What is a pitch raise?
Your piano is designed to sound its best when tuned to A-440 (A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second), the international pitch standard. At this pitch, power and tonal range are optimum and your piano will match the pitch of other instruments. When your piano varies from A-440, pitch adjustments are required to bring it back to standard. By always maintaining your piano at standard pitch, you create long-term tuning stability because the strings and structure stay in equilibrium. You also ensure proper ear training because you always hear your music in the correct key, and at the right pitch.
A pitch change MUST be carried out in one complete instalment only; it cannot be carried out in smaller stages (i.e. bass first, then treble another day). A pitch raise always starts on MIDDLE C, then working backwards & forwards (quickly) through the scale area, then eventually quickly working up to the treble, then quickly down to the bass - in that specific order - this is NOT A SLOW JOB!.
A pitch change must be complete to avoid any risks of serious structural damage to the soundboard, bridges, wrest plank and other supporting frame areas; the results could be catastrophic if carried out in smaller stages. AA Piano Tuners UK "knows the job" well, and would recommend a pitch raise to be carried out only by this method. The job is priced for a complete pitch raise & tuning only.
A pitch change should be carried out by a fully qualified piano tuner / technician, using the correct sized star socket lever for the job.
I've seen many cases where the tuning pins have been "churned" and round-off at the edges, resulting in several broken strings (poor lever technique), and the pitch change being unsuccessful. It's best left to the experts who know the job well. There is nothing 100% about this job, depending on the condition of the piano, however in my 25+ years of tuning & pitch changing, I have never broken a string that looks in OK condition, unless it is fit for the scrap yard!
Please read on.....
A pitch raise is needed when a piano has not been tuned for a long period of time, and the pitch has fallen flat - and usually requires two or more tuning visits. Visit 1: Stretch strings sharp/ rough tuning. Visit 2: Refine tuning to A440 Hz. Depending on the age and condition of the piano, on older pianos, pitch raising can be risky. Most central heating systems are to blame.
A pitch drop is the reverse of a pitch raise, and required when the pitch is sharp/ risen well above Concert Pitch.
Cold buildings such as churches are usually to blame for this.
Pitch raising a piano is more common than a pitch drop, so this information will mainly refer to the former.
A pitch change MUST be carried out in one complete instalment only; it cannot be carried out in smaller stages (i.e. bass first, then treble another day). A pitch raise always starts on MIDDLE C, then working backwards & forwards (quickly) through the scale area, then eventually quickly working up to the treble, then quickly down to the bass - in that specific order - this is NOT A SLOW JOB!.
A pitch change must be complete to avoid any risks of serious structural damage to the soundboard, bridges, wrest plank and other supporting frame areas; the results could be catastrophic if carried out in smaller stages. AA Piano Tuners UK "knows the job" well, and would recommend a pitch raise to be carried out only by this method. The job is priced for a complete pitch raise & tuning only.
A pitch change should be carried out by a fully qualified piano tuner / technician, using the correct sized star socket lever for the job.
I've seen many cases where the tuning pins have been "churned" and round-off at the edges, resulting in several broken strings (poor lever technique), and the pitch change being unsuccessful. It's best left to the experts who know the job well. There is nothing 100% about this job, depending on the condition of the piano, however in my 25+ years of tuning & pitch changing, I have never broken a string that looks in OK condition, unless it is fit for the scrap yard!
Please read on.....
A pitch raise is needed when a piano has not been tuned for a long period of time, and the pitch has fallen flat - and usually requires two or more tuning visits. Visit 1: Stretch strings sharp/ rough tuning. Visit 2: Refine tuning to A440 Hz. Depending on the age and condition of the piano, on older pianos, pitch raising can be risky. Most central heating systems are to blame.
A pitch drop is the reverse of a pitch raise, and required when the pitch is sharp/ risen well above Concert Pitch.
Cold buildings such as churches are usually to blame for this.
Pitch raising a piano is more common than a pitch drop, so this information will mainly refer to the former.
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Video: What is a Pitch Raise? >>>
This video has been selected, but not connected to AA Tuners. |
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VISIT ONE - THE PITCH RAISE
RISK ASSESSMENT
Before any work is carried out, your piano may require a risk assessment.
All parts of the piano will be checked to ensure that they are structurally in good shape.
Should there be signs of previous broken/ missing / replaced parts, this may affect an overall decision.
If the piano is over 20 years old, the first step is to lubricate all the areas of the strings where they have contact with other parts.
