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Piano String Replacement

There are about 230 strings in the average piano. According to most piano manufacturers and restoration experts, the usable life of a piano string is about 40 years, far longer than the lifespan on most other stringed instruments. As piano strings age, they can lose sustain and brightness of tone, and are at higher risk of breakage. Should a string break in your piano, Brad Fant Piano Service offers a string replacement service to restore functionality to the impacted note.

String Identification

There are two types of strings in a piano. Wound strings (also called bass strings) are present in the lower notes of the piano and have a steel “core” wire surrounded by copper winding for added mass. Plain wire strings, present in the middle and upper notes of the piano, are plain steel wire.

Each note in the piano has between one and three strings. The lowest notes in the piano have one string (monochord), followed by two strings per note (bichord), typically in the upper bass and low tenor sections, and three strings per note (trichord) throughout the remainder of the piano.

Wound strings and plain wire strings in a grand piano
Monochords, bichords, and trichords in a grand piano

Why Piano Strings Break

String breakage usually occurs when the piano is being played or tuned, but is not the fault of the pianist or tuner. Piano strings can break for a multitude of reasons, the most common of which include the following:

  • Wire fatigue/age

  • Rust or corrosion on strings, which is exacerbated by humidity exposure

  • Worn hammers (see here)

  • Poor action regulation (see here)

  • Poor stringing scale design by manufacturer

  • Poor quality of materials

String Replacement

String replacement involves identifying the affected strings, obtaining appropriate replacement strings, and then installing the new strings. Should breakage occur on a wound string that is a member of a bichord or trichord group, it is protocol to replace all strings in the note to ensure a good auditory match. In order to accurately duplicate wound strings, it may be necessary for Brad Fant Piano Service to obtain measurements from the piano. If an extra trip is required for this purpose, the minimum fee shall apply.†

Wound Strings

Wound strings are custom-made to the specifications of each piano model and must be special ordered.

Plain Wire Strings

Plain wire strings are universal to each piano. Brad Fant Piano Service always has plain wire strings in stock and ready to be installed.

String Installation Labor

The amount of work involved in string installation varies depending on the size of piano and location of strings to be replaced. Generally, most grand and upright pianos require about 45 minutes per string, while spinet pianos require about 1 hour per string.

New String Care

New strings will continue to stretch after installation and will require several re-tunes to stabilize. It typically takes 3-5 tunings for the new strings to stabilize. Complimentary re-tuning of replacement strings is offered if arranged during an already scheduled visit nearby. For special visits to re-tune replacement strings, the minimum fee shall apply.†

†The minimum fee for a service appointment is $180, not including any parts or materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which areas do you service?
    We service the area denoted in green on the map below. This includes, but is not limited to: Ballantyne, Carmel, Dilworth, Matthews, Myers Park, Quail Hollow, South End, and SouthPark. Please contact us by phone at 704-593-6741 or by email at bradfantpianos@gmail.com to inquire about special accommodations.
  • How often do I need to have my piano tuned? Why does it go out of tune?
    Generally, pianos should be tuned every 6 months or every year, even if they are not being played regularly. Pianos on the concert stage, in recording studios, or in schools may require more frequent tuning and attention. The piano's main structure and soundboard are both made of wood, which expand and contract with climate change and humidity variation. Fluctuations in the wood net an out of tune piano. It is especially important to tune new pianos several times during their first few years to ensure that the string tension and piano structure reach a stable equilibrium. For more information about tuning, please see here.
  • What is a "pitch raise?"
    All modern pianos are designed to be tuned and sound their best at "standard pitch," where A4=440 Hz (A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second). If a piano has not been tuned for an extended period of time (over ~12 months), has been through extreme climate fluctuations, or has been moved, the overall pitch of the piano may be significantly higher or lower than standard pitch. In this situation, the piano will require a pitch adjustment or "pitch raise" to bring the piano’s combined string tension back into a normal range before a standard fine tuning can be performed. A pitch raise and fine tuning are typically performed in the same service appointment, but in very extreme cases, where multiple pitch raises are necessary, a second appointment may be necessary. The need for a pitch raise cannot be determined without assessing the piano in person. For more information about pitch raises, please see here.
  • I'm moving. How can I move my piano safely and when should I have it tuned?
    Moving your piano shouldn't be stressful and you most definitely should not attempt to move it yourself. Hire an insured piano mover, not just any mover! The piano is a fragile instrument and permanent damage can easily be done by an inexperienced mover. Please feel free to reach out if you would like a referral. It's generally recommended to wait about one month after your move to tune the piano, allowing it to acclimate to the new location. This will net a more stable tuning than had it been tuned immediately.
  • Do you repair digital pianos and keyboards?
    We do not service or repair digital pianos/keyboards, and recommend contacting your instrument's manufacturer for a referral to a certified service center: Casio Kawai Korg Roland Yamaha
  • What is a RPT (Registered Piano Technician)?
    The Piano Technicians Guild is a nonprofit organization that regulates the trade of piano technology. A RPT is a piano technician who has undergone and passed tuning, technical, and written exams according the the Piano Technicians Guild standards. The Registered Piano Technician certification is the only official guild certification for piano technicians in the United States. For more information about Registered Piano Technicians, please see here.
  • What type of payments do you accept?
    Accepted forms of payment include: paper check, cash, Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, and all major credit and debit cards. For more information about payments, please see here.
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