How often should you tune a piano? Great question. It’s really dependent on several factors. The age of the instrument, how much it is played, and environmental changes, such as temperature and humidity can all influence the frequency of a piano tuning. Of those mentioned, changes in humidity is most often the greatest cause of your piano going out of tune. So, how often should you tune a piano?
Usually by the time most people can tell a piano needs tuning, it is very out of tune. For most pianos found in homes in the U.S., once or twice a year is the recommended frequency.
Pianos used in studios or performance venues may need tuning before every performance, while others may get by with an annual tuning.
Manufacturers recommend tuning a new piano more frequently – typically three to four times the first year and one to two times a year there after. Here is what Yamaha Corporation of America has to say:
New pianos should be tuned a minimum of four times the first year to compensate for the normal settling that takes place. Subsequently, as a matter of standard maintenance, a piano should be tuned at least twice a year.
Of course, some musicians will choose to have their own piano tuned more often to satisfy their own personal musical requirements.
When your piano needs tuning, consult your authorized Yamaha piano dealer or call a skilled qualified specialist such as a Piano Technicians Guild Registered Piano Technician (RPT).
If you are interested in learning more, check out my page about Piano Tuning, or my article entitled What exactly is piano tuning and How is it Done?