This is to reduce the risk of breaking the odd piano string. Older pianos are more at risk.
1. String coils on the tuning pins
2. Upper plate pins and/ or agraffes (stringing studs)
3. Bass strings upper plate / pressure points / where they steer in a different direction
It is not necessary to lubricate the hitch pins or main bridge pins unless very rusty.
Step 2:
4. Fractionally de-tension every string (tune flat) to crack any adhesions/ free string from rust
Step 3:
5. Gradually pull up the tension, starting in the middle, then working outwards quickly / rough pitch raise
6. Roughly tune so the pitch is higher than concert pitch - about A444 hz.
7. Re-tune the whole piano/ adjusting octaves a 2nd or 3rd time / very rough tuning
VISIT TWO (7-10 days after visit 1)
1. Check and adjust Middle C to exactly C261.6Hz/ octave higher C to C523.3Hz.
2. Tune an Equal Temperament scale (middle octave)
3. Tune rest of piano in octaves / re-tune where necessary.
Depending on the age of the piano, a third visit may be required if the old pitch has remained for over two years.
Pitch changing is risky on any piano, and several strings may break. The lubrication process in step 1 helps to reduce the risk of breaking strings, but by no means is this process guaranteed. (See footer about mini pianos).
BROKEN TREBLE STRING?
If a steel treble string breaks, it must be replaced with a new string; the old string cannot be repaired.
If I have the correct gauge of wire (in the boot of my car!), it can be replaced immediately.
If a string replacement causes the tuning pin to come loose (or work itself loose), this must also be replaced.
New strings need to be tuned several times to stay in tune / often they are muted until the next visit.
BROKEN BASS STRING? (Bi-chord, Tri-chord or singles)
If a bass string breaks, it must be replaced with a new string - the old string cannot be repaired.
The broken bass string must then be sent away for one to be made by a string maker - takes about 5 - 7 days.
A tuning pin may also need to be replaced.
BROKEN BI-CHORD
If one of the two bi-chords break, if the piano is over 10 years old, BOTH the broken string and existing fitted string must be removed together, then BOTH strings sent away for renewal. Tuning an old string to a new string is impossible, especially being bass.
Do not play the piano until all strings have been replaced, as this may cause damage to the hammer inner working parts.
The same applies to a broken tri-chord bass string.
BROKEN SINGLE BASS STRING
String must be sent away to have a new one made - these are the thick heavy strings, extreme left side.
Do not play the note that has the broken string, as this may damage the hammer inner parts.
Put some tape on the key that is broken, or ask your tuner to remove the piano key temporarily.
TIP: Place a small piece of ply wood across where the missing string is, to allow the damper to rest in its natural position.
The damper spring will act as a clamp. DO NOT use gaffer tape or high-adhesive tapes.
FITTING BASS STRINGS -
When your bass string(s) arrive, your tuner will arrange another appointment to fit them.
All new strings are very flexible and require multi-tuning to eventually get them to stay in tune.
VISIT THREE
A third visit may be needed to finally tune your piano to Concert Pitch, and make final adjustments to any new strings fitted.
The new strings may possibly be muted off (treble strings only) until they stay in tune for this visit.
It is strongly recommended to book a 3rd visit after one month of the 2nd visit, then 6 monthly thereafter.
If the 3rd visit is recommended but declined, you do so at your own risk.
OLD PIANOS - DAMPER PROBLEMS?
As the damper is responsible for stopping the sound (muting the string), when an old damper is located against a new string, the damper may not work properly. This is partly due to string alignment, embedded coil shapes in the felt, and general condition. If necessary, the damper felt for any new string may also be required to be renewed. Old dampers sometimes give off "scuffing" noises because the felt has hardened over the years, so replacing the string AND damper felt will guarantee this note to work again 100%.
Pitch changing is not carried out for:
1. Very old neglected pianos over 40 years of age
2. Rusty or corroded strings
3. Evidence of previous broken, missing or replaced strings or/ and tuning pins.
4. 50% pin torque or less / loose tuning pins
5. General condition of the piano badly neglected, lacking regular tuning and servicing.
6. Any piano that fails a risk assessment carried out by AA Piano Tuners UK.
All pianos must be in good mechanical working order for any piano tuning and pitch change to be successful.
VISIT ONE/ TWO INFO >>
If you have selected a pitch raise visit 1, this visit 1 is by no means a normal "tuning" visit. The piano is not tuned.
