HOW TO TUNE A GRAND PIANO STEP BY STEP FULL TUTORIAL

In This Video Pete Revelle shows how to tune a Grand Piano. Pete Revelle was raised on Chicago's South Side. He played Piano as a teen performing in Saloons in the Windy City. At Seventeen he played professionally in Rush Street entertainment spots. He also joined the PLAYBOY organization as a lounge entertainer. He ran a very successful Piano tuning business for 20 years.

[@pietzorn5460]

I tune pianos myself and I have to say that this guy is really good. He works fast yet thorough, brilliant!

[@roberttemple2521]

Of all the tuning clips I have watched this year, Pete's are the most informative. I love this guy! He gave me the confidence to tune the local outdoor public piano. Tuning is easy enough to do if one has the simple kit of a couple of wedges, a tuning lever, a temperament felt, and a simple chromatic tuner. Helps to have an ear, too, and patience. Thank you Pete, wherever you are. 😊

[@tubeleary]

I love this guy. If and when I try my hand at tuning our piano, I'm certain it won't be as interesting as this video. He's a character and seems to really like and care about his craft. I also love the tuner he uses (on either side of his head). Thanks for finding this artist and sharing him with us.

[@maryb345]

Awesome overview of the process of tuning. Pete made it absolutely clear that good tuning takes more than just what he is showing here. Thanks Mr Revelle and to Azmat. Bothering to show this whole process, sticking with it for over an hours' worth of filming and teaching! Thanks. I'm tuning my piano...not because I want to save money...but because country tuners are fading away.

[@mgpvii]

What a nice video. I don't play or tune piano but enjoyed watching this man as he taught us his profession. He made the video enjoyable with his demeanor.

[@kdw735]

Thank you Pete. You are a joy to watch and listen to. I play and tune drums. Now I'm going to give a piano a go.

[@budosempai]

Close enough for jazz. I love this guy's approach to teaching! I've learned to tune my wife's baby grand from this tutorial alone! Thank you.

[@petersanderson3696]

Funny that the part he wanted to speed though was what we wanted to hear. I tune pianos as a side hustle at 63, and I'm always learning. Started at 50, I've tuned about 60 pianos, and I learn something new every time.

[@jaykay6412]

I’m hiring this guy for parties. Best video I’ve ever seen in my life

[@bryanpersaud9947]

I can't believe I just watched that whole video! This guy is AWESOME! I'd love to learn the craft with him as my mentor.

[@SuperJdburns]

You're awesome, Pete! Thanks so much.

[@yonghwalim1709]

You're awesome, Pete! Thanks so much.

[@jenquinonspin]

I've really enjoyed this video. What a character, Pete here is the real deal! You can tell he's genuine old school, he's very talented, and I've learned a lot. I've watched this video multiple times in my journey of learning (from various sources) how to tune pianos. It's unfortunate there are so many criticizing his work here - the point of this video is a rough introduction for people who might want to try this on their own. Hence using the tuner, forgoing a complete temperament setting, etc. You can tell he'd like to go into more detail, but he's doing this as a basic intro - he actually says that multiple times, for a clue. Also, if you watch through to the end, he says "This was to kinda give you a quick overview to tuning a piano. There's quite a bit more to it than what we did now, but I thought this might give you a taste of what it might be like to tune a piano. It takes some time to learn...but if you work at it, it does come." Give him a break. All the know-it-alls like to make sure people know they're smart I guess. I love his playing at the end. What a talented musician! =D Thanks for a great video, what a character!

[@MrGlenn225]

Yes! I agree. It's an overview. I love this guy . . . he makes a boring subject entertaining.

[@Joe-tz2yr]

He is noob i m piano tuner too

[@yoavsari808]

from what other sources can one learn to tune pianos?

[@jenquinonspin]

@@yoavsari808 I also learned a lot from Howard Piano Industries here on KZbin.

[@Phantom-um6qn]

Thank you this was very helpful. I'm tuning my first piano next week.

[@ianb4801]

My grandfather was a tuner of great note for all but the end of his lifetime (when his hearing deteriorated). He was an artisan in the purest sense. He always tuned around middle C, totally by ear, and my brother still has his tuning fork. He was also a first class piano mechanic and always made a point of working out how a piano came to be out before tuning it - if the instrument was "faulty" then there's no point of trying to tune it because it will be out soon after. Eliminate the faults first and then tune. He could play basic tunes, to verify his tuning, but could not really play. He grew up in a poor household that couldn't afford to buy such luxuries or the lessons to learn to play. I think he saw his role as being the person who put the music into the instrument so that a competent (and richer?) artist could the coax it out. His name was Allan Smith and I miss watching him work.

