I have been tuning the 'inherited' piano...most keys were at least a tone out.
(sounding like 70's Les; youtube search: Les Dawson piano badly)
It was easy enough once i got the tools right and refined the process...
It maybe sacrilege to the piano aficionado but to me it's the same as tuning a guitar, just a bit more complex to get to the tuning bits...
...and mixed in with a dollop of Masochism
...and the desire to save 100++ on the tuning guy.
So let's go...I'm doing an octave a day to stem any grey matter bleeding and breaking the ennui of life!
Tools:
The piano tuning heads (metal pins with strings around)
Can be turned by using any small socket set. But. You use the 'B' side not the variable size side. The square side.
A hefty mention to the mobile device app 'pano tuner' this would be far harder without it.
Prep:
Take the piano to pieces enough to get access to front dampeners panel.
Undo that with the central 'screw'. Put the screw back and rest the dampener back on the pin. You can now get your fingers in more easily to pluck the strings.
Process:
Pluck each individual string with pano tuner running.
It will show you the current tone. E.g., B (see image)
Turn the pin to the right (tighter) to take the note higher. If you want C and it is on B.
Top embedded tip:
The pins do not need much turning. You will go multiple tones up with the slightest tighter movement.
Final thought:
The biggest pain is that there are up to 3 strings per piano key and your fat fingers will touch more than one. (Sorry to lipid-insult your digits!)
Writing the master note near the tuning heads (as per pic above) helps you to not go cross eyed.
Cheery Poem of the week:
========================
So I've been tuning a piano...
..in my way
Been doing an octave a day
It's been hurting my brain
and I can't say it's fun
But playing out of tune
is a pain in the bum!
