Regulation

Regulation is the adjustment of the mechanical components of your piano. A piano is made up of a harp and a mechanism that strikes the strings of the harp, which is called the action. Te action mechanism is made up of the keys and a system of moving parts that translates the movement of the keys into movement of the hammers that in turn strike the strings. When new, the action is adjusted so that your piano will produce the best feel and response possible.

Over time, as the action wears in, the felt compacts and the hammers wear. The tone and the touch of the piano may start to decline. The notes are no longer consistent across the keyboard, and it becomes more difficult to play with the correct dynamics. When this occurs it is time to look at regulating the action and voicing the hammers. Depending on how far the instrument has been allowed to decline, this job may take just a few hours or a few days.

Here are some indications that regulation is overdue:
 Keys stick, seem to go down too far, or seem too shallow
 The touch is uneven from one note to the next
 You find it difficult to play softly and still have the notes sound
 The notes do not repeat quickly
 The notes continue to ring after the key returns
 The pedals squeak
 The keys rattle and or the action is excessively noisy
 Your piano has developed a harsh metallic sound

I recommend doing a minor “touch-up” regulation at each tuning. This will help prevent most instances of unnecessary wear and breakage.

The frequency of full regulation needed for a piano varies according to how much the piano is used and the climate in which it’s kept. On an average, a full regulation should be done every 2 to 5 years.