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Key Piano Care |
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Pitch Raise
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| What is a
Pitch Raise? If a piano has not been tuned for many years then the pitch will have dropped further away from where it should be, making it harder for a tuner to pull the piano back up to the correct tension levels. Therefore a Pitch Raise* will be required in order for the piano to sound once again at concert pitch. To do this, the tension of the strings are increased which puts a huge strain on the pianos cast iron frame. This is done quickly by raising the average tension levels above what they should be. It is a rough tuning that is usually done in 30 minutes. Another tuning is then done which is known as a fine tune. This is a more accurate tuning which usually takes an additional hour. As a Pitch Raise takes more time and effort, the fee for doing it is a bit more than a standard tuning. It is recommended that the piano is tuned once again 6-8 weeks after a Pitch Raise and Fine Tune is carried out. This helps to keep the tension levels more stable. Regular tunings (every 6 months is preferable) will avoid the need for a Pitch Raise in the future. *A Pitch Raise will only be undertaken after a visual inspection to see if the piano is structually sound i.e. the strings and frame can handle the increase in tension. |