Pitch raising: restoring tension and harmony to your piano
Has your piano not been tuned for several years? Does it sound "out of tune" even between notes? It has likely undergone a significant drop in tension. To return to the standard pitch (A 440 Hz), a single tuning session is no longer enough: a pitch raise becomes necessary.
What is a pitch raise?
A piano exerts a total tension of 15 to 20 tons on its frame. When it is not maintained regularly, this tension drops. A pitch raise consists of significantly increasing the tension across all 220 strings to stabilize the instrument before the final tuning.
This is a delicate operation that requires great technical expertise to avoid weakening the structure or breaking older strings.
Why is it indispensable?
- Why it is essential:
Tuning stability: if a very low piano is tuned directly, the structure shifts so much during the process that the first notes tuned will move before the session is even finished. - The musician's ear: playing on an instrument that is too flat distorts the ear's perception, which is especially critical for young students in the middle of their musical development.
- The instrument's structure: maintaining the piano at its nominal tension preserves the crown of the soundboard and the quality of sound projection.
I generally proceed in two steps during the same visit :
- Pitch raising: increasing the tension of the strings. The frame and the soundboard will redistribute the newly applied tension, which will inevitably drop by a few hertz in the minutes following the operation.
- Fine tuning: once the structure has stabilized, I perform the final tuning for perfect pitch.
However, despite all the care taken during this immediate stabilization, the longevity of the result will primarily depend on your piano's current "potential." It is also important to keep in mind that the stability of the tuning is closely linked to the instrument's initial condition.
Several factors can influence this stability in the months following the intervention:
The gap from standard pitch: The longer a piano has remained away from its normal tension, the greater the "physical shock" of the pitch raise. For an instrument that hasn't been tuned in 20 years, for example, the structure undergoes monumental pressure. In such a case, even with a rigorous pitch raise and a precise fine tuning, it is unlikely that impeccable pitch will be maintained for a full year after the first intervention.
String elasticity and tuning pin stability: On a "tired" piano, the metal of the strings has lost its flexibility. During a pitch raise, these strings sometimes reach their elastic limits and may "settle" unpredictably over the following weeks.
To ensure a lasting result and return to a standard annual tuning schedule
Unlike a standard tuning that quickly stabilizes for about a year, a pitch raise imposes a major physical strain on the instrument. By increasing the overall tension, hundreds of pounds of pressure are added back to the structure.
While a standard tuning typically lasts about a year, it is highly recommended to schedule a follow-up intervention within 6 to 8 months. This second pass will "lock in" the tension and durably stabilize the instrument at its reference frequency.
Expert advice :
A pitch raise is often the ideal time to check if a regulation of the piano’s action is necessary. Restoring the correct tension can reveal subtle mechanical weaknesses that were previously masked by a lack of power.
Bring your neglected piano back to life !
Whether you have just acquired a pre-owned piano or wish to restore a family heirloom to service, a pitch raise is the first step in a musical rebirth toward lasting harmony.
Pitch raising
Tuning
