Piano tuning done by hand, done right.
I've been keeping pianos in tune, and in good health, since 1972. I take my time with every piano, whether it's a brand-new upright or an old family grand.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, California, and that's where I got my start. My father, Sidney Stone, former president of the Piano Technicians Guild, taught me this business from the time I was young. I moved to Alabama in 2016, but I never really left California behind. I still fly back twice a year to tune for my longtime customers there, and these days I'm also tuning pianos all over the greater Birmingham area.
Every instrument, tuned and treated with the same attention.
"Honest with pricing, very straightforward, no surprises. I can't imagine trusting anyone else with my piano."JoAn L., Hayward, CA
Everything a piano needs, from a routine tuning to a full regulation.
I work on uprights and grands for homes, schools, churches, and studios across both service areas.
Piano Tuning
Bringing your piano back to A-440 and keeping it there, with a steady maintenance schedule built around your instrument.
Action Regulating
Adjusting the thousands of moving parts behind each key so touch and response feel even across the whole keyboard.
Tone Voicing
Shaping hammer felt to even out tone across the keyboard: warmer, brighter, or somewhere in between, to taste.
Finish & Case Care
Cleaning, touch-up, and referrals to trusted refinishers for cabinets that deserve to look as good as they sound.
Straightforward pricing for tuning.
Starting price shown below. The final rate depends on distance from Hayward, CA or Hoover, AL. For everything else, regulation or voicing, just give me a call and I'll go over pricing for your piano.
Piano Tuning
- Evaluation for new clients
- Tension adjustment if needed
- Fine tuning to A-440
- Light cleaning & sticky key fixes
Final price depends on distance from Hayward, CA or Hoover, AL.
Your piano moves with the seasons, even when you don't touch it.
A piano's soundboard is wood, and wood breathes. As humidity rises, it swells and stretches the strings sharp. As the air dries out, it flattens and the pitch drops, usually a little more than it gained, so most pianos drift a bit lower each year they go unserviced.
That's why manufacturers recommend two tunings a year, enough to catch the seasonal swing before it compounds. A piano that's gone a long time without service often needs a pitch raise first, then a fine tuning, since bringing 220 strings up at once briefly throws off the ones already adjusted.
Regular care isn't just about sounding right today. It's what keeps the whole structure in equilibrium for the long run.
Common questions, quick answers.
How often should I tune my piano?
Most manufacturers recommend two tunings a year, enough to keep pace with the seasonal humidity swings that pull a piano out of tune. New pianos need more, usually three to four tunings in the first year, while the strings and structure settle in.
How long do pianos last?
A well-built piano that's been properly maintained can easily last 50+ years, and many go a century or more. The instruments that wear out early are almost always the ones that went years without any service at all.
Why do pianos go out of tune?
Mostly humidity. The soundboard is wood, so it swells and shrinks as moisture in the air changes, stretching and relaxing the strings along with it. Regular use and normal aging play a smaller part too.
It's been years since my piano was tuned, what happens?
It likely needs a pitch raise first, a rougher pass that brings all the strings back near correct tension, before a fine tuning can hold. That's often done in the same visit, though a very neglected piano sometimes needs a second appointment.
What clients say.
★★★★★
"Carolyn has been tuning my piano since 2016 and I can't imagine trusting anyone else with it. She's warm and welcoming every time she comes, and honest with pricing, very straightforward, no surprises. It's always interesting hearing the history of her business too. Her dad was the original piano technician president for the piano technical guilds, and he passed the business down to his daughter, Carolyn Stone. That's when you know you've got someone legit tuning your piano. It really does matter who you trust with your piano. Highly recommend Stone Piano Service if you want someone who actually knows what they're doing."JoAn L., Hayward, CA
★★★★★
"Carolyn did a great job tuning my piano from the very start. She was warm and inviting and gave a price that was very reasonable. When I say she knew a lot about pianos, that is an understatement."Dave S.
Two homes, one standard of care.
Bay Area, CA
I've been serving the greater East Bay and surrounding communities since 1972, and I still fly back twice a year to keep up with my California customers.
Greater Birmingham, AL
Since moving to Alabama in 2016, I've also been tuning pianos in homes, schools, and churches across the greater Birmingham area.
About Me
My father, Sidney Stone, who was formerly the president of the Piano Technicians Guild, taught me the piano business from an early age. I have experience on uprights and grands. I've been tuning and regulating pianos since 1972. What started in the Bay Area has grown to include the greater Birmingham, Alabama community as well.
"A well-maintained piano sounds better, plays better, and gives a family a lifetime of music."
Whether it's a first tuning on a piano that just arrived or ongoing care for an instrument that's been in your family for generations, every job gets the same attention of detail from me.
Ready to schedule a tuning?
Call or email me directly, or send a quick note below and I'll get back to you to find a time.
Used to calculate distance from Hayward, CA or Hoover, AL for pricing.