respond positively to tuning (missing strings, strings with knots, evidence of string replacement etc.)? Was the piano made by a company that is now out of business? Regardless of how much you studied tuning, entering the field brings a world of unpredictability. It is important that you have a clear understanding of your limitations and know when you may be getting in over your head. If a piano is in really poor condition, you may cause more harm by tuning it.
Don't tune the piano if it looks like any of these:
If you have not been thoroughly trained in aural tuning, use only technician-grade tuning apps (e.g. PianoScope, CyberTuner, Verituner, PianoMeter, etc.) or the Sanderson Accu-Tuner device. Do not use a household chromatic tuning device that was designed for other stringed instruments. Chromatic tuning devices are not programmed to calculate tunings for pianos.
Related Articles: An Introduction to PianoScope Pro, CyberTuner Basics
For pianos that are more uncommon for the average household, it may be wise to double-check that your tuning lever is equipped with the right tip for the piano. A #2 tuning tip works for most pianos, but if you are using a secondhand tuning lever, make sure the tip has not been worn out; tips need to be changed roughly every two years or so depending on how frequently they are used – otherwise, they will likely cause excessive wear on the tuning pins. #2 tips may not work on rebuilt pianos, very old pianos, or low-quality pianos.
Related Article: How to Change a Tuning Lever Tip
Do not touch bass strings with your bare hands! The natural oils in your hands will cause the copper windings to corrode and oxidize, sometimes in a matter of hours.
To avoid scratching the piano’s plate or case parts, always be mindful of where you put your tools while you work. Keep a soft towel on top of the piano to hold your implements during the tuning.
In order to make sure that you aren’t hurting the delicate damper felt, always make sure that you have the damper pedal engaged as you are inserting and removing the temperament strip between the strings.
Before a piano is sold, the trichord strings are typically spaced and aligned in accordance with the strike point of the hammer. In order to prevent accidentally shifting the positioning of the strings, make sure that your temperament strips (if you are using them) are the right size for the string spacing. Conversely, if the strips are too thin, they will not mute the strings correctly, making it much harder to tune.
Use a shortened flathead screwdriver [photo] to apply the temperament strip. Using a smaller tool gives you more control so you don’t accidentally scratch the soundboard.
How to insert a temperament strip:
Related Article: Fast Muting Tips
After you have evaluated the piano’s current pitch, take some time to plan your tuning. If the strings show some signs of corrosion, avoid moving the strings more than ten cents sharp. Consider your different options for pitch raising and decide which procedure will work best for your client and their piano.
Related Article: A Plethora of Pitch Correction Methods
Don’t move the tuning pin if you are not actively playing the corresponding note. If you move the tuning pin and find that the pitch of your key is not changing, STOP! Your tuning lever may be on the wrong pin. Before continuing, make sure that your tuning lever is on the correct tuning pin and the string is unhindered by any mutes or temperament felt – otherwise, you may accidentally break a string!
Always make sure that you move the tuning pin slightly flat (down) before moving it to its appropriate position; not only does this help you ensure your tuning hammer is on the right pin, but it also assures the stability of your tuning [link]. Releasing tension will also help prevent string breakage on strings that have corrosion at the termination points.
If you have just finished tuning an upright and you have put the practice rail (if applicable) and all of the case parts back together, always make sure that everything works correctly before you leave. For the practice rail, play all of the notes while the rail is engaged and disengaged to make sure that it is able to mute all of the hammers without interfering with the movement of the hammers when it is inactive. Make sure the fallboard moves up and down correctly. On certain pianos, you may also have to make sure the music desk is folded up before being able to close the fallboard — otherwise, it may scuff the tops of the black keys.
Related Articles: Adjusting the Practice Rail Pedal, Do No Harm: Case Parts Edition
Lastly, always play a chromatic scale across all keys with the piano completely back together to make sure there are no buzzes (including paraphernalia that the client keeps on top of the piano: lamps, books, lego creations, vases, etc). A common call-back is due to a buzz that didn’t show up while you were tuning, and it’s usually something that has been put on or around the piano. Addressing the issue while you’re there can save you an annoying return trip!