7 Good ways to find a Professional Piano Tuner Near You
How do I find a piano tuner?
If you’re looking for the best way to solve your piano tuning and repair needs, read these tips before booking a home service call.
This quick guide provides information to piano owners to find qualified piano techs offering quality piano tuning near you.
We’ll discuss common effective ways to find a professional piano technician to properly maintain your instrument.
1. The Piano Technicians Guild (PTG.org)
Organizations such as The Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) will list nearby Registered Piano Technicians and Associates within its organization.
Click “Find A Registered Piano Technician” where you will be prompted to enter the distance in miles away from the zip code that you enter.
You will be provided with contact information to a good technician beginning with:
Full name
Title (RPT, if they are a Registered Piano Technician)
phone number
email
website
city
Which "chapter" of the Piano Technician’s Guild they are a member of
"RPT's" in many cases have been extensively trained and have passed a comprehensive examination administered by The Piano Technicians Guild (PTG), which is a major reason why I recommend this approach. Whereas, "Associate" members are more likely to be a new piano tuner.
If the Technician is not listed as an RPT (Registered Piano Technician) then that means that they are an Associate member of the PTG who has yet to pass the exams, which are strongly encouraged and are a great experience for technicians.
While finding the best piano tuner is a tall order, choosing to search through the PTG ensures that any work done on your instrument will be completed with a high level of skill and expertise.
The Piano Technicians Guild can be found by clicking the link to the Piano Technicians Guild website listed here.
2. Make a phone call to local piano stores/dealers to find a good technician
Another method of finding a reliable and trustworthy piano tuner near you is to search for piano stores that can refer you to a vetted piano technician.
Piano tuners often work hand in hand with piano stores and there is generally some background between both the store and the tuner, so there is plenty of history there.
3. Piano Dealer & Piano Manufacturer trust
Piano manufacturers trust piano stores who in turn trust piano technicians with showroom inventory; this says a lot about the skill level and reputation of the piano technician considering all parties involved.
No doubt the piano store has had to "let go" a piano tuner here or there, so they've vetted some of the local tuners over the years.
If anything doesn't go quite right with your piano care, you'll at least have another person to talk to who is familiar with your unique situation, which can be invaluable!
4. Call a nearby music store
Music stores don't necessarily work with piano tuners, but they often get asked whether or not they know any good tuners from potential customers.
Though they may not know the guy personally or have had the tuner work for them, it is likely that they will be able to help you out with contact information.
Lastly, even if the music store does not have pianos or digital pianos in the store, chances are they have been asked the question many times and can do a little digging to help you out!
5. Ask Alexa: “Alexa, find A Piano Tuner Near Me”
This is yet another way to use Alexa! Here is a sample!
I asked Alexa, “Alexa, find a piano tuner near me.”
Alexa: “I found a few nearby options, there is ______________ piano tuning company , __________ miles away on ___________ street & _____________ piano tuning company on ______________ Avenue, and ______________ Piano tuning and repair on __________________ Boulevard.”
Me: Then I asked Alexa, “Alexa, what is the phone number to ___________ piano tuning company?”
Alexa: “The phone number for _______________ piano tuning company located on ___________ Street is (***)-***-****, would you like me to send this to your phone?”
Me: “Yes.”
Alexa: “I’ll send you a link to the phone number for ______________ you can find a link in the Alexa app.”
Alexa is an efficient way to find piano tuning and repair companies servicing your location.
6. Organic searching
Ask your piano teachers, music director, friends, family, or those who own pianos if they can recommend a tuner.
Chances are, they have already gone through the process of finding one and will be able to offer a suggestion in a timely fashion.
A great way to get started is by asking friends or family who they recommend—word-of-mouth recommendations can go a long way!
Start by asking friends or family if they know any qualified local piano tuners.
7. Browse Professional Piano Technician reviews
Check review sites such as Yelp or Google Reviews for feedback from previous customer reviews.
This will give you an idea of what kind of service and results you can expect from each potential service person.
If you can find reviews of local tuners, be sure sure to read them before contacting them for services!
8. Browse the Piano Tuners website
That is, IF they have a website!
Many reputable piano tuners have basic web sites where they list their services, rates, and contact information.
You may be able to learn that they have gone to a reputable College or University.
Often the about us section of the website will help you learn something new about the person who will work on your piano will likely keep the whole experience positive.
Does a Piano Tuner do more than just the tuning?
One of the best ways to know which services you need, is to describe the issue to a piano technician and include the brand/model (Yamaha), age, and when your piano was last tuned which will determine if your piano needs a significant pitch raise which many old pianos need.
When a piano technician has all these notes about your piano, he or she will be able to determine how much work and how much money your piano may require, along with additional tunings and future maintenance.
Not only that, they will have a much better idea of how to prepare for the appointment or whether they should refer you to someone else.
With a short conversation the piano tuner can learn if there is a note or two that doesn’t work, if the piano strings can hold tension, if there may be a problem with a cracked soundboard, and what the overall service may cost.
Ask them what kind of maintenance they offer—some may also provide repair services—and make sure they are familiar with digital pianos if you own one of those instruments.
Once you know the scope of piano services offered by the tuner or technician, and it meets your piano needs, it’s time to start scheduling your appointment!
Should I hire a Professional Piano Tuner?
The most important reason to hire a professional piano tuner is that they have the expertise needed to ensure that your piano is in the best condition possible.
They understand many of the nuances piano maintenance, including cleaning, furniture repair, voicing, tuning etc.
Additionally, hiring a professional will help protect your instrument from the results of poor craftsmanship.
Who do I call to fix my broken musical keyboard instrument?
Electronic devices like digital pianos or keyboards are different from acoustic pianos.
If you have a digital keyboard, I suggest having a conversation directly with the technician before scheduling the appointment. This is just important so that you both are able to provide each other with as much information as possible before the keyboard repair appointment.
While Piano Tuners may have decades of experience with acoustic pianos, there are many differences to factor in for the repair of an electronic piano. There are limitless variabilities for these musical instruments, so it is of utmost importance that the technician has all information. (Brand, model, serial number, symptom of issue, how old, how long has it been acting up etc.).
Is it worth trying to find a good piano tuner?
If you own a piano, it can be difficult finding an experienced, knowledgeable piano tuner near you—but by following these tips, doing some research, and having patience it can turn out to be better than expected!
When it comes time to tune your piano or repair it, don't go with just any technician; make sure you find a certified professional who has years of experience working with pianos like yours!
Be sure to read what people are saying online review sites such as Yelp before hiring anyone.
Knowing what type of technician or tuner your particular instrument needs is key when starting your search.
With the right knowledge about the importance of finding qualified professionals and where to look for them near you, finding a great piano tuner doesn't have to be hard!