Piano Services
Piano Tuning
Standard Piano Tuning – A440 Concert Pitch
Maintains your piano's pitch and tone, perfect for regular upkeep.
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This service will be ideal for a regularly tuned and well kept piano looking to be brought back precisely into its optimum playing condition.
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At the appointment you can expect:
Fine Tune - precise pure 12ths piano tuning for added harmony.
Complimentary - minor repair and voicing to enhance your piano’s overall performance.
Light clean - of keys and casework for a clean finish.
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This service is priced at £85
Please allow that at least 2 hours are spared for completion of this service.
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Simply press the “Book now” button below and follow the instructions via the piano portal.
Make sure to select the “Standard Piano Tuning” service along with any additional services you require when booking.
If you have any questions about this service or would simply like to know more, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
Corrective Tuning — Pitch Raise Adjustment
Designed to restore your piano back to its ideal pitch, ensuring stability and harmonious sound.
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Pianos are designed to sound their best at A440 Concert Pitch. This service allows your piano to once again reach its highest potential safely.
It is likely your piano will require this service if:
The piano hasn’t been tuned for more than 2 years.
Experiences extremes in its environment causing frequent pitch deviations.
Tuning has been significantly destabilised through moving, settling new strings, frequent forceful playing etc.
Sounds very “out of tune”!
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With up to 20 tonnes of tension in a pianos frame, a pitch raise procedure requires multiple passes and adjustments along the piano.
To ensure optimal safety and stability this service is offered in two parts.
The First Part of this service includes:
Accurate measurement - of your pianos current pitch.
Assessment & Discussion - of what pitch your piano can safely be raised to.
Pitch Raise Procedure- Safely raising the pitch of the strings.
The Second Part of this service involves:
Stable Tuning - re-adjusting pins and strings to desired pitch.
Fine Tune - bringing the piano into its harmonious sound.
Complimentary - light voicing to enhance your piano’s tone.
An optional but recommend service will be offered if your piano has undergone an extensive pitch raise to schedule a next appointment within 3-months at a discounted rate.
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The first appointment is priced at £125.
Please allow at least 3 hours for work to be completed for this service.
An optional follow-up appointment is recommended within 3 months priced at £55.
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Simply press the “Book now” button below and follow the instructions via the piano portal.
Make sure to select the “Corrective Tuning” service along with any additional services you require when booking.
If you have any questions about this service or would simply like to know more, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
Concert Tuning - Precision Piano Performance
Refined tuning optimised for high performance & concert conditions.
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This service is ideal for pianists, venues, and recording studios requiring the highest level of precision, stability, and refinement for performances or professional use.
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Pitch refinement – Tailoring the tuning to the environment to meet concert pitch for the performance.
Fine tune in concert mode – Achieved with an advanced level of precision for optimal balance and stability.
Light clean - of keys and casework, ready for pianist and audience.
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This service is priced at £95.
Please allow at least 2 hours for the completion of this service.
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If you are interested in this service you can reach out via email: patrick@patricknicolpianos.co.uk or phone: 07554399930 to discuss your requirements and dates.
Appointments can can also be scheduled through the booking portal via the “Book now” button below.
Simply and follow the instructions via the piano portal and make sure to select the “Concert Tuning” service when booking.
If you have any questions about this service or would simply like to know more, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
Essential Piano Care & Maintenance
Your piano will periodically require more than just regular tuning to maintain its best condition. Simplify its care with these essential services, ensuring it stays clean, responsive, and in optimal tonal and mechanical quality (provided 50% off when booked with a tuning).
Piano Cleaning – Preservation & Care
Refresh your piano with a deep clean of its internal components.
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This service is a great way to refresh your playing experience while helping to preserve your piano’s longevity.
Over time, pianos naturally collect dust and debris, especially in hard-to-reach areas. When buildup occurs, it can affect key movement, impact the feel of the piano, and contribute to wear on internal components.
This deep cleaning service carefully removes all accumulated dust and debris, restoring a cleaner, smoother playing experience.
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Under-keybed clean – Removes accumulated dust and debris that can affect key movement.
Action Mechanism– Clears out fine particles from the internal action components for smoother playing.
Easing and cleaning keys – Ensures freer, more even movement by addressing tight keys.
Soundboard dust removal – Enhances resonance by removing dust buildup.
Pedal and trapwork dusting – Cleans moving parts to reduce squeaks and improve functionality.
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This service is priced at £70 (half-priced when booked with a tuning appointment)
Please allow up to 1 hour for completion of this service.
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Simply press the “Book now” button below and follow the instructions via the piano portal.
Make sure to select the “Piano Cleaning” service along with any additional services you require when booking.
If you have booked this service along with your tuning appointment then your discount will be applied upon invoicing.
