MJ, it is very hard to tune a piano with the ear. Buying help like that usually has its imperfections. My sis got her baby grande like a few years ago and my parents had someone come over to tune it up and it ended up in worse shape than before. So we bought one of those electronic tuning devices.
Seiko Chromatic Tuner - the Piano one..lol
This neat toy cost about 40-50 dollars CAN. Basically my dad self tunes the piano every like now and then. Open up the lid. You can see the strings and their whaddya call them..those pins. The pins are hexagonal I think so any corresponding tool from canadian tire will do. Try for maybe something with a larger handle, its better for the hands and the force exerted is more efficently transfered. So start and hit a key and the Tuner will register your note and how off it is. If its tuned, the green light will light up. Any deviation will register red and the Tuner will show the direction and magnitude of the problem. Then, according to the Tuner, tighten or loosen the string by turning the pin. Yeah it actaully takes alot of effort but maybe have the tool on the pin and just hitting the handle and checking the note.
Yeah its a tedious guess and check method but it will save up money and you'll have something of a "quality check" for your piano. Another tip is to be sure to keep the temperature and humidity constant. Otherwise your soundboard will fluctuate and you shorten the lifespan of your piano..lol..ok I think you know but yeah..lol. My friend's got one for his guitar too. Maybe you should check it out and make piano tuning boo boos a thing of the past. Or make sure the piano tuners have done their job well.
MJ, after high school, don't be missing your piano. If you study out of the city, visit often! Your parents would be happy to see you back!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! (Maybe not the piano stuff but the piano itself..lol. I don't play piano.) -Pete
Wow, thank you so much for all the information, Peter!! I must say it never occurred to me to tune my piano myself. ^^; But you're right -- it's certainly a worthwhile investment. I just wish the malfuntioning keys were as easy to fix... Those are probably caused by the change in climate from Singapore to Toronto. How would I maintain a steady temperature/humidity though?
WHAT!?! Singapore to Toronto....Oh my gosh! When did you buy the piano!?! The humidity fluctuations are massive. Tropical to such a dry environment especially now in the winter and with indoor heating! MJ, I dunno, you really need to have the piano checked out for cracks or take a look yourself. Get a thermometer and a humidity meter and try to gradualy "settle" the piano into its north american environment.
This is crucial! My tech design teacher has told us stories about people bringing wood furniture from the tropics like Mexico and how it crack, expanded/deformed and even "exploded".
To regulate temperature, use the thermo stat. Check with your parents too. They need to know about the piano as well. As for increasing humidity, hang your laundry around the house. Or just wet towels and hang them about the house. Do not let the towels touch metal that can rust or wood furniture. Use the thermometer and humidity meter to keep the piano in check. If you don't wanna do the laundry thing, buy/get a humidifier. I really dunno because my parents bought the piano here..lol. Its a Kawai but I think it was already in Canada. I suggest you like check with the supplier for like weather info and try to "ease" gradually, your piano into the drier climate.
My dad knows alot more about this then I do..lol. This is the first time, like this situation came into my knowledge. Like with my dad's serious precaution, I never took him too seriously and now your piano doesn't like Canadian weather..lol. See what you can do and tell your parents about it. Maybe they can work something out.
Um, well... my piano's like 10 years old, and it's been in Canada for more than 3 years now. We should've done more for it back then, but I suppose after such a long time, it should be somewhat used to the new climate now...? I dunno ^^;
You have a Kawai? Lucky~ My piano teacher had a really nice Kawai baby grand. How I'd looove to own one of those too~~~
My sis is like grade 10 piano i think and my parents bought it like a few years ago as like a gift/bonus/further encouragement for her hard work. What grade piano r u in? You seem to be pretty skilled. XD
Oh..hmm..I guess 3 years settling time ain't bad though I must say the move from Singapore to Toronto might have been a tramuatized event for the piano.lol. Where is your Piano located in the house. Did you move it recently? Is it near any heat vents/windows? If so, move the piano NOW!..lol. Your piano cannot be exposed to direct sunlight or near any heat vents. The soundboard is like the most cruical piece of the piano. Any change in environment leads to like a slight loss or gain of moisture and the shape changes slightly(or moderately depending on how severe the changes are..lol..thats only in the extreme cases which leads to the soundboard crackin and the loss of a piano). With a slightly different shape, your notes change too. Thats why the two things you should try to keep constant is temperature and humidity. To maintain the health of the piano and the frequency of tuning sessions.
Once you have the thermometer and humidity meter, try to maintain about 20C and 60% humidity.
