Tuning vs. Regulation vs. Voicing: What Does My Piano Need?

A common call we get from clients is: "I had my piano tuned, but it still doesn't feel right," or "It's in tune, but the sound is too harsh." This confusion is understandable. Piano maintenance is not just one thing; it's a triangle of three distinct services: Tuning, Regulation, and Voicing.

A qualified technician understands how all three work together to make your piano perform at its best. Let's break down what each one means.

1. Piano Tuning: The Pitch

What It Is

This is the most common and well-known service. Tuning is the process of adjusting the tension of the ~230 strings in your piano to set their pitch correctly. The standard is A440, or A-440, which means the A key above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second (Hertz).

You Need Tuning If...

• Your piano sounds "off," "sour," or "jangly."
• Notes played together sound dissonant or out of harmony.
• It has been more than 6-12 months since your last service.
• You have recently moved the piano.
• Your home has experienced significant seasonal weather changes.

2. Piano Regulation: The Feel

What It Is

This is all about the mechanical feel and performance of the piano's action. The action is the complex machine of over 9,000 individual parts that transfers the energy from your finger to the hammer that strikes the string. Over time, felt compacts, wood warps slightly, and screws loosen. Regulation is the adjustment of all these parts so the action is uniform, responsive, and precise.

You Need Regulation If...

• Some keys feel heavier or lighter than others.
• Keys are sticky or slow to return when played.
• Keys are at visibly uneven heights.
• You find it difficult to play softly (poor dynamic control).
• A note "double-strikes" or the hammer doesn't hit the string at all.

3. Piano Voicing: The Tone

What It Is

Voicing is the most artistic part of piano service. It is the process of adjusting the tonal quality (or timbre) of the piano. If tuning affects pitch and regulation affects feel, voicing affects the piano's "voice." This is primarily done by "needling" the felt of the hammers to make them softer (for a mellower tone) or by applying hardening solutions (for a brighter tone).

You Need Voicing If...

• Your piano is in tune and well-regulated, but...
• The sound is too "bright," "harsh," or "metallic."
• The sound is too "dull," "muffled," or "lifeless."
• Some notes "jump out" as being much louder or harsher than their neighbors.

How They Work Together

Think of it this way: Regulation is the engine, Tuning is the gas, and Voicing is the sound of the car horn.

You can't have a good-sounding piano if the mechanical parts (regulation) aren't working, or if the pitch (tuning) is wrong. A new piano typically needs regulation within the first 5 years, and then every 10-15 years after. Voicing is a matter of taste, but it can only be properly done on a piano that is first well-regulated and perfectly in tune.

Not sure what your piano needs? That's what we're here for. When you describe what you're hearing and feeling, a professional technician can diagnose the root cause and recommend the right service to bring your piano back to life.