Pitch Raise & Correction

When a piano has gone too long between tunings — or has just been moved, or lived through a big swing in humidity — its overall pitch can sag well below A440.

Once a piano is more than about 20 cents flat, a single tuning won't hold. The moment the low strings come up to pitch, the change in tension across the frame pulls everything else back down. Trying to fine-tune a piano in that state is like painting a wall that's still moving.

How a pitch raise works

A pitch raise is done in two passes. First, we make a correction that hauls the whole instrument back up toward standard pitch, re-establishing the right tension across the frame. Then we follow with a fine tuning on top of that newly stable foundation.

Because the strings and soundboard are still settling into their new tension, a pitch raise is a preparatory step rather than a guaranteed-stable final result. We strongly recommend a follow-up tuning within about three months to lock it in — after that, an annual tuning will keep it there.

Why it costs more than a standard tuning

It's simply more work and more care: effectively two tunings in one visit, plus the judgment to bring an under-tension piano up safely without risking strings. It's the honest path to a piano that actually stays in tune, rather than one that sounds fine for a week and then sinks again.

"My piano hasn't been tuned in a decade — is it ruined?"

Almost certainly not. Pianos are far tougher than people expect. A piano that's been silent for years usually comes back beautifully with a pitch raise and a little patience. In the rare case an instrument won't hold tension at all, we'll tell you plainly and give you a written estimate for what it would take to put it right.