my upright is so loud it gives me a headache :(

[i_need_a_miracle]

it also makes my ears ring. i tried putting pellows behind it but it didn't so anything. it hasn't been tuned yet (i just got it and i have to wait 30 days) so will it get quieter when its tuned?? or should i ask for "voicing" ?? please help. i was so excited about getting my own piano, but now i'm worried about my hearing. by the way, the piano is an upright baldwin from the 1980s (used) and i got it from a piano store.

[quantum]

What size of room did you put it in?  What are the room furnishings like?  Tuning will not quieten the piano.  Voicing mainly looks after the character of tone a piano produces.  

Perhaps you are experiencing some unpleasant room resonance.  Try moving the piano to a different location.  Sometimes a move of only a few inches has a large effect.  

If putting pillows behind the piano did not change the sound, that probably is not the origin trouble.  Remember that sound emits from all around your piano.  The sound then proceeds to reflect or be absorbed by any surfaces in the room.  You need to examine the entire room for a culprit, even the most unlikely of suspects should be brought into question.  It could be something as simple as an uncovered windowpane, or a mirror on the wall.  

If you have ringing in your ears, I'd suggest you get it checked out by a doctor.  I have very rarely encountered a situation where a piano was so loud that it caused ill effects to the player.  Often times, especially with verticals, the piano is not loud enough.  The closest I've got to such a situation is sticking my head under the lid of a 9' concert grand while someone played it.  

[invictious]

The closest I've got to such a situation is sticking my head under the lid of a 9' concert grand while someone played it. 

Yes I am sure that this thought crosses the minds of normal people

I recently moved too, and too I noticed that my piano (Yamaha U3) is suddenly much louder and resonant. The bass was sonorous and the treble was almost to the point of shrillness.

Unfortunately, as I live in a small flat, I do not have many options in terms of moving my piano. Looks like I will have to sit further away from the piano or my ears are going to hurt.

Love the newly-founded volume of my piano though, though not the case for my ears!

[i_need_a_miracle]

we tried moving it. the room is pretty small and there is a mirror in it on the door that can't be taken off. its a carpeted room, with a chair, T.V, computer, desk, file cabinet, 2 windows, and that's pretty much it. there's no other room i can move it into.

also, i have gotten my ears checked by an ENT less than a year ago because of ringing and ear pain, and they told me my hearing was "gorgeous" and no problems.

[alessandro]

so will it get quieter when its tuned?? or should i ask for "voicing" ??

Yes, sound can get softer when its tuned ! I also 'feel' that mine sounds harsher, louder, more "metallic" when it gets out of tune.   And when my piano is just and well tuned, it gets its warmer and softer sound back.   Your tuner should be able to help you with that, and also other people on this forum that have a more technical background than mine.   I presume that if it doesn't sound softer or sweeter once its tuned, then you can have a closer look together with the technician at the quality of the felt on the hammers and, indeed, voicing.  Good luck with it, cause it must be horrible to have a piano that sounds 'horrible' if you don't want it as a mere piece of furniture :-)

Kind greetings.

[i_need_a_miracle]

yes, i LOVE playing and i feel terrible and stressed not to be able to play. i will for sure ask my tuner when he comes back. thanks for giving me hope

[quantum]

also, i have gotten my ears checked by an ENT less than a year ago because of ringing and ear pain, and they told me my hearing was "gorgeous" and no problems.

This does not sound right to me.  If you have ringing and pain something is definitely going on.  Seek the opinion of another ENT.  I would not ignore it.  

Try putting heavy curtains over the windows.  

Just to reiterate, tuning does not change the volume of sound from a piano.  Tuning does change the pitch of individual strings.  A piano tech can help you with getting to sound its best, so ask him/her at your first tuning. 

[richard black]

Ear pain certainly isn't right in anyone's ears. Ringing is often a symptom that you have been listening to sounds that are louder than is good for you. What constitutes 'too loud' varies a lot between people. I happen to have a high threshold of discomfort but it sounds as if yours is quite low. You might want to consider wearing musicians' earplugs -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/elacin-Electronics-Photo/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A560798%2Ck%3AElacin&page=1

while playing the piano for any extended period.

[i_need_a_miracle]

do you think these would work just as well?>>> https://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Rock-Roll-Plugs-1-Pair/dp/B001EPQ842/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1307665319&sr=8-5

[carl_h]

I have a similar situation.

I own a Grotrian Steinweg upright (from 1960) and it is louder then my teachers grand (on a 'mezzo-piano'-touch if that makes sense).
It is located on the attic, which is mostly made of wood (parquet) and the floor is cork and there isn't any other furniture except for my bed and desk.
When I'm playing Forte, the sound travels to the basement.

Is this normal? Because when I play at the grand I'm always a bit impressed of how 'soft' it sound.
Maybe it is just the hammers that are a bit worn out?

No complaints about the sound tho, it's nice, just a bit louder then I would want it to be.

[john90]

I have noticed that curtains seem to make a big difference in a room. If you have a blind, perhaps try adding some curtains. Perhaps put a thick Ikea type wool rug under the piano on the parquet, that will make a big difference. The thinner joists typically used on upper stories resonate better too!

[pianolive]

Any instrument must be voiced so it fits the room and the pianist.