Piano tuning, repair, regulation, and voicing
in the Sierra Foothills
Grayson Carlile
907-321-1074
Services Offered
Tuning
Regular tuning is the most essential service a piano needs on a regular basis. Over time, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, along with regular use cause the instrument’s 200+ strings to slip out of tune. A professional tuning job brings the entire piano back to the correct pitch and restores a harmonious relationship between its 88 keys. We recommend getting your piano tuned every 6-12 months.
Regulation
Between the keys and strings of a piano is a mechanical system known as the “action”. The various parts of this system are responsible for the responsiveness, feel, and dynamic control of the piano. Climate fluctuations and regular use can eventually cause action parts to fall out of alignment with each other, leading to a lack of control, tone issues, and uneven playing across the keyboard. Regulation restores the alignment and function of action parts for optimal performance.
Repair
Pianos are intricate instruments containing thousands of pieces and parts that are subject to wear and tear. Broken strings and hammers, sticking keys, malfunctioning pedals, and replacement of worn out felts and action components are some of the more common repair jobs I perform.
Voicing
In addition to adjusting pitch through tuning, the quality of the sound generated by a piano can also be adjusted or corrected through a process called voicing. This process involves altering the felt of the hammers in order to achieve a desired tone/timbre – whether that be something brighter and livelier, or something dark and rich. Voicing is often helpful in mellowing the harsh tone that can develop from hammer felt compacting after many years of use.
My service area includes Nevada, Sierra, Yuba, and Placer counties. Please contact me for service rates, scheduling, or with any questions you may have.
907-321-1074
About
My interest in piano began at a young age. I took piano lessons starting in elementary school all the way up into my first few years in college. After over a decade away from the piano, I began playing again in 2020, which led to a new-found intrigue in the inner-workings of the instrument and a curiosity around tuning as a potential career path. I have now apprenticed under Scott Johnson, a registered piano technician out of Auburn, for over two years. I am an associate member of the Piano Technicians Guild and successfully passed my tuning exam with this organization in the summer of 2025. I believe there is potential for endless enjoyment and musical connection to be found with every instrument – whether it be a brand new Steinway concert grand piano or a little old upright passed down between relatives. I look forward to making your instrument sound and feel as good as possible.