How Often Should Your Piano Be Tuned?

If you're wondering how often you really need to tune your piano, you're not alone — I get this question all the time! The short answer? At least twice a year. But depending on your situation, you might want to tune it more often.

Why Pianos Go Out of Tune

It is a common misconception that pianos that are not played do not need ot be tuned. This is not the case. Although regular playing can cause a piano to go out of tune, the biggest reason that pianos go out of tune are temperature and humidity fluctuations. Pianos are a bit like a living thing; they change with the seasons. When the weather changes, especially humidity, all the wood and metal parts inside your piano expand and contract. Even if you hardly touch the piano, these shifts cause the strings to stretch or loosen, and over time, the sound drifts out of tune.

• In the summer, extra humidity can make your piano sound sharp.

• In the winter, dry air usually makes it go flat.

A Good Rule of Thumb

Here’s what I usually recommend:

• Twice a year: Once in the spring, once in the fall. This helps your piano stay stable through big seasonal changes.

• Every 3–4 months: If you're a serious player, teacher, or have a student practicing several hours a week.

• Before performances or recordings: Always tune right before the big day if you want the best sound.

If your piano just got moved, or it hasn’t been tuned in years, it will need some extra attention to get back on track.

Special Situations to Know About

• Brand new piano? It’ll need extra tunings in the first year as it settles in.

• Moving to a new home? Give it two weeks to adjust, then call in a technician.

• Long time without a tune-up? It might need a pitch raise first before we can even fine-tune it.

Why It Matters

Keeping your piano in tune isn’t just about making it sound nice — it actually helps protect the whole structure of the instrument. When pianos stay wildly out of tune for too long, it puts uneven stress on the frame, the soundboard, and the bridges (and trust me, those repairs aren’t cheap).

A well-tuned piano is easier to play, sounds better, and can actually last much longer.

If you’re in the Greenville, NC area and your piano’s due for a tune-up (or you’re not sure if it is), feel free to reach out! I’d be happy to take a look and help you get it sounding its best again. 🎶