I dunno what can be causing the anomalies. Like the cracking was before the technician came over to your house right? I hope the guy fixed w/e cracked..lol. So in that case maybe your keys need proper tuning. I guess you can have the keys checked out for tune with a chromatic tuner device or have a technician come over. I'd suggest using the device. At least you're in control of the situation and there would be a less chance of the piano getting scratched or what not. You just have to becareful with the tools..lol.
I didn't take any exams in Canada. And the last grade I passed was such a long time ago that it's quite meaningless now -- my "skills" have deteriorated considerably. ^^;
We haven't relocated my piano (upright) ever since we moved into this house. And it's not near any vents or windows. I don't suppose introducing any new changes into its environment now is going to do any good... ^^; But I will keep your advice in mind. Thanks! =)
Seiko Chromatic Tuner - the Piano one..lol
This neat toy cost about 40-50 dollars CAN. Basically my dad self tunes the piano every like now and then. Open up the lid. You can see the strings and their whaddya call them..those pins. The pins are hexagonal I think so any corresponding tool from canadian tire will do. Try for maybe something with a larger handle, its better for the hands and the force exerted is more efficently transfered. So start and hit a key and the Tuner will register your note and how off it is. If its tuned, the green light will light up. Any deviation will register red and the Tuner will show the direction and magnitude of the problem. Then, according to the Tuner, tighten or loosen the string by turning the pin. Yeah it actaully takes alot of effort but maybe have the tool on the pin and just hitting the handle and checking the note.
Yeah its a tedious guess and check method but it will save up money and you'll have something of a "quality check" for your piano. Another tip is to be sure to keep the temperature and humidity constant. Otherwise your soundboard will fluctuate and you shorten the lifespan of your piano..lol..ok I think you know but yeah..lol. My friend's got one for his guitar too. Maybe you should check it out and make piano tuning boo boos a thing of the past. Or make sure the piano tuners have done their job well.
MJ, after high school, don't be missing your piano. If you study out of the city, visit often! Your parents would be happy to see you back!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! (Maybe not the piano stuff but the piano itself..lol. I don't play piano.)
-Pete
Reply
Reply
This is crucial! My tech design teacher has told us stories about people bringing wood furniture from the tropics like Mexico and how it crack, expanded/deformed and even "exploded".
To regulate temperature, use the thermo stat. Check with your parents too. They need to know about the piano as well. As for increasing humidity, hang your laundry around the house. Or just wet towels and hang them about the house. Do not let the towels touch metal that can rust or wood furniture. Use the thermometer and humidity meter to keep the piano in check. If you don't wanna do the laundry thing, buy/get a humidifier. I really dunno because my parents bought the piano here..lol. Its a Kawai but I think it was already in Canada. I suggest you like check with the supplier for like weather info and try to "ease" gradually, your piano into the drier climate.
My dad knows alot more about this then I do..lol. This is the first time, like this situation came into my knowledge. Like with my dad's serious precaution, I never took him too seriously and now your piano doesn't like Canadian weather..lol. See what you can do and tell your parents about it. Maybe they can work something out.
Keep me posted,
-Pete
Reply
You have a Kawai? Lucky~ My piano teacher had a really nice Kawai baby grand. How I'd looove to own one of those too~~~
Reply
Oh..hmm..I guess 3 years settling time ain't bad though I must say the move from Singapore to Toronto might have been a tramuatized event for the piano.lol. Where is your Piano located in the house. Did you move it recently? Is it near any heat vents/windows? If so, move the piano NOW!..lol. Your piano cannot be exposed to direct sunlight or near any heat vents. The soundboard is like the most cruical piece of the piano. Any change in environment leads to like a slight loss or gain of moisture and the shape changes slightly(or moderately depending on how severe the changes are..lol..thats only in the extreme cases which leads to the soundboard crackin and the loss of a piano). With a slightly different shape, your notes change too. Thats why the two things you should try to keep constant is temperature and humidity. To maintain the health of the piano and the frequency of tuning sessions.
Once you have the thermometer and humidity meter, try to maintain about 20C and 60% humidity.
I dunno what can be causing the anomalies. Like the cracking was before the technician came over to your house right? I hope the guy fixed w/e cracked..lol. So in that case maybe your keys need proper tuning. I guess you can have the keys checked out for tune with a chromatic tuner device or have a technician come over. I'd suggest using the device. At least you're in control of the situation and there would be a less chance of the piano getting scratched or what not. You just have to becareful with the tools..lol.
Btw, you have an upright piano or a grande?
-Pete
Reply
We haven't relocated my piano (upright) ever since we moved into this house. And it's not near any vents or windows. I don't suppose introducing any new changes into its environment now is going to do any good... ^^; But I will keep your advice in mind. Thanks! =)
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