[@piano_man3404]

Thanks for the lesson Pete. I really dig your playing at the end.

[@darrelltruitt2891]

Thank you, Pete (and to your videographer), for this nice video. I enjoyed it very much and especially enjoyed your funny comments ('good enough for jazz', etc.). Take care!

[@MegaPetrof]

Wow, superb video! Impro at the end is just fantastic, too!

[@gayusschwulius8490]

Ohhh, I just understood how you can hear wether two notes are exactly the same by listening to the "waves", that was tremendously helpful!

[@jobinpierre]

PETE i really enjoyed watching you tune that SAMICK . it 's educational. entertaining all at the same time THANKS !!!!

[@maestroantonio-bh4px]

Good method to explain tuning and doing away with the contiguous thirds for beginners sake, and Pete can be funny so it makes for a great lesson.

[@weirdiosity]

Piano tuners are Artists. Just like finishers and rebuilders are. If anyone has ever worked at a profession like this for over 5 years. They will be critical of everyone that does not do everything exactly like they do.. It's a shame. Offering suggestions without being rude is always helpful to everyone. The best tuner would be someone new who follows techniques of many types and finds the best. I don't thing this video was made to enhance a professional tuners abilities. But to help out a do it yourself kinda person. Thanks for the video.

[@codemiesterbeats]

exactly and the way I see it this guy is a character and I think he likes giving his piano its own character as well.

[@ronaldware1239]

I have never heard it called that before.

[@bubashalom8274]

Beautiful job, Beautiful sounds...

[@roxanneadams6868]

He is prfessional it take a lot of patience and skill to be able to tune any piano and he is passionate at what he does Great Job

[@ronaldware1239]

Rubbish

[@TheSoundtec]

Your one classy guy, like your style. Thanks for the lesson.

[@SC2Villares]

Extremely nice! Parabéns e obrigado from Brazil. :D

[@TheProfessorBacon]

The dude is a pro. I've played professionally for over 45 years. Grands, Baby Grand, electronic keyboards, etc. Not only did he add humor to an otherwise boring exercise, but the end result is indicative of the type of "tonal character" one can expect from an acoustic piano tuning. Perfect? No, but who cares. It's the richness of the sound that matters. Thumbs up to Pete!

[@Raynysalsa]

great old school master, Thank you

[@dylansilberstein7592]

Love this guy!

[@coreyclark3421]

As soon as he said i left the Gol darn thing in the car...i knew i would like this video!!!

[@melvinmacias2597]

Great Video. I like when he says "Close enough for Jazz" I find it very funny since I'm a Jazz pianist. Funny guy, great video.

[@nikitaogden4885]

Amazing, very helpful when I just got a baby grand piano yesterday I have to tune it, thank you! I forgot how to do it since I haven't played in 6 years

[@JO-bz4kc]

Still playing? Got my baby grand piano one year ago and needs tuning soon.

[@Mr1abruzzo]

excellent job.....enjoyed...

[@theglisanberglundagency9390]

What a cool/mellow dude. And compared to other “how to” tuning vids, gives a comprehensive and proper version of how he does it. Yeah, it’s an hour: if you wanna learn to tune, you’re probably going to need a bare minimum of 1hr’s focus (probably more like 4). Anyway, thanks for sharing your craft and your time, Pete. It’s appreciated.

[@roberttemple2521]

Yes, more like four, for certain. But it is sooooo very worth it.

[@elyadg]

Given I use a electronic tuner, when you tune towards the sharp side of each note, does it make a difference if one note centers out. or is it important to lean sharp as well? The few times I've attempted tuning I would get the odd strings bang on but most towards the sharp side. after playing I noticed I had to alter a few of the strings but wasn't sure if I was adjusting those odd strings.

[@benjammin3381]

love the song in the end.

[@kimokono88]

Hey dear ou question is i see that u using a BOSS TU 12 its a stable good tuner for low and high frequency (bass+treble) ? thank you advancely

[@johnb2832]

NOOO DONT STOP RECORDING!!! Im not losing interest! Just talk your mind while your tuning. I seriously can’t get enough. That is called learning and I want to see every little detail that you are doing. Thank you so much for this video. Thank you for the time it is awesome to learn. I wish you had several different viewpoints as well or different cameras.

