More information
FAQ & what to expect
Answers to common questions about tuning, pricing, and preparing for your appointment.
Before your appointment
Preparing for a tuning
Three small things that make the visit go smoothly.
Clear the piano
Please remove all objects from the top of the piano so the lid can be opened.
Clear the walls
Take down hanging wall objects nearby that could be struck and damaged by the piano lid.
Keep it quiet
A mostly quiet environment lets Tim hear every string precisely — noise makes accurate tuning very difficult.
During your appointment
What to expect
Plain and predictable, start to finish.
On time
Tim is on time. If he’s ever running more than 10 minutes late, you’ll get a text before it happens.
Your house, your rules
Shoes off, side entrance, particular parking — just say the word. Pets are no problem.
Leave the piano where it is
Please don’t move the piano. Tim works from the front and will shift it himself if needed.
It gets noisy for a stretch
Worth considering for nappers, meetings, and close neighbors. Questions are welcome the whole time — Tim doesn’t mind talking while he works.
No payment in advance
Tim never asks for payment or deposits in advance — if anyone claiming to be him does, it’s a scam.
FAQ
Common questions
Tuning, pricing, and what your piano might need.
How much does a tuning cost?
It depends on the piano and how far it has drifted. Text Tim (818-809-0665) the make, model, and roughly when it was last tuned — for most grands, most Yamahas, or anything tuned in the last three years, that’s enough for a firm number, usually the same day. Older than that and he’ll ask for a short phone recording of a few notes, something most tuners can’t offer. No surprises at the door, no deposit.
Prefer email? PianoTechTim@gmail.com.
How soon can you come?
Same-week appointments are usually available. Text a few days and times that work and Tim will confirm one.
How do I pay?
After the visit, never before — Venmo, Zelle, check, cash, or card.
How often should my piano be tuned?
Every piano is different. Concert and recording studio pianos are tuned right before each performance or session. Home pianos are usually tuned once a year — more often if they’re played heavily, exposed to big temperature or humidity swings, or have structural issues. If a piano hasn’t been tuned in decades, it may take a couple of tunings for the strings to settle and stretch.
My piano hasn’t been tuned in years. Is that bad?
It’s common — and nothing to feel bad about. Most pianos Tim sees are overdue. Strings drift gradually, so you may not have noticed. The sooner it’s tuned the easier it comes back, but even a piano untouched for a decade can almost always be restored.
Why might my piano need more than a standard tuning?
If the pitch has dropped well below A440, bringing roughly 220 strings back up adds a ton or more of tension to the frame — and that shift knocks the first pass out as it settles. That’s why a long-overdue piano often needs a pitch raise before the fine tuning. Tim measures first, so you’ll know before any work begins.
Nobody plays it right now. Does it still need tuning?
Yes — pianos drift with humidity and temperature whether they’re played or not, and the further they fall, the more it costs to bring them back. A maintained piano is always ready for the day someone sits down at it again.
What services are available beyond tuning?
The full range of piano technician services: regulation, voicing, repairs, extensive cleaning, refurbishing, and rebuilding. Pricing varies by project — see the full list on the home page or request a quote.
Still have questions?
Tim is happy to help.
Reach out anytime for a free quote.