There are two types of pianos: Verticals and Grands. Both
vertical and grand pianos come in different sizes. When referring
to the vertical piano we find different names associated with the
different sizes: such as Studio or Spinet. Vertical piano height
is measured from the floor to the top of the piano. Here are the
standard dimensions for typical vertical pianos: The Full-size
upright is between 48 and 60 inches tall. The Studio is between
43 and 47 inches. The Console is between 40 and 43 inches and the
Spinet is between 36 and 39 inches.
   
   Grand pianos have many names associated with them such as parlor
grand, baby grand, or concert grand. The size of the grand
piano is measured by length from the outer edge of the keyboard
to the very back of the lid. Concert grands range between 7 1/2
feet to 9 1/2 feet. Medium grands, sometimes known  as parlor or
living room grands  range between 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet. Small
grands, known as baby grands will range between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2
feet in length.
		

   Tuning should not be confused with other services done to your
piano such as regulating or repairing. In tuning, the technician
adjusts the string tension using a tuning lever on each
individual tuning pin.

   There are roughly 200 tuning pins in each piano. Pianos sound
their best when tuned to the concert pitch of A440. In most cases
concert pitch is what was used when the stringing scale was
designed for your piano. A piano that is below concert pitch, may
be tuned to itself, but tends to sound lifeless with dull tone
color and lack of ambiance.

   If your piano hasn't been tuned for say a year or more, your
piano  technician will most likely recommend that the overall
pitch of the piano be brought up to A440 before fine tuning. This
overall pitch adjustment is referred to as a pitch raising or
lowering. In some cases, during high humidity seasons, the piano
will tend to go sharp in pitch overall and need to be brought down
to concert pitch.

   When  your technician has to perform an overall pitch adjustment
of the piano, it takes alittle more time to complete the tuning
process. If your piano has been neglected from tuning for a great
length of time, this process could take as long as 3 hours.
Consult a Registered Piano Technician for these services.
		

   Take with you a flashlight, a notepad, to record your findings
and a small clean paintbrush for dust removal. Write down the
make, model and serial number for future reference.    

   To inspect the piano, first, play the piano, from bottom note
to top, listening for overall tone. Is the tone bright, mellow,
harsh, or nice sounding. Listen closely for knocks, clicking
noises, or notes that continue to ring from the middle of the
piano down through the bass.

   The upper treble section of a piano is supposed to ring as
there are no dampers. Depress all pedals and listen for knocks,
thuds or other offensive noises.
   
   Second, open the piano by removing the case parts...on a 
vertical piano generally the lid will lift up and the front board
facing you  will either have screws or swing latches that will
enable you to remove the board by sliding it towards you. Remove
the bottom panel, which is located under the keyboard by pressing
upward the pressure springs and pulling the top of the board
towards you to remove.

   Starting at the keys holds a key firmly and move it side to
side...is there excessive motion or a knocking sound? If so 
repairs are needed. Also move the key front to back...there should
not be any excessive motion.

   Follow the keys towards the strings and locate the action
which is the playing mechanism that sits on the end of the keys.
With your flashlight, inspect the action thoroughly, looking for 
worn, broken, and/or frayed and missing parts. Play each key while
watching the mechanism function listening for any knocks or clicks.

   After inspecting the action mechanism locate the hammers which
are the felts which strike the strings. Inspect the contour of
the hammers..Do they have excessive grooves from striking the
strings and or are flat fronted? If so they may need to be
reshaped or replaced. The contour of the hammer should be pear
shaped. Inspect carefully the striking point of the hammer, where
the hammer meets the string...is the hammer striking all the 
strings for that note equally? If not, adjustments of the hammers
are necessary.

   Inspect the tuning pins which are at the top of a vertical and
closest towards you on a grand...are they rusting? Have the
tuning pins been  driven deeper into the pin block as to where
the coils of the strings are touching the steel plate or wooden
block? If So, the tuning stability of this piano may be
questionalble.
   
   Follow the strings down from the tuning pin and make notes...are
the strings touching each other? Are they rusting? The strings
should be evenly spaced.
   
   Follow the strings towards the bottom or far side of the 
piano...the strings will cross over a piece of wood called the
bridge. The bridge  contains small pins in which the piano wire
follows...These are called bridge pins...inspect carefully where
the bridge pins go into the bridge, using your flashlight and
paintbrush, look for any small or large cracks. If found, make a
note of these for your piano technician. The cracks are repairable
in many cases...but costs of repair should be considered. 
                 
   Inspect the cast iron plate, sometimes known  as the harp
which covers the overall inside of the piano. A good way to
locate the plate is to  follow the strings to the very end where
they loop around a hitch pin and return upwards towards the tuning
pin. The hitch pins are part of the plate. Look for cracks, welds 
or repairs done to the plate...if you find any of these symptoms,
ABANDON THIS PIANO.

   Inspect the soundboard, which is the large wooden area behind
the plate. Look for cracks...cracks can be repaired although
costly and requires shop work.

   Pull the piano away from the wall if a vertical or lay
underneath of the grand, using your flashlight, locate any cracks
on the soundboard.

   Also check the slats of wood that are connected to the
soundboard, these are called ribs. Check to see that they are
solidly connected and have your assistant play the piano as you
listen for buzzing noises.
   
   It is recommended that once you have inspected and chosen a piano
to purchase, that you hire a Registered Piano Technician to view
the instrument and obtain his or her approval.