Piano Maintenance - Regulation

Even though your piano gets tuned regularly, you may notice the instrument is not performing at its best. Some of the causes may be the normal wear and compacting of the felt or cloth inside the piano, or by changes in the wooden components in your piano due to humidity, to name a few. Aside from tuning, a piano also requires periodic regulation, which deals with the mechanical parts of the piano that cause the strings to sound when keys are played.

Regulation involves working on the action (the mechanical part of the piano that moves the hammer to strike the strings when a key is played) and damper system (the mechanical part of the piano which consists of a small felted block that drops onto a piano string to stop it from vibrating) of a piano.

The frequency of getting a piano regulated depends on the age and condition of the piano, how often it is played, and the exposure of the instrument to climate changes. New pianos may also require regulation due to the piano parts settling in their new environment.

There are many symptoms of a poorly regulated piano. For example:

1. Loose or sloppy feel to the keys.
2. Notes not sounding, or sounding more than once.
3. Difficulty in achieving a wide range of dynamics.
4. Difficulty in playing technically demanding pieces.

For the accomplished pianist, having a finely regulated piano is as important as it being finely tuned. The dynamic expression of the artist needs to be transferred from notes on a page to melodies and harmonies that come to life when played. This requires each key and action mechanism to function precisely as its neighbour to be able to acheive an even, consistent touch throughout. A piano that is well regulated is satisfying because it allows each player to perform at his or her utmost potential.