During this visit, the strings are "mechanically" adjusted in such a way to add "sharp" tension (about 18 tons) to the overall structure of the piano, and equalise the tension of the strings, in preparation for visit 2; at this stage, your piano may sound worse than it originally did - this is perfectly normal, and required for a pitch raise. After visit 1, your piano will quickly go out of tune even further (actually, it starts to go out of tune moments after starting the pitch raise). After visit 2, you will notice an improvement in the tuning, but depending on how badly out of tune the piano was before visit 1 (if 1/4 tone, semitone or tone out or more), and depending on previous tuning neglect, a third visit will almost certainly be required.
This 3rd visit may be booked at leisure.
Generally speaking, the whole tuning process from pitch raise to fine tuning stability can take up to about 12 months, and it is recommended to book another tuning or two within this period - pitch raising + tuning is a long process.
Once the piano has finally settled at Concert Pitch and stability is better, your piano must be tuned regularly every six months thereafter for the above work to remain successful. If tuning visits are erratic / one-off after visit 2, this may undo all the previous work, and the pitch raising mode will need to be started all over again. Think of a piano tuning like wine or cheese; they "mature" each time - so a one-off piano tuning will never achieve the results you expect.
Should a customer wish to decline any part of a pitch raise service (and declining the recommended work involved to finish the work properly), do so at their own risk.
OLD MINI PIANOS (e.g. Eavestaff / Kemble Minx)/ Drop mechanism/ Bridle Tape failure
Should any old mini piano require a pitch change, the risk is much higher due its size and design.
Should any string break before, during or after a pitch change (or other mechanism problems occur), the piano cannot be repaired onsite, and must be removed for repairs to be carried out in the AA Piano Tuners workshop.
Should any kind of piano have "tape failure", and a string breaks, the mechanism must be repaired first before a new string can be fitted.
AA Piano Tuners UK has provided some useful information about pitch changes. This information is not set in stone, and I reserve the right to make changes if necessary without notice. Please contact me for further information.
Learn more about PITCH
RISK ASSESSMENT
Before any work is carried out, your piano may require a risk assessment.
All parts of the piano will be checked to ensure that they are structurally in good shape.
Should there be signs of previous broken/ missing / replaced parts, this may affect an overall decision.
If the piano is over 20 years old, the first step is to lubricate all the areas of the strings where they have contact with other parts.
This is to reduce the risk of breaking the odd piano string. Older pianos are more at risk.
1. String coils on the tuning pins
2. Upper plate pins and/ or agraffes (stringing studs)
3. Bass strings upper plate / pressure points / where they steer in a different direction
It is not necessary to lubricate the hitch pins or main bridge pins unless very rusty.
Step 2:
4. Fractionally de-tension every string (tune flat) to crack any adhesions/ free string from rust
Step 3:
5. Gradually pull up the tension, starting in the middle, then working outwards quickly / rough pitch raise
6. Roughly tune so the pitch is higher than concert pitch - about A444 hz.
7. Re-tune the whole piano/ adjusting octaves a 2nd or 3rd time / very rough tuning
VISIT TWO (7-10 days after visit 1)
1. Check and adjust Middle C to exactly C261.6Hz/ octave higher C to C523.3Hz.
2. Tune an Equal Temperament scale (middle octave)
3. Tune rest of piano in octaves / re-tune where necessary.
Depending on the age of the piano, a third visit may be required if the old pitch has remained for over two years.
Pitch changing is risky on any piano, and several strings may break. The lubrication process in step 1 helps to reduce the risk of breaking strings, but by no means is this process guaranteed. (See footer about mini pianos).
BROKEN TREBLE STRING?
If a steel treble string breaks, it must be replaced with a new string; the old string cannot be repaired.
If I have the correct gauge of wire (in the boot of my car!), it can be replaced immediately.
If a string replacement causes the tuning pin to come loose (or work itself loose), this must also be replaced.
New strings need to be tuned several times to stay in tune / often they are muted until the next visit.
BROKEN BASS STRING? (Bi-chord, Tri-chord or singles)
If a bass string breaks, it must be replaced with a new string - the old string cannot be repaired.
The broken bass string must then be sent away for one to be made by a string maker - takes about 5 - 7 days.
A tuning pin may also need to be replaced.
