How Often Should I Tune My Piano in Calgary?

Calgary’s dry winters and shifting seasons can cause your piano to go out of tune faster than you'd expect.

For most homes, I recommend tuning your piano once every 6 to 12 months. If the piano is played regularly, or if you're sensitive to sound, every 6 months is ideal.

Regular tuning keeps your piano stable, protects it from long-term damage, and helps it sound its best year-round.

What Is a Pitch Correction (Pitch Raise)?

If a piano hasn’t been tuned in a long time, the tension in the strings can drop significantly — meaning the whole instrument ends up below standard pitch (A440). This is really common in older or neglected pianos.

A pitch correction (also called a pitch raise) is the process of bringing the piano back up to proper pitch — usually in two stages:

1. First pass: I quickly raise all the strings closer to where they should be.

2. Second pass: I do a more accurate fine tuning.

Why two steps? Because big changes in tension make the piano unstable — it won’t hold a precise tuning on the first go. The pitch raise helps settle it so it can be tuned properly afterward.

If your piano is more than two-three years out of tune, there’s a good chance it’ll need this step. I’ll always let you know beforehand if that’s the case.

What’s the Difference Between Tuning and Repair?

Tuning adjusts the pitch of each note so your piano sounds in tune across the keyboard.

Repair addresses mechanical issues like:

• Sticking keys

• Buzzing sounds

• Broken strings

• Pedals not working

Not sure which one you need? I’m happy to take a look and guide you through it.

Why Does My Piano Keep Going Out of Tune?

Pianos go out of tune for a few common reasons — and most have nothing to do with how well it was tuned last time.

The main causes are:

• Changes in humidity and temperature (big issue in Calgary!)

• Regular playing

• Loose tuning pins in older pianos

• Long gaps between tunings

Even if you don’t play often, your piano still reacts to the air around it. Keeping a consistent indoor climate and tuning it regularly helps it stay stable longer.

Should I Tune My Piano Before or After Moving?

Always tune after a move — not before.

Even a small shift in environment (temperature, humidity, vibrations from moving) can knock your piano out of tune.

Give it a week or two to settle into your new space, then book a tuning. This ensures it stays stable and sounds great in its new home.

Can a Piano Be Too Old to Tune?

Sometimes. If a piano hasn't been tuned in many years, it may be unstable and need whats called a “pitch correction”, but the vast majority have many years left in them after a bit of effort.

Signs a piano may be too old to tune properly:

• Severe cracks in critical areas of the piano

• Tuning pins are too loose to hold tension

• Strings break during tuning (but can be replaced)

But not all old pianos are lost causes — many just need a pitch raise or minor repairs first. I’ll always be honest about what your piano needs and whether it's worth putting more into it.