Tuning is the stretching of the strings to that exact point at which the strings will vibrate at the proper pitch.  All notes with more than one string must have the strings vibrate in perfict unison.

 

 

Ask your Guild member about your specific instrument.  Most manufactures recommend, for a home, two to four times the first year of the pianos life.  Many piano owners continue to tune their instruments twice a year.  Many have their piano serviced once a year.  Concert pianos are tuned for the artist before each concert.

 

 

Pitch is the 'highness' or the 'lowness' of the sound given off by the piano string.  The tighter the string is stretched the faster it will vibrate and the higher the sound or pitch will be.

 

 

 

Because there has to be a standard of pitch so that all musical instruments will play notes of like pitch when sounded together.  It is the same priciple that says every foot ruler must be 12 inches long.  A-440 makes it possible to play a clarinet made in one country to play with a piano in an other country when that piano is tuned to the pitch of A-440.

 

 

 

Touch is the energy required to depress a piano key until it causes the hammer to strike the string.  This is measured in ounces or grahms.  The term is also related to the dip of the key.  It may be used by players to the ease and expressive resposiveness with which a piano may be played. 

 

 

Voicing , sometimes called tone regulating, is the process by which the felt of the hammer is kept properly soft and resilient.  Piano hammers will pack and harden from constantly striking against the steel strings.  This may cause a tinny or too bright of a tone for some. Tuning in no way affects the tone quality produced by the hammer.  Voicing  must be performed by a highly skilled and trained technician but periodic voicing will help.

 

 

Key covering can be cleaned with a clean soft cheese-cloth or soft cloth dipped in a mild white soap solution.  Caution must be used to prevent moisture from running down the sides of the keys.  DO NOT  use cleaning fluids, laquer thinner, alcohol, benzine, or other solvents on the keys.

 

 

 

The case of your piano is a fine piece of furtiture, carefully built and carefully finished.  Pianos today use many different types of finish material.  Ask your qualified technician about your specific instrument or consult your owners manual.

 

 

 

 

Action regulation is the adjustment of the mechanism which transmits the pressure of the fingers through all the various action parts that cause the string to vibrate. The action from time to time must be checked and regulated so that the piano plays smoothly and evenly and is resposive to the players finger throughout the lenght of the keyboard. 

 

 

 

The first consideration in the care of your piano is the placement of the piano in your home.  Because of its sensitivity, a piano should not be subjected to extreme changes in temperature or humidity.  Do not place your piano near a radiator or heating outlet.  A usually open window will cause changes as well.  If it were possible, ideal conditions would maintain temperatures at from 72 to 75 degrees with relative humidity 45% to 55%.

 

 

NO.  Piano 'service' may include some minor adjustments in tone regulating (voicing) or action regulating or maybe the fixing of a sticky key but voicing and/or regulation can be a long tedious task and could run into several days worth of work. Proper maitenence by a qualified technician will keep your piano in top condition.  The technician can make those and other recommendations if needed.

 

 

Piano felts, like clothing, are subject to moth damage unless properly protected.  Pianos today are factory moth-proofed and that is excellent, but if you have had a serious moth condition in your home, it is advisable to have your technician check when he or she is called in to service the piano.