[@nihaimamoniquestamper7670]

Thank you for this video,

[@mendyviola]

As a long time violist (40+ years), I would like to think that I can learn how to tune my own piano. I know I would never be able to learn how to voice it it what remains in my lifetime, but I think I could learn how to tune it. But for now, I’d rather pay someone that could do it faster than me. 😂 the piano tuners I’ve used can get the 440hz A in tune with a tuner, and then do everything else by ear. I have respect for that. It’s how I tune my viola, violin, cello and mandolin. The art is tuning the intervals, and how you actually want them tuned. I have my piano tuner give preference to perfect 5ths and making sure the C below middle C is in perfect fifths from A440 to match the tuning of my viola. My piano is used for chamber music and a lot of viola sonatas. 😂. It’s a bit of a give and take since I can tune up my open C easier than changing the piano tuning.

[@PIANOSXXI]

Great video my friend.

[@hurriqqane1233]

i just dropped my phone in my piano and i cant get it back:(

[@isaac1998]

Call the whambulance

[@Innerspace100]

Don't worry. It's only about 60 or 70 years 'till your piano needs a restring. You'll hardly notice...

[@oofeeleelee6556]

Hold it upside down and shake a bit. I’ve dropped a pick in my guitar, it’s pretty similar.

[@khadarelectrical]

oofee leelee lol

[@paintnamer6403]

Your piano will have that unique ring to it.

[@timfoley7192]

I use the same guitar tuner to double-check, BUT I've always tuned (as taught) "by ear" using intervals to check my octaves. (Ascending beats for the thirds of the temperament octave is a must, as you noted.) The difference is this: I learned long ago to tune the bass octaves first after setting the temperament.. Then leaving the felt strip in, I tune the octaves of the treble. Then finally, all the unisons and threesomes. I check the treble and upper octave with the "third & tenth" test (for matching beats) and the "octave third & octave tenth" test...if I am describing it correctly. The "minor third & sixth" test works wonderfully when tuning the bass strings. These tests work better than electronic tuners as they result in a piano tuned to itself as perfect as the instrument will allow. Thanks for reading. __TCF, Piano Tuner for Wahlberg Recording Studio, SF Blues Festival, San Francisco. Good video!

[@jeremyrusu9687]

That is definitely one way to do it. I use the double string unison method so I don't use a temperament strip. I tune my temperament as described by a video by Bill Bremmer registered piano technician on KZbin using the up a third, up a third, down a fifth sequence after setting what's called the skeleton. Then I go up to the trouble using the single octave, double octave, and 12th tests then I go down and tune the base. That is just the way I've been doing it lately though.

[@hossamhaddad7]

Was great 👍 thanks

[@ColossalZonko]

must be such a satisfying job to do...

[@upsidedahead]

Job done sir 👏

[@AlfaAxel]

You are great at tuning. I feel more confident that I am doing the right things now, especially when you explained about being a little on the sharp side and false beats. When I had learned to tune (fromprofessional piano tuners and from reading a book) I was aware that octaves have to be stretched, but how much was hard for me to determine. When not stretched enough I had problems with duodecims, but that happened, too, when I overstretched! :)

[@jonhidharma7543]

Thank you!

[@automaticraccon]

That was very insightful. I want to give it a shot now. I am used to tuning guitars but this means 44 times more strings... 0_o

[@musikshane]

More like 200 more strings

[@bubashalom8274]

Thanks!

[@arsalanactor6821]

tank you so much 🙏🏾💙🎹🎼🥇🌸

[@martinpereira5235]

Bravo! 👏👏👏👏 From :Manaus amazonas Brazil

[@galmagen7696]

you are one nice man! just for listening to your jokes i watch the full movie hope to meet you somday

[@BenJogan]

Samick Pianos tends to have a slightly "rough" sound, so a few dissonances are normal (maybe it's due to the size of the piano itself), especially if your playing isn't clear and correct or you got a heavy touch. I have the same piano, it does have exact the same sound of this one and I use to tune it myself sometimes. After a first tuning the execution of a piece may change the tension of a few notes, it's perfectly normal. You have to precede to the "stabilization" of those strings. We cannot complain for the work this man has done! The intervals are correct!

[@codemiesterbeats]

what a character!

[@steveruby3238]

a1 dude keep it up x

[@johnanderson2654]

Are you in Sturtevant, Wisconsin?

[@christopherjamesblackwell]

Generally it looks like he tunes a little sharp and then backs it down to pitch. Can you confirm this is the correct way? I only ask because as a guitar player we always tune up to the note.

[@luizg8034]

Due to twisting and bending of the tuning pins and difference in tension between speaking and non speaking lengths of the string, sometimes it happens that you'll tune a string and then when you come back to it or play that note a little harder it'll be flat. You can minimize this effect by first going a little sharo and then easing back down into the right pitch. Tuners call this "setting the pin".

