Since most notes are composed of 3 strings, called unisons, the piano tuner’s challenge is to get all three strings of the unison to sound like a single string, while also landing on the correct pitch.  A unison must also stay in tune under heavy play, requiring the tuning pins to be left in a state of equalibrium.  The goal is to leave the pin in an untwisted state, otherwise it will slowly untwist, thereby disturbing the tuning.

Since most notes are composed of 3 strings, called unisons, the piano tuner’s challenge is to get all three strings of the unison to sound like a single string, while also landing on the correct pitch.  A unison must also stay in tune under heavy play, requiring the tuning pins to be left in a state of equalibrium.  The goal is to leave the pin in an untwisted state, otherwise it will slowly untwist, thereby disturbing the tuning.

Pianos in the Midwest usually need tuning twice a year for acceptable results.  Churches and other large buildings often need more due to extreme humidity fluctuations.

Your target humidity should be 45% with a minimum acceptable range of 30-60%, although more ideal would be 35-55%.  A digital hygrometer gauge with a min/max memory set near the instrument will tell the story of your home’s humidity fluctuations over the course of a year. 

• A/C or Dehumidifier
• April-Aire on furnace
• Dampp-Chaser humidity control installed on piano
• Limiting airlflow near piano i.e. vents, open windows, keeping piano lid closed