Piano Tuning & Service near Chicago

A piano tuning appointment typically lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on how out of tune the piano is.

During a tuning, the technician will correct the pitch of each of the piano’s ~230 strings.

It’s a tedious process that’s, frankly, a bit annoying to listen to. We recommend putting on some noise-cancelling headphones or waiting in a different room.

Just be mindful of making noise during the appointment since the technician will need to listen to the notes carefully!

Pianos should ideally be tuned at least once a year.

That said, you may need to have it tuned more based on factors such as climate, usage, and personal preference.

Moreover, new pianos certainly benefit from tunings every 6 months for the first few years.

For the large majority of appointments, a piano technician can tune or service a piano without its player’s presence. As long as the tech is let in and shown to the piano, there’s no need to call off work or miss school!

Of course, it could be preferable for the pianist to be around. That way you can make sure the service is to your complete satisfaction, and you may enjoy understanding the cause of a problem and its solution!

In rare cases, very advanced pianists with a more subtle or intermittent problem should consider sticking around in the unlikely case the tech can’t identify or reproduce the problem. But this is an incredibly rare circumstance.

A piano tuning costs $100 to $200 on average.

Exact charges will of course depend on your local area’s rates.

No, you shouldn’t tune your own piano, and we don’t recommend you try.

Tuning a piano isn’t like tuning a guitar. It’s a very complicated process, and you work with literally tons of string tension.

At best, you’ll have a piano that’s tuned just okay. At worst, you can break a string (or worse) and rack up a bigger repair bill.

For honesty’s sake, there are videos and DIY tutorials for how to tune a piano. But many use old pianos they don’t care for.

Many people become piano tuners and technicians by finding an apprenticeship with a local tech or at a piano store.

If you’re very committed to learning, consider browsing the PTG’s list of training programs for aspiring piano techs.

Do mind that learning how to tune and/or repair a piano can take multiple years and thousands of dollars!

No, you don’t necessarily need to tune a piano immediately after moving.

It’s true that the wood in a piano will contract/expand if moved across different climates, causing the piano to go out of tune.

However, how drastic the acclimation is depends on how much the climates differ. This generally isn’t the case if the piano has only been moved a few cities over. Moreover, it can be negated with proper humidity control measures ie. a Dampp-Chaser system.

In any case, we simply recommend tuning your piano within 6mo after moving.

Please keep in mind that learning how to tune a piano requires a lot of training. It’s best to hire a professional piano tuner for the task.

If you’re curious about the process of tuning a piano, here’s a very simplified overview:

Necessary Tools: You’ll need a tuning lever, tuning mutes, a tuning fork, and a good ear for pitch. It’s standard to additionally use a special tuning software of choice as well.

Adjust Pitch: Pluck each string and compare it to the tuning fork. Use the tuning lever to adjust the tension of the string until it’s close to the desired pitch (typically A440).

Fine-Tuning: Once all ~230 strings are pretty close to the desired pitch, fine-tune each string so its perfectly in-tune.

Check and Recheck: After the necessary amount of passes, play a few chords and scales to ensure everything’s just right. Make sure the piano is tuned to itself as well, and that octaves sound perfect.

While it’d certainly be appreciated, tipping piano tuners isn’t a very common practice.

It’s more common to establish a good working relationship with your piano tuner and call them back for regular tunings and maintenance.

Restringing a piano is typically done when many strings need to be replaced, when the tone has worn out significantly, and when a complete restoration is being done.

A single piano string replacement is much more common, and that can cost roughly $50-$200. 

Completely restringing an upright or grand piano can run anywhere from $500 – $4,000+.

The exact cost to restring a piano will vary based on the type of piano, its size, the string’s size and the labor.

A piano is beyond repair when the cost and effort to fix it exceeds its potential value or playability.

The plain truth is that not every piano can be fixed easily or affordably. If most of its parts are old, it was neglected for too long, and/or if it suffered extensive structural damage, it probably can’t be serviced.

In cases like this, and particularly when the piano has historical significance or sentimental value, the owner can instead have it rebuilt for $2,500 – $15,000+.

The more common solution to an unrepairable piano is simply upgrading! We do encourage families to have the best quality piano practical for them. It greatly encourages the enjoyment and success of their students. Sometimes a person “bonds” with a lower priced piano — and that’s fine too!