[@glenngarrison2717]

1 of the best explanations are familiar with the web

[@cmoreno12345]

He's so funny!

[@skharding4848]

“We got the brandy, mama, we’re coming home.” 😝 ROTFL. Yep, almost there..I know the feeling...and “most don’t live to 90 because they go mad.” I miss having tuners like this, Kids and their electronics..lousy tuners. I have taken to tuning my own. Much better outcomes. But yeah, getting to the last few keys..always feels great.

[@MichaelCGatesMusic]

On a guitar I was told to tune UP to a note, but here you say to tune down. Why? I have always touched up my grand but recently started fully tuning, adjusting and fixing--usually right after I break something.

[@scottvanhoven7518]

Tuning pins tend to twist above the pinblock before turning in the wood. Tuning from above (down to the correct pitch) allows for this twist to be undone, resulting in a more stable tuning.

[@TheAnetmusik]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@ystanbl]

Mr fox of piano tuners.

[@tridinh8217]

anyone know where to purchase that tuning hammer?

[@Janie_S]

I know that you can get the many diff types of hammers at Amazon. they also have kits.

[@fnersch3367]

How do you deal with rust bridges? My piano was last tuned in 1967. Is it even tunable or does it need to be restrung?

[@TheRobTV]

A piano that old. If the strings aren't ready to break or something in the action is preventing tuning. Or the pins aren't bad. The piano would need a good cleaning and probably a pitch raise (multiple tunings)

[@roberttemple2521]

@@TheRobTV Whatever you do, NEVER use WD-40, 3-In-1 Oil, or Any petroleum based oil or jelly on Any part of your piano. That stuff all spreads to places it shouldn't, wreaks havoc, plus it stinks. You could buy a 2 oz. thing of synthetic oil that has a needle applicator. It's used to lubricate guns, sewing machines... and pianos. It's available at Walmart. I put a drop on each string where it touches the top bridge. I did this recently to a rusty outdoor public piano, worked fine. best Slacken the rusty string Before tuning it up. This breaks any rust "weld" that may've been present. Attempting to tune Up a rusted/welded string first could cause a string to break. I let the oil sit for a couple of days before I tuned the piano.

[@tjackson1953]

Hi: Are you still tuning pianos? I need help. Thank you.

[@SuperLowdrag]

any luck?

[@marialuciarodriguesvargas8462]

How manny coma has a fourth and fifth?

[@danielgaskell5490]

The tuning hammer needs to be at 12 o'clock to avoid damaging the pin/string. Also, set the middle strings of the temperment (middle eight notes F to F or G to G) only. Once the eighth note is set, continue as he does, DO NOT ROCK the TUNING HAMMER as shown here, rather, tune slightly sharp from your reference note and gently rotate the tuning hammer counter-clockwise until the correct pitch is attained. This is known as "setting the pin" and will prevent it from going flat nearly 20 minutes after you've tuned the piano. Nice of this guy to share all the info. Always maintain as nearly as possible a 12 o'clock position on the pin with the tuning hammer or you will damage the pinblock as you stress the pin when your hammer is at 3 o'clock (like here) pulls the pin forward toward the keyboard causing the middle and bottom of the pin to widen the pinblock hole it sits in!

[@ScaramouchedaVinci]

Thanks for showing how to tune a grand piano. But the problem with this piano, it has a bad voicing and for that, it sounds not good.

[@oklahomanorm2278]

My cat crawled up in my grand piano and had a bowl movement. Now it seems as though everything I play sound a little shitty. Is there anything I can about this?

[@Senzenfrenz]

If this is no joke then following: Carefully clean everything esp. on the soundboard. Hopefully the cat did not damage the soundboard. Also might be that the cat messed up with the dampers, they must be realigned then

[@alexmorrison9863]

When he's putting in the mute for the treble section it sounds like the piano is crying...

[@kellykeys6092]

He's pretty entertaining. I've watched his other video on Spinet tuning. Too bad he doesn't go into a deeper discussion on various temperaments and his view on which is best for given situations. . . just for shitz and grins.

[@systemverilog99]

Sorry, but many of the unisons are far from being in tune!

[@jean-pierremarin-alonzo8560]

Who cares, it's just good enough for jazz !

[@RubenGarcia-kc3op]

One the beauty of a piano vrs a Electronic Keyboard is the imperfection... It never perfect sooo good :)

[@maxcohen13]

Jean-Pierre Marin-Alonzo Maybe an incompetent jazz musician.