BROKEN BI-CHORD
If one of the two bi-chords break, if the piano is over 10 years old, BOTH the broken string and existing fitted string must be removed together, then BOTH strings sent away for renewal. Tuning an old string to a new string is impossible, especially being bass.
Do not play the piano until all strings have been replaced, as this may cause damage to the hammer inner working parts.
The same applies to a broken tri-chord bass string.
BROKEN SINGLE BASS STRING
String must be sent away to have a new one made - these are the thick heavy strings, extreme left side.
Do not play the note that has the broken string, as this may damage the hammer inner parts.
Put some tape on the key that is broken, or ask your tuner to remove the piano key temporarily.
TIP: Place a small piece of ply wood across where the missing string is, to allow the damper to rest in its natural position.
The damper spring will act as a clamp. DO NOT use gaffer tape or high-adhesive tapes.
FITTING BASS STRINGS -
When your bass string(s) arrive, your tuner will arrange another appointment to fit them.
All new strings are very flexible and require multi-tuning to eventually get them to stay in tune.
VISIT THREE
A third visit may be needed to finally tune your piano to Concert Pitch, and make final adjustments to any new strings fitted.
The new strings may possibly be muted off (treble strings only) until they stay in tune for this visit.
It is strongly recommended to book a 3rd visit after one month of the 2nd visit, then 6 monthly thereafter.
If the 3rd visit is recommended but declined, you do so at your own risk.
OLD PIANOS - DAMPER PROBLEMS?
As the damper is responsible for stopping the sound (muting the string), when an old damper is located against a new string, the damper may not work properly. This is partly due to string alignment, embedded coil shapes in the felt, and general condition. If necessary, the damper felt for any new string may also be required to be renewed. Old dampers sometimes give off "scuffing" noises because the felt has hardened over the years, so replacing the string AND damper felt will guarantee this note to work again 100%.
Pitch changing is not carried out for:
1. Very old neglected pianos over 40 years of age
2. Rusty or corroded strings
3. Evidence of previous broken, missing or replaced strings or/ and tuning pins.
4. 50% pin torque or less / loose tuning pins
5. General condition of the piano badly neglected, lacking regular tuning and servicing.
6. Any piano that fails a risk assessment carried out by AA Piano Tuners UK.
All pianos must be in good mechanical working order for any piano tuning and pitch change to be successful.
VISIT ONE/ TWO INFO >>
If you have selected a pitch raise visit 1, this visit 1 is by no means a normal "tuning" visit. The piano is not tuned.
During this visit, the strings are "mechanically" adjusted in such a way to add "sharp" tension (about 18 tons) to the overall structure of the piano, and equalise the tension of the strings, in preparation for visit 2; at this stage, your piano may sound worse than it originally did - this is perfectly normal, and required for a pitch raise. After visit 1, your piano will quickly go out of tune even further (actually, it starts to go out of tune moments after starting the pitch raise). After visit 2, you will notice an improvement in the tuning, but depending on how badly out of tune the piano was before visit 1 (if 1/4 tone, semitone or tone out or more), and depending on previous tuning neglect, a third visit will almost certainly be required.
This 3rd visit may be booked at leisure.
Generally speaking, the whole tuning process from pitch raise to fine tuning stability can take up to about 12 months, and it is recommended to book another tuning or two within this period - pitch raising + tuning is a long process.
Once the piano has finally settled at Concert Pitch and stability is better, your piano must be tuned regularly every six months thereafter for the above work to remain successful. If tuning visits are erratic / one-off after visit 2, this may undo all the previous work, and the pitch raising mode will need to be started all over again. Think of a piano tuning like wine or cheese; they "mature" each time - so a one-off piano tuning will never achieve the results you expect.
Should a customer wish to decline any part of a pitch raise service (and declining the recommended work involved to finish the work properly), do so at their own risk.
OLD MINI PIANOS (e.g. Eavestaff / Kemble Minx)/ Drop mechanism/ Bridle Tape failure
Should any old mini piano require a pitch change, the risk is much higher due its size and design.
Should any string break before, during or after a pitch change (or other mechanism problems occur), the piano cannot be repaired onsite, and must be removed for repairs to be carried out in the AA Piano Tuners workshop.
Should any kind of piano have "tape failure", and a string breaks, the mechanism must be repaired first before a new string can be fitted.
AA Piano Tuners UK has provided some useful information about pitch changes. This information is not set in stone, and I reserve the right to make changes if necessary without notice. Please contact me for further information.
Learn more about PITCH
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