Quality Piano Tuning Tools

Piano Tuning Tools for the Beginner or Professional

Are you fascinated with the art of piano tuning?

Me too! Ever since I was a young boy I was very intrigued by the piano tuner when he came to our house, took out his piano tuning tools and began to tune our piano. I would watch him with great interest & admiration. If only I could do that some day. Well, that day finally did come. In 1965 I came in contact with a piano technician who consented to teach me his trade. Boy, was I excited! I really was not thinking of making a career out of it. I just wanted to know how it was done so that I could tune my own piano & maybe those of my friends.

Well, it is now 43 years later and I have tuned thousands of pianos & most of the people who own those pianos are still my friends. Since it is now time for me to slow down a bit on the tuning work, my interest has turned to assisting others who may be interested in the trade, maybe "just for interest's sake" or maybe as a full-time career.

Getting started is really not that difficult if you have some guidance from a qualified technician. There are piano tuning schools available but the expense of these courses is considerable. This site is designed to give you a basic introduction to the "tools of the trade" along with some helps in getting you started on an exciting journey as a piano technician. If you need to contact me about anything related to piano tuning tools or the piano business, please do not hesitate to Contact Me.

P.S. This site is owned and operated by Affleck Piano Service located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

Most of our products are shipped directly from our suppliers in the USA.

Don Affleck has been a piano technician for over 35 years & is making the results of his many years of experience available to the general public.

Information & training in piano technology can be very difficult to obtain so we are making this valuable information available through the Internet.

We hope that you find our site interesting & helpful in your search for piano related information & products.

Frequently asked questions about Piano Tuning Tools

1. Do I need to spend a lot of money on piano tuning tools?

   No, you can get started with a basic tuning kit for about $89. This includes a beginner's tuning hammer, a tuning fork, a felt temperament strip and some rubber mutes. These are all the piano tuning tools that you need to get started.

   The beginner's tuning hammer is suitable for occasional use. It has a non-replaceable, one-piece head and #2 star tip. If you intend to do a lot of tuning, you may prefer a more sturdy professional model.

   I have more information available on piano tuning tools here.
   Click here for piano tuning tools and kits.

2. Is it difficult to tune my own piano?

   First of all, I would say no, it is not that difficult. Anyone with average ability and a willingness to learn can tune a piano. You do not have to be exceptionally gifted or musical. Although it is an asset to be able to play the piano, many excellent piano tuners have never had a piano lesson in their lives.

3. How long does it take to learn to tune my piano?

   Well, that depends on how much time you can put into practicing. Some people have learned to do an acceptable tuning in about 2 weeks. Others can take much longer. A lot of the learning process is just practicing your tuning until you get the "feel" of it. Most formal courses extend over 1 - 2 years which include instruction not only in piano tuning but in all aspects of piano technology and the proper use of all the piano tuning tools and piano repair tools.

4. Can I really learn to tune my own piano without professional instruction?

   To be sure, having a professional by your side to guide you would be ideal. However, you will find it very difficult to find a piano technician that is willing to give you personal instruction. If you did find one, his fee would probably be more than you would be willing to pay.

   I am offering you an inexpensive way to learn to tune your own piano, and with the personal guidance that I give you (2 hours of free consultation by email) with the purchase of your eBook, this is the next best method. I can also provide you with all the piano tuning tools and supplies that you may need in your new career.

5. Can I make a living, tuning pianos?

   Certainly you can! You may not get rich but you will be able to make a comfortable living. Of course this will not happen all at once. It takes time to build up any business but once you have an established clientele, you should be able to do quite well.

   If you live in a very small community, of course your earning potential would be less. You may have to consider doing some travelling to get enough business.

6. If I need more training, are there schools for piano technicians where I could attend for a complete study of piano technology?

   Yes, I can refer you to some excellent schools for piano technicians. You may also wish to consider getting employment at a local piano shop where you could earn while you learn.

   Some piano dealers also have rebuilding shops so if you could get a job with one of these dealers you could get more experience tuning pianos as well as piano repair & piano rebuilding. You would probably have to provide your own piano tuning tools.

7. All the piano technicians I know are male. Is the field of piano technology open to women?

   Yes, of course! Gender has nothing to do with a person's fitness for this occupation. It is true that piano tuning has been traditionally performed by men, however, that is changing and a good number of women are entering the trade and doing excellent work.

8. The only piano technicians I knew of were blind. Is the piano tuning profession especially suited to the visually impaired?

   Yes, this is an occupation that individuals with a visual impairment are especially suited for. In fact there is a special school dedicated to the training of such individuals.
   
   Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning and Technology

   I was told that in France only persons that are visually impaired are permitted to take formal training in piano technology. The trade is reserved for them alone.

9. Do you tune by ear, or do you use a machine?

   My personal preference is to tune by ear. That is the method I was taught and I find that I can do the most satisfying tuning with this method.

   I have used electronic tuners as well but prefer the aural method.

10. Should I learn to tune by ear, or should I start with an electronic tuner?

    It is difficult to say whether one method is better than the other. You can learn to do an excellent tuning by either method provided you invest in a high quality electronic tuner. The good ones are quite expensive and you may not wish to spend a lot of money starting out.

    I would recommend that you begin by purchasing a basic kit of piano tuning tools and learn piano tuning by ear, and then if you wish to invest in an electronic tuning device later you can.

11. I am left handed, can I still learn to tune?

    Yes, you can tune right or left handed. In fact it is good to be able to manipulate the tuning hammer with either hand. Piano tuning tools can be used with either hand.

    Sometimes you will find a piano that has been pushed into a corner and the treble end is right up against the wall. This makes it very awkward to hold the tuning hammer with your right hand. Switch to your left hand.

Here are some links to other informative pages on this site . . .