If you have any questions about this service or would simply like to know more, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
Hammer Restoration— Tone Enhancement
Restore the acoustic warmth and clarity of your piano.
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Ideal for older or frequently played pianos, this service helps restore the hammers to their best condition.
With time, hammer felt compresses and wears, leading to a harsh, uneven tone. By reshaping and softening the felt, one can bring back the piano’s original richness and clarity.
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Hammer Reshaping – Carefully removes deep grooves and compressed felt to restore optimal shape.
Sanding & Brushing – Smooths out hardened felt, bringing back a balanced and responsive tone.
Even Hammer Alignment – Ensures proper hammer-to-string contact for improved tonal clarity and consistency.
Fine Voicing Adjustments – Enhances hammer texture to refine tonal warmth and dynamic control.
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This service is priced at £85 (half-priced when booked with a tuning appointment)
Please allow up to 1.5 hours for completion of this service.
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Simply press the “Book now” button below and follow the instructions via the piano portal.
Make sure to select the “Hammer Enhancement” service along with any additional services you require when booking.
If you have booked this service along with your tuning appointment then your discount will be applied upon invoicing.
If you have any questions about this service or would simply like to know more, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
It’s not about the Pianist or the Piano, but their connection to each other that counts
Tuning FAQs
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Regular tuning is as essential for the piano as an oil change is to a car. It maintains the pitch, tone, and overall performance. The average piano has around 230 strings with the combined tension, held by the frame, of a staggering 20 tonnes! With so much force at play, regular maintenance is crucial. That is why most manufacturers recommend servicing your piano at least once or twice a year to ensure it stays in optimal condition.
Here’s a quick guide to help you care for your piano:
New Pianos: These should be tuned every 3–6 months during the first year. As the strings and components settle, more frequent tuning ensures stability.
Regular Use: For most pianos in stable environments, tuning twice a year is ideal. This helps cater to seasonal changes in humidity and temperature which can affect string tension, making regular maintenance essential.
Concert or Studio Use: Pianos used in performances or recordings should be tuned before every session to deliver the most precise and reliable sound.
*Note that when a piano hasn’t been tuned for an extended period and requires a significant pitch raise, it’s recommended to schedule another tuning within six months. This is because Pianos that experience such large adjustments often shift again as the strings and structure adapt to the new tension levels.
Caring for your piano is about more than just sound—it's about protecting an intricate instrument built to withstand incredible forces. Regular tuning keeps those 230 strings, their pins, and the entire mechanism working in harmony.
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If your piano has not been seen to for a number of years it is more likely that it will require a slightly longer appointment. I would recommend booking a corrective tuning with service.
You can tell if your piano needs a service by noticing a few key signs. If the piano sounds out of tune, has sticking or sluggish keys, squeaky pedals, or notes that continue to ring after being played, it’s likely time for maintenance. Changes in tone, such as a harsh or overly bright sound, can also indicate the need for voicing or regulation. Regular servicing keeps the piano in good condition, so if it’s been 2 years or more since the last check-up, it’s worth scheduling a service to ensure everything is working smoothly.
If you are still unsure please feel free to get in touch and I will be happy to assist.
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Pianos are designed and engineered to sound their best at a specific pitch—known as standard concert pitch, A440Hz (vibrations per second). However, when a piano's pitch drops significantly below this level, it can greatly affect its tone and playability.
The cast iron frame of a piano supports up to 20 tonnes of tension from the pull of its steel and copper strings. This immense force is connected to the wooden soundboard, which amplifies the vibrations and transforms them into music. When the strings need to be adjusted significantly, the added tension not only affects the frame but also causes movement in the soundboard. As the wood flexes and settles under the new tension, the pitch can drift again, requiring multiple passes of tuning to stabilise.
A pitch raise is a necessary procedure when a piano has fallen substantially out of tune—often due to environmental changes or a lack of regular maintenance. When the overall pitch has dropped far below standard, the first step is to gradually bring all the strings closer to A440Hz in one or more passes before fine tuning can be performed. This process helps to restore tuning stability, though in some cases, very old pianos may not be able to hold at A440.
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Standard Tuning:
Standard tuning refers to adjusting the piano to the internationally accepted pitch standard, where the note A above middle C (A4) is tuned to 440 Hz. This ensures the piano is in line with the correct pitch for most musical instruments and recordings, providing consistency when playing with others or alongside recordings.Fine Tuning:
Fine tuning is the process of making precise adjustments to the tension of each string after an initial tuning or pitch correction. It involves small, exact changes to each note to ensure the piano sounds perfectly in tune across all registers. This is typically done after the piano has been brought close to the desired pitch to fine-tune the accuracy.