How to Tune a Unison on a Piano

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Open up the piano to expose both the tuning pins and the keys.

   Depending on the piano, this usually requires removal of the front part of the upper cabinet and sometimes the key cover.
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   Step 2: Play the offending note and find the strings associated with that note.

   , Listen for which one sounds different from the others. , This leaves two strings sounding when you play the note
   - one that is in tune and one that is not. , If you are not, you have muted the wrong string, so repeat the previous step to mute the string on the other side of the unison. , Follow the out-of-tune string up to its tuning pin. ,, Listen to the sound
   -- is the problem getting worse or better? ,, Strike the key EVERY time you move the tuning lever to equalize the string over all of its points. ,,,, If it goes too far, start again and try raising the string a little higher before giving it a sharp blow to try to settle it. ,,
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   Step 3: Hold down the key and use a guitar pick to gently pluck each of the three strings that make up the note.

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   Step 4: Hold down the damper pedal (the one that lifts all of the dampers) and insert a rubber wedge mute in the gap between an outer string that sounds correct and the next note over.

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   Step 5: Play the note to make sure that you're still hearing dissonance.

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   Step 6: Hold down the note and pluck the un-muted strings again.

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   Step 7: Place the head of your tuning lever on the pin for the out-of-tune string

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   Step 8: with the handle in about the 1:00 position

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   Step 9: if you are right-handed

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    Step 10: or the 11:00 position if you are left-handed.

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    Step 11: Strike the note with about a mezzo-forte blow and *gently* nudge the handle of the tuning lever a fraction of a millimeter to the LEFT (towards the lower notes on the piano - while it's unlikely the string would really be sharp

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    Step 12: it's a good idea to try this direction first to help avoid breaking a string).

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    Step 13: If there is no change or you can't tell if there's a change

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    Step 14: double-check that you have the tuning lever on the right pin.

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    Step 15: If the problem is getting worse as you nudge the tuning lever to the left

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    Step 16: then try raising the pitch of the string by striking the key and gently nudging the hammer to the right (towards the upper notes).

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    Step 17: As the two strings sound closer and closer

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    Step 18: listen carefully for the "beats" -- a higher-pitched wah-wah-wah sound that will speed up as the two strings get more out of tune

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    Step 19: and slow down as they closer to being in tune.

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    Step 20: Continue gently nudging the tuning lever until the beats are completely gone.

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    Step 21: Then nudge the lever to the right just enough to hear beats again.

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    Step 22: Strike the key with a sharp blow -- with any luck it will settle into tune with the other string.

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    Step 23: When the two strings are sounding together

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    Step 24: press the damper pedal and remove the rubber mute from the third string.

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    Step 25: Put the piano back together and enjoy!

Detailed Guide

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