Self Piano tuning

[stuffradio]

How much do you have to spend to get the minimum equipment to tune your piano?

[jlh]

How much do you have to spend to get the minimum equipment to tune your piano?

If you go to ebay, about $30 for a basic tuning kit including a hammer, some rubber wedges, an A440 fork and some felt.  That's what I did...

[stuffradio]

don't you need an electric tuner so you know it's in tune as well?

[jlh]

don't you need an electric tuner so you know it's in tune as well?

yes, that would be useful, but not absolutely necessary.  If you're going to be doing this for a living, then I would say definitely get one, but you asked for the minimum... 

[quantum]

You may also want this book as tuning a piano is not as simple as tuning other string instrument such as a guitar. 
https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Servicing-Tuning-Rebuilding-Second/dp/1879511037/ref=sr_1_1/002-5630198-4726439?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180145004&sr=8-1

You can get a cheap electronic tuner like the one from Korg for about $20.  I wouldn't try tuning your entire piano to it though, because you would probably end up putting the piano out of tune with itself.

Seriously get that book and read it.  I did. 

[stuffradio]

I wonder... without an electric tuner how do you tell if the note is tuned? Also do all professional tuners or tuners that do this as a job have electric tuners? Or do they tune the old fashion way

[desordre]

 Dear Stuff:

I wonder... without an electric tuner how do you tell if the note is tuned?
(...)

It's only a matter of practice. You must get acquainted with the sonorities of unissons, octaves, fifths, and so on.
 Best!

[stuffradio]

I'm probably going to buy one of those $45 tuning kits from eBay today. My plan is if I get good at tuning my own piano, maybe I'll start tuning other peoples pianos. I don't think there are that many piano tuners in my area. So, it's good money

[invictious]

Dear Stuff: It's only a matter of practice. You must get acquainted with the sonorities of unissons, octaves, fifths, and so on.
 Best!

Am I the only one who tunes to the augmented fourth and minor second..?

[Derek]

get a digital.  haha!  just kidding...I know I'll have an acoustic grand again somet day...

[jlh]

I wonder... without an electric tuner how do you tell if the note is tuned? Also do all professional tuners or tuners that do this as a job have electric tuners? Or do they tune the old fashion way

The simplest way is to tune one octave the way you want it, then tone each note to the other octaves.

[quantum]

I wonder... without an electric tuner how do you tell if the note is tuned?

There is the reference pitch, you tune to the fork.  Then you tune what is called the temperament octave using the reference pitch as a starting point.  There are different methods of setting the temperament, it's personal preference.  Because we use equal temperament, none of the intervals except unisons and octaves are tuned pure.   You tune the rest of the piano in octaves using the temperament octave as reference. 


There are electronic tuners that professionals use specifically for pianos, but they aren't the chepie ones.  They care designed to account for inharmonicity so you don't go tuning the piano out of tune with itself.  EG: https://www.concentric.net/~Fast440/atm/atm.html

[stuffradio]

what's the best deal on eBay Right now for Piano tuning kits?

[jakev2.0]

If you want your piano tuned right, get a professional to do it.

[jlh]

just go to ebay and do a search for "piano tuning kit" or something like that.  It's not difficult.  The deals change by the day.