Piano Guidance
Photo by Matthias Groeneveld Pexels Logo Photo: Matthias Groeneveld

What does an out of tune piano sound like?

When in tune, the strings vibrate at the same rate to produce a single note. When out of tune, there will be a wavering sound. This wavering will distort the note creating an uncomfortable sound. The competing strings may even cancel out the sound.

What was the first illegal music downloading site?
What was the first illegal music downloading site?

Napster The first application that demonstrated the implications of music piracy was Napster. Napster enabled users to exchange music files over a...

Read More »
How many chords can you play on a piano?
How many chords can you play on a piano?

There are 12 major chords that you can play on the piano. To make a major chord, you play the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a major scale together....

Read More »

A quality piano crafted to perfection, positioned in the right place, and tuned correctly, produces incredible sounds. The music from such an instrument inspires a love for music. Over time, your piano’s sound quality will change, and that once beautiful music will now repel listeners. Continuing to produce reliable, accurate notes is crucial to a functioning instrument. Maintaining a piano is an important part of owning it, but piano tuning doesn’t have to be preventatively expensive. Even as a non-technical person, there are signs to look for to diagnose an out-of-tune piano that won’t waste your money. Keep reading to learn the tests to see if your piano is out of tune.

1. Where is Your Piano’s Pitch?

You can check if your piano produces the correct pitch. You will need to investigate if the vibration rate of a note compares to a standard rate of vibration. The most used test note is A-440, or “concert pitch. Find the “A” note about the middle “C” note to find the A-440. If in tune, this note will vibrate at a rate of 440 times/second.

2. Test Notes Against Themselves

Just about every note on your piano requires more than one string to operate. When in tune, the strings vibrate at the same rate to produce a single note. When out of tune, there will be a wavering sound. This wavering will distort the note creating an uncomfortable sound. The competing strings may even cancel out the sound.

3. One Octave Should Blend Into the Following Octave

When tuned properly, a piano’s notes should line up across all the octaves — increasing an octave multiples the frequency of a note whereas decreasing an octave halves the frequency. We already mentioned A-440. One octave up would be A-880, and an octave down from the original would be A-220. The most common problem that impacts the octave issues are temperature and humidity changes. To check if you have this problem, try pressing the far right pedal, then playing the same note in three different octaves.

4. Major Chords Should Sound Harmonious

Most three-note major chords sound harmonious as if seamlessly blended. When any note is out-of-tune, there will be a noticeable, disruptive difference. Check-in on the major chord harmony by playing the middle C, the E two keys to the right, the G two more keys to the right, and the C three keys to the right of that. If this sound flows, great, but if you hear something unpleasant, you may need to have your piano tuned.

Getting Professional Help with Piano Tuning

Try out this do it yourself test at home every month or so to test your piano. If you notice anything strange, make sure to call in a professional tuner. Even if you don’t notice an issue, make sure to have an experienced technician check out your instrument every six months. The piano experts at Evola Music can diagnose your piano’s issue and make the necessary adjustments. If you need a teacher to take your playing to the next level, check out our options. Check out our team at Evola Music today at the nearest location to you.

What chords are in blues in C major?
What chords are in blues in C major?

Essentially, the blues is a specific progression that uses the C7, F7, and G7 chords. (For the sake of brevity, I'll only look at playing blues in...

Read More »
How long should a 7 year old piano lesson be?
How long should a 7 year old piano lesson be?

Children Age 7-10: 30 minutes, 3 times per week. At this age, scheduling a specific time to practice piano daily is crucial. Depending on how busy...

Read More »

Does warranty cover lost key?

Unfortunately, if you have lost or have damaged your car keys most factory warranties do not cover this and as we know car keys can be very costly at the dealership. Some manufactures like Toyota have come up with Toyota Key Replacement Protection.

These misplaced or broken car keys can be a real headache. Unfortunately, if you have lost or have damaged your car keys most factory warranties do not cover this and as we know car keys can be very costly at the dealership. Some manufactures like Toyota have come up with Toyota Key Replacement Protection. A new service or insurance to help customers when they loose or drop and break their car keys. Toyota launched the Key Replacement Protection program in 2017. Since today’s car keys and keyless car keys are much more complicated than those of the days past. Toyota’s Key Replacement program covers car keys if lost, stolen or damaged up to $700. Toyota also covers car lock out assistants for unlocking cars if keys are locked inside for up to $100. Losing your car keys or dealing with broken car keys everyday is frustrating, come visit any Keyless Shop at Sears location and get an extra car key made today. Save up to 50% on dealer prices.

For locations visit KeylessShop.com/locations. We look forward to earning your business.

Why is the C note so popular?
Why is the C note so popular?

C major is a popular key for beginners because the scale only uses white keys, it has no sharps or flats. This makes many facets of learning easier...

Read More »
What is a dominant chord in jazz?
What is a dominant chord in jazz?

The dominant chord has a key function in jazz, to resolve down a fifth. You can also think of this as taking the 1, 3, 5 and flat-7 from the...

Read More »
Is blues piano difficult to learn?
Is blues piano difficult to learn?

The blues are full of soul, syncopation, and heart. It can be difficult to learn how to play blues piano thanks to its uncommon rhythms and...

Read More »
Why is piano so difficult?
Why is piano so difficult?

Hand coordination/independence One of the most challenging aspects of playing the piano is developing hand independence. In the beginning, much of...

Read More »