Can you play a new piano, even a good brand, straight out of the factory store without any adjustments? To bring out the full dynamic range and tone, it may be a good idea to have a technician spend some time with the instrument once it’s in your home. This extra attention can make a big difference in how the piano sounds and feels. In this blog, we will explore why factory pianos benefit from tuning, voicing, and other adjustments.
Concert Tuning vs. Regular Tuning
Most factory pianos come with a basic, in-house tuning before they leave the store. This tuning gets the instrument playable, but it’s not nearly as refined as what’s needed for the best performance. Regular tuning, which most people are familiar with, involves adjusting the pitch of the strings to standard A440 Hz across the instrument. This is typically done two to four times a year, depending on how much the piano is played and the environmental conditions.
Unlike regular tuning, concert tuning involves adjusting the tension of each string with deeper precision, taking into account inharmonicity (the slight pitch deviation in higher registers) to create a harmonious, well-tempered scale.Technicians also address the interaction between neighboring strings to improve tone.
To be fair, does any of this matter to pianists? Let’s ask a teacher.
“Many of my students–and this is true for most other studios as well–do not play at a high enough level to appreciate this amount of technical work,” says David Chang, of David Chang Music. “A high end concert pianist may invest in a certified pre-owned Steinway Model B, or something like that, and those pianos typically come with 30-50 hours or work from a master technician. The depth of tone, touch, and dynamic range of these instruments is unbelievable. But only a concert-level pianist can really take advantage of that.”
So in short, this type of investment is probably not worth it for a beginning pianist. But as you improve, it will be more worth-whilte.
Why You Should Have a Technician Spend Time with Your Piano
Factory pianos are built to meet general specs, but they aren't custom-fitted to the acoustics of your home or tailored to your playing preferences. That’s where a technician comes in.
After the piano arrives, it may take a few weeks to fully acclimate to its new environment. The wood, strings, and felt can shift due to temperature and humidity changes, which can affect both the sound and action. A technician can help by re-tuning the piano after it settles, adjusting the action, and voicing the instrument to suit your preferences.
Voicing, in particular, is an important process that influences the tone of your piano. It involves adjusting the density and shape of the hammers to change the quality of the sound. If the piano sounds too bright or too mellow for your liking, a technician can modify it to suit your taste, whether you prefer a warmer tone or something more vibrant. This customization can dramatically improve your experience with the piano.
Voicing the Piano for Better Dynamics
The process of voicing goes beyond aesthetics—it directly impacts the dynamic range of your piano. Dynamic range refers to the instrument’s ability to produce soft, quiet notes as well as loud, powerful ones, and everything in between. A well-voiced piano responds more effectively to the nuances of your playing, allowing you to express a wider range of emotions and musical ideas.
When a piano is first built, the hammers are often left a bit stiff or uniform. This is done intentionally because every player has a different style, and leaving the hammers in a neutral state allows for customization. A technician can shape and soften the hammers to help the piano produce a more balanced sound across all dynamic levels. This means that whether you're playing a delicate pianissimo or a forceful fortissimo, the piano will respond more precisely to your touch.
The Quality of Pianos and Their Impact on Tone
Not all pianos are created equal, and the quality of your instrument plays a significant role in how much a technician can bring out of it. High-end pianos, like Steinway or Yamaha, are made with premium materials that naturally have a broader tonal range and better responsiveness. A skilled technician can fine-tune these instruments to a remarkable degree, bringing out subtle variations in tone and creating a dynamic range that can elevate your playing experience.
Mid-range and entry-level pianos can also benefit from a technician’s work, but the materials used in these models may limit the depth of tone and dynamic range that can be achieved. For example, the hammers on a more affordable piano might be made of lower-quality felt, which can result in a slightly more rigid or less expressive sound. That said, a technician can still improve these instruments, making adjustments to get the best possible performance out of them.
Maximizing the Potential of Your Piano
Ultimately, the decision to have a technician work on your piano comes down to how much you want to invest in the sound and playability of the instrument. If you are taking local piano lessonsseriously, or if you already play demanding piano literature at a high level, it’s probably worth the investment. For some, the piano will sound great right out of the box, and basic tuning will be enough. But for those who want a richer, more nuanced experience, having a technician fine-tune the piano’s action and voicing is well worth the effort.
If you’ve invested in a high-quality piano, it makes sense to take those extra steps to maximize its potential. Even if you have a mid-range model, the expertise of a technician can make a noticeable difference in both the sound and feel of the instrument. The better your piano sounds and responds to your playing, the more enjoyable it will be to practice and perform on, making all the difference in your musical journey.
While you can certainly play a piano as-is from the factory, bringing in a technician to fine-tune the instrument can take your playing experience to the next level. From concert tuning to voicing and dynamic adjustments, these professional touches can make your piano sing in ways you never expected.