Harsh sounding note
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
Harsh sounding note
My D#3 sounds so harsh it stands out like a sore thumb. My piano was new 2 years ago It's had about 5 tune ups and has got worse. I pointed it out to tuner after last tuning and he had no words of wisdom.
The note is in tune - it's tone is awful.
Any Ideas?
Thanks
- Barrie Heaton
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3900
- Joined: 30 May 2003, 20:42
- Location: Lanc's
- Contact:
Re: Harsh sounding note
Sounds like it just needs voicing, its quite common on newish piano for odd notes to go Bright to harsh. Your tuner may not be happy with voicing some are not.PianoMike wrote: ↑02 May 2017, 13:20Hello.
My D#3 sounds so harsh it stands out like a sore thumb. My piano was new 2 years ago It's had about 5 tune ups and has got worse. I pointed it out to tuner after last tuning and he had no words of wisdom.
The note is in tune - it's tone is awful.
Any Ideas?
Thanks
Barrie
Web Master UK Piano Page
Re: Harsh sounding note
I live in East Yorkshire. Is there anyone that can be recommended in the area?
Is there a means of uploading video to these posts, so you can hear the issue?
Lastly, and perhaps a very, very stupid question. I looked at the same model as mine in a piano showroom. It was new and the front panel had been taken off. The strings, pins and anything metalic gleamed and sparkled like jewellery.
Mine never did like this, so is it down to the lights in the showroom. Id hate to think my piano was a lot older than made out.
Thanks
- Barrie Heaton
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3900
- Joined: 30 May 2003, 20:42
- Location: Lanc's
- Contact:
Re: Harsh sounding note
A video would not harm.PianoMike wrote: ↑02 May 2017, 17:13Many thanks.
I live in East Yorkshire. Is there anyone that can be recommended in the area?
Is there a means of uploading video to these posts, so you can hear the issue?
Lastly, and perhaps a very, very stupid question. I looked at the same model as mine in a piano showroom. It was new and the front panel had been taken off. The strings, pins and anything metalic gleamed and sparkled like jewellery.
Mine never did like this, so is it down to the lights in the showroom. Id hate to think my piano was a lot older than made out.
Thanks
As to the sparkled like jewellery bit .... Well show room tricks... its what the piano sounds like not what it looks like unless you are taking to your partner if they are very particular what sits in the room

Web Master UK Piano Page
Re: Harsh sounding note
Such problems can occur at the "break" where the bass section changes to the tenor and the tenor becomes the treble.
Such transitions can be problematic, but D#3 is not a note in that area.
These problems are not easy to diagnose quickly, but voicing alone may not be the answer. Sometimes it is because a string is not "seating" properly at its termination points. I doubt that it is a structural problem in a new piano which would require more drastic intervention; but there could be a problem in the strings themselves for that particular note.
I would suggest that you seek a second opinion and ask the dealer from whom you purchased the piano for some professional support.
All the best!
Kind regards,
Robert.