Piano Regulation: When the Touch Feels Even Again
Piano regulation is the work that restores the action's precision, so every key responds the same way under your fingers. Tuning takes care of the pitch of the strings, while regulation takes care of everything that carries the motion from the key to the string. The two complement each other, and together they shape how the piano responds to you.
The difference between tuning and regulation
In tuning, the tension of the strings is adjusted so every note sits at the right pitch. In regulation, the mechanical parts are adjusted: the keys, the hammers, the dampers and the pedals. According to the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG), the action alone has thousands of parts, and each one has to meet precise measurements for the piano to answer every movement of the player. We traced the chain from key to hammer in How a Piano Works.
That's why a piano can be well tuned and still feel uneven. The notes are right, but one key is heavier than its neighbors, and another doesn't return quickly enough for a repeated note. In other words, tuning decides what you hear, and regulation decides what you feel. When one of them is neglected, the other suffers too, because a pianist fighting the touch can't draw the sound they're looking for out of the instrument.
What changes over the years
Felt, cloth and leather shrink and compress with every keystroke, and the wood and wool expand and contract with changes in humidity. Each change is tiny, but in an action that works to the millimeter, they add up. Keeping the room at 45%-50% humidity slows the process, as we explained in our maintenance and humidity guide. Daily playing matters too: a piano at a music school or a studio, played for hours a day, will need regulation sooner than a living-room piano played in the evenings.
Regulation checks, among other things, the height of the keys and the key dip, usually about 10 millimeters. It also checks the point where the hammer lets go and flies freely to the string, about 3 millimeters before the string on an upright and about half that on a grand, as well as the dampers and the pedal mechanism. On a grand piano, the repetition mechanism is checked too, which lets you play the same note again and again quickly. Each of these measurements affects the others, so the work follows a fixed order, adjusting the keys before the hammers. Usually the touch can also be adjusted to the player's preference, for example a slightly shallower key dip, without upsetting the overall balance.
How to tell it's time
You feel the signs in your fingers before you hear them: keys that don't sit at the same height, an uneven touch between areas of the keyboard, a key that sticks or returns slowly, soft playing that doesn't come out even, or a pedal that doesn't work the way it used to. According to the PTG, good regulation gives the piano back its full dynamic range, from the gentlest pianissimo to strong playing. Many pianists get used to the gradual change and don't notice it, until they play a well-regulated piano and feel the difference right away. We wrote more about the touch of piano keys and their weight in a separate guide.
We're by your side
We tune pianos at your home, and the visit takes two to three and a half hours, depending on the piano. Once a year is enough for most pianos, and during that visit you can tell the technician how the touch feels to you. Most of the work is done at home, and when needed, we take the relevant parts with us for further care on our side. You'll find details on costs in How Much Does Piano Tuning Cost. We're here for you.
Links: How a Piano Works · Piano Keys · Piano Pedals · Maintenance and Humidity · How Much Does Piano Tuning Cost · Piano Tuning
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between tuning and regulation?
Tuning adjusts the tension of the strings so every note is at the right pitch. Regulation adjusts the action, the keys, the hammers, the dampers and the pedals, so the touch is even and precise.
How do I know my piano needs regulation?
When keys aren't at the same height, when the touch changes between areas of the keyboard, when a key sticks or returns slowly, or when soft playing doesn't come out even.
Why does a tuned piano still feel uneven?
Because tuning only deals with the sound of the strings. Wear in the felt and changes in the wood affect the action, and that's what regulation corrects.
How often should a piano be serviced?
Tuning once a year is enough for most pianos. Regulation is needed less often, and during the tuning visit you can ask the technician whether it's time.