How Often Should You Tune Your Piano (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Dale Dahlberg
May 16
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

One of the most common questions piano owners ask me is, “How often do I really need to get my piano tuned?”

Whether you play every day or just occasionally, your piano’s tuning matters more than you might think—not just for sound, but for its long-term health. In a place like Minnesota, with our wide seasonal swings in humidity, consistent care can make a world of difference for the longevity of your piano.

Let’s walk through what you need to know.

Why Do Pianos Go Out of Tune?

Even if your piano doesn’t get played, it will still go out of tune over time.

That’s because your piano is full of tightly stretched strings. Each string is under about 150 to 200 pounds of tension. Altogether, your piano is holding between 12 and 20 tons of tension. Seasonal changes in humidity cause the soundboard (the large wooden board beneath the strings) to expand and contract, which subtly shifts the amount of tension and causes your piano to drift out of tune.

Here in the western and southwestern Twin Cities—Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Chaska, and beyond—those shifts can be dramatic from season to season.

How Often Should I Have My Piano Tuned?

Here are some general guidelines:

Piano manufacturers recommend tuning new pianos 3–4 times in their first year. Pianists who want to keep their piano sounding its best all year, or whose pianos are played heavily, often continue tuning this frequently regardless of age.
Most home pianos do well with twice-yearly tuning. Most of my customers prefer a twice-yearly schedule and have their pianos tuned every six months.
Lightly played or long-neglected pianos still need at least annual tuning to stay healthy. Annual service helps prevent your piano from falling into disrepair.

Even if your piano “doesn’t sound that bad,” letting it go too long between tunings can cause the pitch to drift significantly, making future tunings more difficult and expensive.

What If I Don’t Play Often?

This comes up a lot—especially for families who aren’t currently taking lessons or who have inherited a piano.

Even if your piano isn’t played regularly, tuning it once or twice a year helps keep it stable and protects its value. A piano that goes untuned for years may require multiple visits just to get it back into shape. In some cases, the loss of string tension can lead to pitch instability, weakened glue joints, or even broken strings when the piano is brought back up to pitch.

What About Digital Pianos?

While digital pianos don’t go out of tune, I do service them—especially when keys stick, sensors malfunction, or something just isn’t working right. If you're in the Twin Cities and not sure what’s going on with your digital piano, I’m happy to help.

The Real Benefits of Staying in Tune

Tuning your piano regularly is one of the simplest ways to protect your investment and enjoy your instrument to the fullest. Here’s why it matters:

Your piano will be more enjoyable and inspiring to play.
Regular service helps protect the structural health of the instrument, avoiding expensive pitch corrections or repairs down the line.
With a recently tuned piano, practicing feels more rewarding, and recital prep becomes stress-free
Staying on top of needed maintenance helps preserve your piano’s resale value and performance.

A Peace-of-Mind Approach to Piano Care

Because every piano needs periodic maintenance in addition to tuning, I offer my comprehensive Five Point Piano Tune Up. It includes a fine tuning, touch-up regulation and voicing, light cleaning, and other common maintenance tasks. It’s designed to give you peace of mind that your piano is being properly cared for—without nickel-and-diming or surprise add-ons.

Ready to Schedule?

If you’re not sure when your piano was last tuned—or if you’ve never had it tuned at all—I would be happy to take a look at it. I love to bring pianos back to life!

Based in Eden Prairie, I serve the western and southwestern Twin Cities, and I’m always happy to answer your questions. Whether you play every day or just want your piano to sound beautiful when family visits, regular care makes a big difference.

Looking for a friendly, local piano tuner near you? I’d love to help.

Click here to schedule your Five Point Piano Tune Up

(or, if you have questions, feel free to contact me here—I’m here to help!)