[@richardyoung641]

@@tolps Sadly its not.

[@musikshane]

My mentor would make me the whole damn thing over again if I had noisy unisons and octaves

[@chrishickory7907]

Wow, in the thumbnail, he looks like the reincarnation of Liberace

[@SangahNoona]

Wow... the camera man loves to move!

[@winstonvkoot]

i cant take any tuner serious if they touch the dam strings that much

[@ronaldware1239]

SO WHY HAS HE GIVEN UP? THEY FOUND HIM OUT?

[@Jack-hy1zq]

The thirds in the tempered scale are way off. Dont get me sterted on the end result!

[@macao1177]

Oha, sobald sich meins so anhören würde, würde ich den Stimmer kommen lassen. Bzw. Ich mach es ebenfalls selber.

[@MrMedeiros223]

Can he tune a fish?

[@cmoreno12345]

Lol. Just play fast.

[@leonkonigstein9226]

finally someone with a f**n head on his shoulder...all the other youtubers are pure waste of time ...thx friend!

[@therenegadepianotechnician5170]

There are 240 something strings. I usually give it a second pass. IM not looking to unnecessarily slow myself down with aural temperaments. I've got bills to pay. We don't have to do that anymore. Nonetheless I respect "artisan" mindset we see here.

[@alext8828]

I remember when Julia Child tuned pianos with a blow torch.

[@user-pn8my6ov3o]

Everyone,try to get the likes to 777!

[@ronaldware1239]

It seems so sad. All these guys trying to do the impossible; particularly the one about the wedges altering the frequency of the strings.

[@IsaacOLEG]

not bad for a first pass but Fouad ,piano is not voiced; and the hand on the strings ? (then they rust even faster) I think it is normal you cannot tune nice unison with that voicing.Can you hear how much energy is lost immediately in that hard impact? I hear you are not tuning the attack, possibly because it is too hard on the ears so you listen late. Youi are only tuning the "tail " of the tone, it is not enough and give in the end the impression the unisons are not in tune, Oh I heard the arpeggios, it is totally out of tune (I think you do not settle the pins enough nor you raise enough due to the large pitch raise , a little too much to fine tune immediately partiocualrely with the strip mute method, Yes we may have different standards if you are representative, Best regards

[@cordeliablakeslee7964]

My adventure with woodworking started with Stodoys.

[@allenwb2011]

just me or did this dude gouge my 32 grand piano with a 2 dollar screwdriver and is throwing a 12 dollar guitar tuner on my strings repeatedly? thanks for the info on tuning and what not to do while doing it.

[@DavidBoycePiano]

It's just you. Nothing is being gouged with the screwdriver. It is being used to push the felt 'strip mute' between the strings; standard practice. The electronic tuning device is not being thrown on the strings. It is on the steel tuning pins and will do them no harm at all - if there is any damage, it will be the tuning pins marking the case of the tuning device.

[@henniedevilliers7570]

Going through all the trouble to tune the white grand and then you play some 'vulgar' unmusical noise on it that will perhaps sound better if the piano is completely way out of tune.

[@chihchang]

I wouldn’t mind been a piano tuner. 1 in 4 piano tuners do not make it to 90. 😂

[@user-nh4oh5wb3k]

Настроил не очень хорошо.. Звук "плывет"...

[@eddie51500]

Seven and a half between A and F? What? Beats in a second? Do you time it with a cronometer? Moreover, the tuner is not imperfect, It does a perfect job tuning a scale in EQUAL temperament, wich will never coincide with your "beats". These beats will only dissapear if you tune the scale in JUST temperament.

[@user-pn8my6ov3o]

“All the way down...” goes up 10:50

[@tellsthetruth894]

Teaching must not be his Forte

[@Jesus_paid_it_all]

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. John 3:18 “He that believeth in Him is not condemned; but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

[@R0cky0]

Such a terrible cameraman. Stop zooming in/out that makes me dizzy!

[@BillBarber1957]

Pete: Come on, Pete, that piano isn't 'in tune'. You should have checked the double octaves. You could easily spend another hour on that piano. Being this video is 9-years old, it don't much matter. You do have a great personality, I'll give you that, but I'm here to tell you, that piano is not in tune. Close enough for jazz is not tuned, and I should know as I've been tuning and repairing pianos (strings, yikes) for 25-years. Musically yours....BB.

[@richardyoung641]

This piano is no way in tune...sorry..He wont be touching my piano.

[@sibouere]

Richard Young I agreed! Great guy but he won’t approach my piano that all! Keep away!🤣