Answers to common questions about tuning, pricing, and preparing for your appointment.
Before Your Appointment
Preparing for a Tuning
1
Clear the Piano
Please remove all objects from the top of the piano so the lid can be opened.
2
Clear the Walls
Take down hanging wall objects nearby that could be struck and damaged by the piano lid.
3
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 During the Visit
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.
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.
Tim never asks for payment or deposits in advance — if anyone claiming to be him does, it’s a scam.
Common Questions
Piano Care FAQ
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. See the manufacturer service recommendations from the Piano Technicians Guild.
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 tons 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.
Can you check my piano before booking?
Yes — something most tuners can’t offer: send a short phone recording of a few notes, and Tim will professionally analyze the pitch to tell you exactly what your piano needs and what it will cost. No surprises at the door.
How is pricing determined?
Prices vary depending on the piano’s brand and model, its current state of tuning, and travel time. The quickest way to get a quote is to text 818-809-0665 or email PianoTechTim@gmail.com.
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 services page or request a quote.
Still Have Questions?
Tim is happy to help — reach out anytime for a free quote.